Pilates reformer workouts? Results?

I have been doing Pilates Reformer off and on for the past 10 years and love it! It is pricey, but I like the results that I get (firmer body, more flexibility and balance). It's the only exercise that I don't hate which is a huge plus for me since it means I actually do it. I studied at traditional pilates studios until earlier this year, when I switched to Club Pilates. They offer more classes (both type and times) and the price is more affordable than the traditional studio I went to before.

My one caveat is to be very careful who your instructor is. When you are first starting out you really need someone who is more hands on and willing to correct your body alignment, which is very important. I recently injured my foot in my first jump board class because the instructor was too busy doing the routine himself instead of spotting the students.

I'd say if it interests you, then give it a shot and see how you like it!

I have done traditional gym workouts - weight lifting and cardio - for years. However, I wasn't feeling the love for it anymore. Further, I work from home and have always worked out independently at the gym, and really wanted to switch to group fitness because I need some more interaction with people outside of the house I don't enjoy the group fitness courses as my gym, so I went looking elsewhere.

In April, I decided to give Reformer Pilates a try at my local Club Pilates. I fell in love immediately. It is a *great* compliment to weight lifting for mobility, flexibility, etc. It felt great for my body and worked smaller muscles that I clearly wasn't hitting with my normal gym routines. It's also an excellent core workout, and I generally hate core-focused exercises. I noticed considerable core strength improvements pretty quickly. With Club Pilates, I especially like that they have a variety of classes like TRX and cardio sculpt in addition to more traditional Reformer workouts.

I agree that instructors are super important - my local studio has great instructors who correct any form/alignment issues and give very good cues, and give modifications when necessary - whether you need it to be more challenging or to accommodate a physical limitation.

All that said... I gave my 30 day notice at CP after three months. I felt like I had already maxed out what it could do for me. I was pretty strong going in and in good cardio shape, and after a couple months, the classes just weren't challenging enough for me. If I were using it as a supplement to other exercise, that would be one thing, but I'm not going to spend a couple hundred bucks a month at more than one gym/studio. I need to get pretty much everything out of one place. I will say, I think this could vary from studio to studio - the members at mine skewed older and not necessarily in the greatest shape, so the classes catered more to them, even the higher level classes. Instructors would give me mods, but still... it just wasn't ideal.

I switched to Lagree about six weeks ago and it's a way better match for me. It's "Pilates on steroids" and is much more challenging. It gets and keeps my heart rate up, where the CP classes were rarely even getting me out of warm-up heart rate range. Lagree is definitely not traditional Pilates, but my experience at CP absolutely helped me get better at Lagree quicker.

In a perfect world, I'd do both traditional reformer Pilates and Lagree, with Lagree as the hard workout and the reformer Pilates as a restorative practice. But if I'm choosing one or the other, Lagree is the choice for me.

I would imagine it can be (Pilates is almost infinitely customizable), but you're going to want to talk to the instructors and be sure they have knowledge about how to address that. 

I've been doing Pilates for two years and I'm totally addicted. I think it's super expensive, but worth it to me. I belong to Club Pilates and each studio and teacher very much have their own vibe. Some teachers will physically adjust your form, others are very hands off.

So glad you posted about this! I found a physical therapist that teaches some classes and as I have a lot of physical issues that is perfect for me. Besides my back, fibro and arthritis issues I have hypermobile joints. Couple that with excess weight and poor muscle control and it’s an injury waiting to happen. So I know, at least initially, it needs to be one on one and that is super expensive. How many classes a week do you need to reap any benefits? I am planning on speaking with him personally, but wanted some other opinions.

Started with Pilates, for sure, but I've noticed much more visible change (and corresponding changes in clothing fit) since moving to Lagree. 

This is very true. In my personal situation, I know mods could continue to be made that would have pushed me further and the instructors were great about that. BUT I felt some social pressure, for lack of a better word, to not work at my limits. Other participants would comment on things and I felt awkward. I'm not there to make anyone else feel inadequate because my physical abilities are different than theirs, and that's how it often felt. So I'd hold myself back, which made things socially more comfortable but not as physically demanding as I wanted. At my new studio, not only is the workout more difficult, but the demographic is quite different and it feels like an overall better fit.

My old studio required 3 one-on-ones before being able to join a class.  There was a special deal like - $100 for those three, but it's been an eternity, so probably not relevant.  It was a good number to really get a feel for understanding the exercises.  

That’s what I was thinking! I know how important form is, especially for this kind of workout and with my physical limitations and injuries. I get the impression he just opened it up because people wanted to be able to come in early and get their workout in. My guess is he made the class level based on who wanted to do that. This is a small town so I imagine it’s a small list of clients. 

Did she say how many you needed to attend a week?

dewryce I have been going once a week for a few years (I do some mat and some reformer) and it has definitely improved my core and strength, balance and flexibility. I do other things as well but this has definitely helped. My daughter (22) comes with me and for quite a while it was the only exercise she was doing and the difference in her posture and back pain was amazing. If I had the time I would do another class per week.

I will say that instructor quality varies hugely and it is really important to get someone that knows what they are doing. I go to an exercise physiologist practice and they are 5 year university trained plus they have done extra Pilates training. I know of some instructors that have done a few months course and then are advising (often incorrectly) about injury modifications, diastasis recti etc.

That’s good to hear, about the improvement with once a week classes. My primary goal initially, and for quite a while, will be to help with my back issues and build core strength. The instructor I want for private lessons is a physical therapist (y’all might refer to them as physiologist, they helptreat injuries and build strength, it is an 8 year degree these days) that’s the whole reason I decided I might give it a shot. I don’t want to make things worse and my doctor has flat out told me not to take yoga and she only wants a physical therapist to do the type of massage she wants me to get.