There has been something of a Reformer Pilates revolution in the UK in last few years.
The exercise practice has been hugely popular over across the pond for a while now – with Instagrams of Kourtney Kardashian, Harry Styles and Hailey Bieber raising its profile and creating hype for the machine-based exercise – but it dates back as far back as the early 1920s, created by German-born, British emigre Joseph Pilates.
It’s not Reformer Pilates without the Reformer machine. This device - that resembles the kind of thing that would have been used for medieval torture - is all ropes, sliding parts and wood. It was modelled on hospital beds in WWI where the inspiration came from the bedbound recovery of soldiers.
Each move requires synchronisation of arm, leg and core movements to work the whole body with varying resistance determined by colour coded springs. The bed moves to work specific muscles where you’ll feel the burn in a low impact way that makes it ideal for injury recovery.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not a calm stretching class – far from it. While one of its many pros is that it generally set to a relaxed playlist, you should still break a sweat, albeit far lass than your HIIT class (while still maintaining a similar of exertion and DOMS - that's delayed onset muscle soreness - the following day).
Benefits for the body include an increased balance, stability, sculpting, toning and improvement in resistance training for people of all ages.
So far, so good, right? There’s just one problem. It feels like Reformer Pilates is the most expensive gym class on offer across the capital: studios like Heartcore, 1Rebel, Frame and even Class Pass costing up to £25 a session, even £500 for a one-on-one bout. But there is a way to have a private class from the comfort of your own home?
Reform RX may just be the answer to that very specific question. Like Peloton and Hydrow who offer machines complete with a screen for studio-like classes at home, the Reformer Pilates machine gives access to over 100 workouts with celebrity trainers. These PTs are behind some of the most sculpted, photographed figures in Hollywood – think Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Jason Bateman.
Specs
- Profiles: up to 8
- Warranty: 5 years
- Machine size: L322.58 x W70 x H40cm (approx)
- Machine weight: 111kg
- Screen size: 21.5”
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 FHD
- Memory: 2GB/16GB
- Speakers: 2x Rear Inbuilt Speakers
- User height range: 4’10” to 6’7”
- Weight limit: 171kg
- Resistance: 22lbs (green), 33lbs (blue) and 44lbs (red and white)
Features
Ease in starting
With no admin or instructional videos necessary, I jumped right in to choose a class. On the touchscreen, there is a whole library of sessions available with helpful filters so you can find the one that’s right for you. It is possible to follow a programme that is set over a few weeks and will encourage you to get into a good routine with the machine. I chose a one-off class for the purpose of the review. I first set my level; beginner, intermediate or advanced, the equipment that I had available, the class duration ranging from five to 60 minutes and my music preference.
The latter is not hugely important if, like me, the class that caught your eye was set to the backdrop of electronic music. You can turn this down to inaudible as well as adjust the volume of the instructor and opt for your own playlist.
Once the class has begun, the instructor will walk you through what to do with all the ropes, loops and which resistance to go for. Remember that more resistance doesn’t always mean a more difficult exercise - in fact, some require less resistance to practice better body control. Switching up the resistance is a matter of pushing down and pulling up the colour coded springs. So far, so easy.
Display
The display is hi-res and you can see the small details required to nail the move thanks to the impressive resolution and 21.5-inch size.
There is a slight design flaw with this machine that became evident almost immediately in the class that I chose. The exercises began with my back to the screen, meaning I couldn’t see the demonstration or alter the move to reflect the trainer. This could be a major issue for beginners that is only exacerbated by the lack of a real-life person adjusting your form to prevent injury. I was also advised later in the class to affix a padded board onto the Reform RX which blocked the screen entirely and meant I had to change my movement based on vocal cues rather than watching and mirroring the instructor - not the easiest to follow. The brand says casting is available to a TV, but if this is your intention, go for the more purse-friendly display-free option.
While the majority of the instructions are given by the instructor, the screen details a countdown to the next move – helpful to know how long is left if you’re struggling as well as calories burnt, power output determined by the stroke of the movement and a countdown to the end of the class. It may be my positive thinking, but the calories seemed much lower than I’d have liked – next time, I’ll sync up to a WHOOP (which is compatible) to get a full picture of my exertion.
Machine itself
The machine is made from a sturdy, high quality premium exterior with padding in all the right places to ensure comfort throughout the class. It is on a par with those you’ll find in many of the gym studios mentioned above. The movements are smooth and virtually inaudible. There’s a lot of adaptability possible, from the footbar, to the step. The former can be set to 28 different positions and glides along the machine with ease, before locking into place.
Class quality
There are three different class types on offer with the Reform RX; Strength, Cardio and Flexibility that were created to improve and support the body’s musculoskeletal system. There’s a warm up and a cool down on each end.
On first try, I went for a 45-min full body workout – and a full body workout it was. No limb was immune from a pull, push, stretch or flex as the class went through arms, legs and core. Don’t let anyone tell you that Reformer won’t make you break a sweat, I was out of breath and had to employ the use of a towel. It’s great that the instructor is doing it alongside you and calling out common errors as you go.
Next, I went for a 15-minute core-focused class, proving that you can achieve a lot in a short time. My stomach muscles were on fire - so much so that even laughing the following day proved challenging.
I was surprised with just how effective the workout felt, even without someone in person talking me through it and holding me accountable. I do believe it would be a struggle for those just beginning in their Reformer journeys as without a trainer present – or at least a full-length mirror – it’s hard to know if you are doing it right, especially when you’re facing away from the screen as some of the moves call for.
Verdict
There are no two ways about it; Reform RX is an expensive machine. But if you’re serious about your Reformer journey, it should pay for itself. The quality of the classes is good – and challenging if that’s what you’re looking for, while the ability to embark on a programme over a matter of weeks is helpful to ensure consistency. You can slot around your schedule with ease where the short sessions mean you have no excuse not to pop on.
The machine itself is premium but the issue of not being able to see the screen with a lot of the movements should be considered. Perhaps you can employ the use of a mirror or instead go for the screenless iteration (which is cheaper) and download the app on your phone or tablet and set that on tripod so you can move it around the other way when needed.
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Reform RX Reformer cost breakdown
Reform RX Reformer: £6,495.00
Reform RX Reformer + First Edition Package (RX box, jumpboard and reformer mat): £6,895.00
