In recent years, reformer-based fitness classes have surged in popularity. Sleek studios with rows of reformers offer high-energy, choreographed workouts designed to sculpt, tone, and burn — and they’re drawing in the crowds. For many classically trained Pilates instructors, this trend may feel like a departure from the integrity and depth of Joseph Pilates’ original method. But what if, instead of seeing it as a dilution, we saw it as a door?
Reformer-based fitness classes are not the enemy of classical Pilates — they are its opportunity.
It reminds me of Curves for Women. The first time I saw one of their small, hydraulic machine facilities I was appalled. As an exercise physiologist I looked at it with my own educated eyes and immediately voiced a negative opinion of it. Then I realized something! I realized it was appealing to women that might have never otherwise ever set foot in a gym! It was creating more fitness people!
The Hook That Brings Them In
Let’s face it: many people discover Pilates today not through Return to Life, but through social media clips of dynamic, group reformer workouts. These classes are accessible, modern, and marketed in a way that feels familiar to a generation raised on boutique fitness. While these workouts may not adhere strictly to the classical repertoire, they do something incredibly valuable — they spark curiosity.
Instructors with a classical foundation have the chance to meet these clients where they are, then gently guide them toward the deeper principles of the method. Once someone feels the power of spring resistance, breathwork, and focused alignment — even in a fitness-forward setting — they’re often hungry for more.
The Evolution of the Reformer
Joseph Pilates was an innovator. He invented the reformer not to create a rigid set of rules, but to empower movement, healing, and control. Today’s reformer classes, while different in style, still use his tool. And tools evolve. A classical mindset, when applied to modern classes, adds nuance, intention, and injury prevention to what might otherwise be just a “good workout.”
Rather than separating ourselves from this evolution, classical instructors can help shape it — by infusing contemporary classes with the precision, breath, and flow that set Pilates apart from every other movement system.
From Burnout to Buy-In
Fitness-minded clients often come into reformer-based classes expecting a burn. But what keeps them coming back isn’t just the sweat — it’s how their bodies feel. They walk taller. Their back pain fades. They feel connected again. This is where classical teachers shine.
By offering workshops, private sessions, or slower-paced “Pilates Essentials” classes at studios that offer reformer fitness classes, classical instructors can turn curiosity into commitment. The result? A new population of dedicated students who might never have sought out traditional Pilates — but now can’t live without it.
Build the Bridge, Don’t Burn It
The Pilates world doesn’t need to be divided. We’re stronger when we educate rather than isolate. Classical instructors have the power to preserve the essence of the method — not by resisting reformer-based fitness trends, but by elevating them.
So, the next time a studio owner or fitness client invites you to teach a group reformer class, say yes. Bring your classical training. Bring your knowledge. Bring your passion for the method. And watch how many lives you get to impact — one reformer at a time. This, like Curves is creating more opportunity for you to show your skills! The audience is there!
