Are there any negatives to reformer Pilates?
Yes, a few. The main negatives of reformer Pilates are cost, patchy access, a learning curve and a higher risk of technique mistakes in crowded classes with heavy springs. It won't replace strength training or cardio, either. For most healthy adults these are trade-offs to manage, not reasons to avoid it.
If that's all you needed, you're free to go. If you're deciding whether to book a class or buy a machine, the details below could save you money and a sore hip.
Is reformer Pilates expensive?
Yes. In Australia you'll pay more for reformer Pilates than for any other weekly fitness class, according to an iSelect survey reported in January 2026. It averaged $72.67 a week, ahead of CrossFit at $60.37, and about $82 in Canberra.
University of South Australia researchers writing in The Conversation say that even at $20 to $30 a class, two or three sessions a week is a significant outlay, and access is patchy, since not every suburb has a studio. Commenters under a popular YouTube review of 100 reformer classes agreed: several said cost limits how often they can go.
A home reformer runs about $1,700 to $5,000+, which can beat a year or two of class fees if you'll use it twice a week. The UK's Pilates Foundation urges caution, though. Its adviser says you can't learn to use one from video alone, and suggests you spend the money on a good teacher unless you're a teacher yourself.
We sell reformers, so weigh this next point accordingly: The Conversation's authors say mat Pilates may suit you better if you want similar benefits for less. Our buyer's guide covers what to ask about any reformer.
Is reformer Pilates as gentle as it looks?
No. "Low impact" means no pounding on your joints, not an easy session. Healthline uses the phrase, while a personal trainer writing in Mamamia says there's nothing restful about it and even seasoned gym-goers are surprised by how hard it is.
Picture your Thursday rest day. Everyone says reformer Pilates is gentle, so you book a beginner class. There are fifteen reformers and one instructor, and the springs are heavier than your body wants.
Nothing hurts in class. Two days later your hip does, you blame your age, and you don't go back.
One poster described something close in a 2023 Mumsnet thread: a beginner class of about 15, then hip and lower back pain after four sessions. The poster allowed that the pain might have another cause. Several replies called reformer Pilates far from gentle and said 15 was too many for anyone to supervise. One said they'd never been hurt across four studios.
The fix is dull but works. Arrive 15 minutes early so you get a run-down of the machine and can flag your limits, as Mamamia's trainer advises. Ask for fewer springs, which means less resistance, than you'd guess, and add more later, as Medical News Today suggests. You'll leave tired in a good way, not limping.
Give yourself time, too. The Conversation's authors say your workouts are likely less effective for the first few weeks or months while you learn the machine.
Can reformer Pilates cause injuries?
Sometimes. Healthline calls reformer Pilates generally safe but says people can get hurt if they use the equipment incorrectly or lose their form. In the sources we checked, nobody gives an injury rate. What exists is case reports, media stories and professional opinion.
The professionals' worry is the instruction you get, not the machine. The Pilates Foundation says vocational teacher training takes at least 12 months, and its adviser reports being told some gyms prepare instructors in just a couple of days. HFE, a UK provider that sells reformer teacher courses, argues that injuries are rising, citing media reports and case reports. Both have a stake in tougher standards, so you should read them as informed, not neutral.
How can you tell if a class is safe?
Use the Pilates Foundation's checklist:
- Class size. No more than 5 people, so each of you gets proper attention. Some studios cap classes at 6 to 8, others run 15 to 20 reformers in one room, so ask which you're booking. Our studio vs reformer guide explains the difference.
- Credentials. Ask how long your instructor studied, and whether that covered more than the reformer. Australian qualifications vary, says The Conversation, and some take much less time than others.
- Springs. If you're told to attach all of them in your first class, the Foundation says to leave.
Who should check with a doctor or physio first?
Healthline says reformer Pilates may be unsafe if you're pregnant, have a spinal condition, or are injured or recently had surgery, so talk to a doctor first. If you're hypermobile, one YouTube commenter said class instructors rarely catch locked knees and suggested seeing a physio who uses a reformer. When in doubt, ask your GP or physio before you book.
Is reformer Pilates enough for strength and cardio?
Not on its own. You'll build strength, just less efficiently than with weights. In an 8-week trial, 47 women with overweight or obesity did supervised reformer sessions three times a week and gained handgrip strength and trunk endurance, while a no-exercise control group didn't improve.
So it beats doing nothing. But the trial was small, short and didn't compare reformer with weights, and The Conversation's authors say weight training will likely build more strength.
Cardio is murkier. Several ranking guides call reformer Pilates poor cardio.
A small University of Tasmania study of 18 adults over 60 tracked a circuit that included reformer work. Average heart rate was 87 beats a minute, with about 23 of 35 minutes in a "training zone" set at just 55% of maximum. That's a workout, not a run.
If heart health is your reason for trying it, our piece on reformer Pilates and cholesterol shows what the research does and doesn't say.
YouTube commenters, including one who said they teach Pilates, gave the same advice: pair it with weights or cardio, don't swap it for them. Add some lifting and a regular walk, and reformer Pilates becomes the piece that keeps you moving well, not your whole plan.
Who should skip reformer Pilates?
You may be better off elsewhere if you fit one of these:
- Tight budgets. Mat Pilates gives you similar benefits for less, say The Conversation's authors.
- Strength or running goals. They say strength training is probably your best bet for daily-life strength, and running for a marathon.
- Nervous first-timers. Some commenters felt nervous about the equipment, and a few mat classes first can help the reformer click faster.
- Complex injuries. If you have one, get advice first and look for a small, closely supervised class.
Not sure which group you're in? Book a session with one of our specialists and we'll talk through your space, goals and budget, including whether you should buy at all.
Is reformer Pilates worth it?
For most healthy adults, yes, provided you pick a small, well-taught class and keep your expectations realistic. It's a good low-impact way to build strength, balance and body awareness, but not the cheapest or most efficient route to any single goal. The exceptions are a complex injury, a tight budget, or a goal that needs something more specific.
Try it before you commit. If you're weighing a home machine, our 30-day returns let you test the fit in your own space, and if it's not right, send it back. No guilt. Browse our studio and foldable reformers.
FAQ
Does reformer Pilates really change your body?
It can, modestly. In that same trial, average body fat fell from 39.3% to 37.3% in the reformer group and rose from 39.5% to 40.2% in the control group. Diet wasn't controlled and only women with overweight or obesity took part, so treat it as a sign, not a promise.
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