Anastasis Tzanis

The 7 biggest problems of Reformer Pilates

At Perola Bruta we are obviously biased towards Reformer Pilates, considering it the best thing since sliced sourdough bread. That does not mean though that we don’t acknowledge some problems reformer students have to face. Most of the problems however, I think are easy to overcome!

1 Cost

Reformer Pilates classes tend to be more expensive than most other group fitness sessions. Private sessions on the other hand are more in line with private personal training conducted with experienced personal trainers.

One way or another, the truth is that Reformer Pilates requires a bigger investment than buying a yoga mat.

Solution

There are a few reasons why Reformer Pilates classes are expensive, which is why it is important to sign up only if it is the right fit for you. If you are going through a rehabilitation phase, or you are pregnant it might be worth investing the money for a short period and then moving on to other forms of training.

If money at the moment is tight, you may still want to opt for weight training instead of reformer. The cable machine in the gym provides a good alternative for many Reformer Pilates exercises.

2 Time Commitment

Reformer classes last between 45 and 60min and given that x2 a week is the average frequency most people train on the reformer you could say it is a negligible commitment. The truth is though that time is scarce for most people and for those having a career or a family to look after their schedule is not even consistent.

Is it possible to stop life x2 a week and work on your core, lower back or neck pain?

Solution

Similar to any change you will ever want to implement, there will be resistance initially. Time is never the problem for something that is of high priority. How can you make Reformer Pilates no.1 priority? Practice first thing in the morning, or as early in the day as your schedule allows you to.

3 Accessibility

Reformer classes are not available in most wellness centres and studios. This means that you may have to travel a bit further than you wish to practice reformer. Both Ana and I over the years have traveled a lot, nationally and abroad to meet skilful teachers and develop our knowledge and practice.

Unfortunately we have no solution to offer to this problem. If convenience is top priority for you, you will naturally be limited to what is available near you.

4 Physical Limitations & Injuries

Physical limitations and injuries occasionally come up as a problem, preventing people from training. This can happen for 1 of 3 reasons:

a. They are intimidated by complex pilates workouts

b. They forget that pilates was partly developed to deal with Physical limitations and injuries.

c. They perceive pilates as entertainment.

Solution

Pilates and in particular Private Reformer classes can be tailored to the individual’s needs accounting for any limitations he/she may have. Find an instructor who can accommodate your limitations. Don’t let any preconceptions limit you.

5 Intimidation & Technical Difficulty

The reformer machine initially may look more like a torture chamber than exercise equipment but it usually takes 2-3 classes and you are likely to feel very comfortable using it. The intimidation a lot of people experience with reformer classes however has less to do with the equipments and more to do with themselves performing “awkward” exercises in front of strangers.

Solution

The reality is that when starting out it’s normal to be clumsy with new exercises. When I started out with Pilates I had already been teaching yoga for 5 years and training for +20, yet the first couple of months felt awkward. For that reason I believe that starting out with some private sessions is a good idea for beginners.

If financially private reformer sessions is not an option for you, you can start with mat pilates. All mat pilates exercises are used in reformer classes. Being familiar with the exercises on the mat will help you get comfortable on the reformer a lot faster. Having said that, mat pilates is not a prerequisite for reformer.

6 Inconsistent Instructions

Similar to all services, the experience you will have when going to a class will very much depend on who delivers it. When it comes to inconsistent instructions 2 are the possible scenarios:

a. The instructions are not actually inconsistent but the student misunderstands the instructors’ cues – that is likely to happen in group classes where there is little time for explanations

b. The instructors have opposing views on a specific topic

As a student it will be very hard to tell when an instructor is making a mistake.

Solution

When you find an instructor your resonate with try to stick to his/her classes and avoid jumping form one class to the next. While there is nothing wrong with trying different instructors you will get a lot more out of one’s teachings if you stick with him for a while.

When possible try to ask your instructors any questions you may have on the cues. Attention: If the explanation doesn’t make sense don’t assume he is right and you are stupid. It is my personal opinion that many teachers of classical pilates as well as yoga instructors of traditional styles give many cues that make little sense.

When teaching I aim to explain the reasons behind the exercise selection and the form of execution to my students as I believe that education should accompany practice.

7 Lack of Progress Tracking

Measuring progress is either non-existent or limited in most group pilates and yoga classes. It is not uncommon to hear phrases like: “Practice and everything will come” Or “Practice makes perfect”. The truth is that many students go for years to group “generic” classes realising little to no progress.

Solution

If you are practicing in a group environment – set your own goals. If you work with a personal Reformer Pilates trainer sit down and decide with him on what your short and long term goals should be. Once you have set clear goals, it will be easy to track your progress.

I hope this article is helpful in overcoming some of the common frustrations of Reformer Pilates training; which nonetheless can be extremely beneficial both as the main form of exercise or as a compliment to other types of training.