Subriah
16 Nov 2025
Pilates
What is Reformer Pilates?
Reformer Pilates is more than a workout; it’s a system designed to retrain how your body moves. Born from Joseph Pilates’ early rehabilitation work during World War I, the method evolved into what he called Contrology: the practice of strengthening the body through deliberate, focused movement. Today, the Reformer machine remains the heart of the practice. With its moving carriage, adjustable springs, and supportive straps, it creates a dynamic environment where mobility, strength, and balance come together. Add props like the magic circle, Pilates ball, or light weights, and you can dial the challenge up or down to suit your own pace. Every class is shaped by six core principles: breathing, centering, concentration, control, precision, and flow. These principles aren’t fluff; they’re the reason Pilates improves posture, builds deeper strength, and sharpens body awareness. You learn to move with intention rather than momentum, creating a workout that’s low-impact, technical, and transformative. Ready to feel it for yourself? Explore our group classes or book a private session to experience Reformer Pilates the way it was meant to be; focused, controlled, and entirely centred on you.
What is Reformer Pilates?
The Pilates method was developed by Joseph Pilates during World War I to rehabilitate injured soldiers using springs attached to hospital beds. Joseph later opened his first studio in New York City and designed the Reformer machine to help people improve mobility, conditioning and develop strength.
Your intro to the Reformer Bed:
The Reformer bed is composed of a carriage, springs that can be adjusted to change resistance and straps to support different movements. Reformer Pilates is all about movement with intention - improving mobility, building strength, and creating balance. Using props like the magic circle, Pilates ball, or light weights can add challenge or support, helping you progress at your own pace.
Joseph originally called his method Contrology - the art of controlling your body through the mind. It’s the foundation of what we now know as Pilates.
The 6 key principles that shape every class:
Breathing
Breathing helps your body move with rhythm and ease. It supports oxygen flow, helps you stay present, and connects your movement to your nervous system.
Centering
Everything starts from your centre - your core, pelvic floor, and back muscles working together to support a neutral spine. You’ll often hear cues like, “zip up your jeans” or “draw your lower tummy away from your waistband” - small reminders to activate your centre with intention.
Concentration
Concentration connects your body with your mind. It helps bring awareness to your body and ensures you are moving mindfully. It also ensures more precise movement - no autopilot here.
Control
In opposed to relying on momentum, in pilates we focus on control to intentionally move and activate different muscles. This ensures low impact and reduces the chance of injury.
Precision
Each exercise and movement has a purpose and performing it with precision and ensuring attention to detail helps ensure you are getting the desired outcome from a movement. We break each movement down and focus on alignment, form and breath to ensure correct movement.
Flow
Flow brings all the key elements of pilates together and ensures seamless continuous motion and endurance.
Discover Reformer Pilates for yourself.
Join one of our group classes or start with a private session to find your flow.