Thinking about investing in an at-home Reformer Pilates machine? Read this

Spoil yourself for once

If you’re as obsessed with planking and glute pulses as I am, you’ve probably found yourself considering splashing out on an at-home Reformer Pilates machine. Here’s what you need to know before taking the plunge.

Like most people who spent their childhood and teenage years in pink ballet tights, I wasted no time jumping feet-first into a Pilates studio after hanging up my pointe shoes in high school. 

While my friends preferred to embrace contact sports and half-marathon training, I couldn't resist the familiar lengthening and toning movements of Pilates, signing up for every mat, reformer and barre class I could find. 

Now, ten years on, I’ve tried almost every studio on the east and west coasts of this country. If Pilates was an Olympic sport, I’d be proudly repping that green and gold faster than it takes your favourite instructor to countdown a ‘ten’ second plank hold. 

But like most of my tastes, my daily obsession with Pilates doesn’t exactly come cheap. 

With unlimited memberships (which let’s be honest, is what you need if you’re a Pilates pro) costing on average between $60 to $90 per week, there’s no denying Pilates is an expensive hobby. Add to that figure the accumulating (and unavoidable) no-show and late cancellation fees, and the real financial toll of being a Pilates Princess quickly becomes clear. 

So, when given the opportunity to trial Your Reformer’s new foldable bed, I couldn’t resist putting the chic apparatus to the test to see if the at-home experience could really rival the quality and atmosphere of my favourite studio classes. 

Your Reformer Original bed, $2,995 from yourreformer.com.au

Your Reformer Original bed

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Made to the exact same specifications as their popular Original Reformer bed, I was blown away by the sheer quality of every single part and prop that came with the machine. The springs, cushioning and pulleys were, in my opinion, better than those at some of Sydney’s best studios. 

And while it is designed to be folded in half for easier storage, don’t be foolish in assuming the machine is anything but sturdy. Set up and packing down the foldable reformer is definitely a two-person job – unless like me, your toxic trait is believing you have the upper body strength of someone twice your size (newsflash, you don’t). 

Even though I wouldn’t wish the challenge of hauling the bed up three flights of stairs on my worst enemy – yes, I probably could’ve waited for my partner to get home, but your girl was impatient to try it out! – the machine was simple enough to set up and get going. (There are some handy YouTube videos to guide you through the process if you do get stuck, though.)

While it is designed to be folded in half for easier storage, don’t be foolish in assuming the machine is anything but sturdy. Image: Supplied

Is the investment worth it?

Sure, dropping a few grand on a single piece of exercise equipment seems a tad exorbitant – even to the most wellness-obsessed. But apply a quick girl-math cost comparison, and the numbers speak for themselves.

If you’re someone like me who has never tired of the workout once in their adult life – rocking up to mat, reformer and barre classes day after day – it’s almost comical to look back at all the money poured into class packs and memberships over the years.  

At $79 a week, my unlimited membership to my go-to Pilates studio isn’t exactly the most affordable gym membership out there, but for a Pilates princess like myself – who sometimes clocks in two classes a day – it’s a pretty fair number considering the cost-per-class ratio. 

But add up a year’s worth of these weekly transactions, and you’re looking at a total of $4,108. And that’s not even including the number of times I’m charged an unavoidable no-show fee or late-cancellation fee. 

In comparison, the YR Original and YR Original Folding bed both sit at $2,995 – plus, you won’t be stung with any no-show fees if you decide to push back your home workout. 

You won’t be stung with any no-show fees if you decide to push back your home workout. Image: Supplied

The added benefits you just can't ignore

With every folding or original bed purchase, comes a bunch of extra perks courtesy of Your Reformer, valued at over $400. Not only is every new Reformer owner gifted a complimentary jump board and box attachment upon purchase, but they’re also given the brand’s signature Prop Starter Kit – including a set of 1kg dumbbells, Pilates ball, Pilates ring and a pair of grip socks. 

While the props are perfect for taking exercises on the reformer to new, leg-shaking heights, the best part about using the machine over the last few months has been the intuitive and comprehensive app. 

With a catalogue of bite-sized workouts, lengthy challenges and in-depth tutorials at my fingertips, mixing up my reformer classes every day has been a breeze. Every new reformer comes complete with a free three-month membership to the platform, allowing you to trial every instructor’s style and workout vibe extensively. 

With every folding or original bed purchase, comes a bunch of extra perks courtesy of Your Reformer. Image: Supplied

Not sure you can store a reformer machine at home? Worry not

Like most people renting in Sydney right now, convincing my partner that adding a reformer bed to our living room decor was a bit of a challenge at first. But after a bit of furniture maneuvering and giving the set-up and pack-down process a few practices, we’ve found the folded bed (when not in use) actually stores itself quite nicely. 

If you aren’t quite convinced an at-home reformer machine is the right fit for you (or can’t yet work out how to make one work in your inner-city apartment), Your Reformer also offer the option to rent their Original reformer bed, from just $39 per week. 

It’s a great way to test the waters and familiarise yourself with how best to incorporate Reformer Pilates into your routine with ease. 

t might be time to properly consider the benefits of an at-home Reformer machine. Image: iStock

If you’re addicted to Pilates and are already budgeting for a pricey weekly membership, it might be time to properly consider the benefits of an at-home Reformer machine. For anyone interested in the idea of taking the plunge and investing in their health and wellness, I can’t recommend Your Reformer’s beds enough. 

Being able to work out on my own schedule and in the comfort of my own home – without sacrificing quality – is a luxury I don’t know if I’ll be able to let go of anytime soon. 

Plus, unlike during a class at my usual studio, if a sudden glute cramp takes over – or the instructor hits me with a signature slow-motion countdown while planking – I can simply press pause, take a breather, and jump back into things at my own pace. 

At-home machines, while an initially pricey investment, are a wonderful tool for anyone living far away from a good-quality studio, and those recovering from an injury or childbirth who may need to take a slower, more curated approach to their workout. 

And for Pilates nuts who simply can’t get enough and are looking to squeeze in a glute workout or planking series in between WFH meetings and school pickups, Your Reformer’s bite-sized workouts are the perfect way to get your fix throughout the day. 

Originally published as Thinking about investing in an at-home Reformer Pilates machine? Read this