Innerform Pilates
01 - REFORMER PILATES

Reformer Pilates

11 reformers 50 min £33 intro offer grip socks

Reformer Pilates is low-impact strength training on a sprung carriage - the machine adds or takes away resistance with springs, so the work meets you wherever you are. It builds real strength: a stronger core, better posture, more mobility, with a teacher watching your form the whole way. We teach it here in Lewisham, across three levels - and if you've never set foot on a reformer, that's exactly who Foundation is for. It's challenging, it's a little bit addictive, and it's way less scary than it looks.

A Reformer Pilates class at Innerform's Lewisham studio - members on the reformers, a teacher checking form mid-class.

Strength you can feel. Built one controlled movement at a time.

WHAT TO KNOW

What to know.

What to expect

A 50-minute class on the reformer, with a teacher on the floor the whole time. If it's your first one, we'll start by showing you around the machine so you feel comfortable - what the straps and springs do, how to get on and off - then take you through a steady-paced class: footwork, springs, a bit of core, mobility, posture. You'll hear cues like "neutral spine, don't flare the ribs, find your core" - that's the teacher keeping your form honest, not catching you out. Don't worry, we'll always offer layers, so you can take it gently or push it further.

How often

Once a week keeps you ticking over - a strong, steady part of the rest of your week. Come twice or more and you'll feel yourself progressing faster; the work compounds. There's no rule and no programme to sign up to. Plenty of members pair Reformer Pilates with Mat Pilates, Barre, Small Group Personal Training or Yoga - all five sit inside the same membership.

Who teaches it

The Innerform teaching roster - instructors from different schools, different training backgrounds, no weekend-cert teachers, and everyone teaches a class back to us before they teach it to you. You'll have the same teacher in your slot each week, so they get to know how you move. See who's teaching Reformer Pilates this week on the schedule, or meet the whole roster on our teachers page.

THREE LEVELS

Three levels.

There's a class for wherever you are right now - and one to grow into.

Foundation - start here

If you're new to Reformer Pilates, or you want to go back to basics, this is the one. We start at the base - how the machine works, how to set your springs, the fundamentals of footwork, core, posture and co-ordination - and build from there at a steady pace, so your technique is solid before anything gets harder. If you're brand new, we'd suggest at least three Foundation classes before you try Intermediate - though plenty of people happily do more. No rush; this is where the strength gets built properly.

Open - any level

We'll meet you exactly where you are. Open Level is flexible around your experience and your schedule - a dependable option if you can't make a Foundation or Intermediate time, and a good next step for regular Foundation-goers who want a class with more progressions. The teacher layers it up or strips it back to suit the room, with clear cueing and simple modifications, so a beginner can follow safe options while someone more experienced pushes the resistance and the variations. If you're completely new, we'd still point you to Foundation first.

Intermediate - for when you're ready for more

For when you're comfortable with the basics and ready for more - more resistance, more progressions, cleaner transitions, stronger engagement. Intermediate stays true to itself: we add layers to make it harder, we don't water it down. So if you're brand new, this isn't the place to start - Foundation is the class built for that, and it's the way in. Once you've got a few Foundation classes behind you, Intermediate is where it gets really good.

Not sure where to start?

Start with Foundation - really. It's built for first-timers and back-to-basics alike, and from there your teacher will tell you when you're ready for more. Book the £33 intro offer, pick a Foundation class, and come find out it's friendlier than the machinery makes it look.

QUESTIONS

About Reformer Pilates.

What is Reformer Pilates?

Reformer Pilates is low-impact strength training done on a machine called a reformer - a sliding carriage with springs that add or take away resistance. You work against that resistance through controlled, full-body movements, with a teacher watching your form throughout. It builds core strength, better posture and more mobility, and because the springs scale to any starting point, it genuinely suits all levels - at Innerform we teach it in Lewisham, in classes of up to 11, across three levels.

Is Reformer Pilates good for beginners?

Completely - most people in our Foundation classes are starting from scratch. Foundation is the level built for your first time: we show you round the machine before anything moves, keep the pace steady, and offer easier and harder options the whole way through, so you're never stuck and never lost. If you're brand new we'd point you to Foundation first - and we'd suggest a few Foundation classes before moving up. Book the £33 intro offer and come to a Foundation class first.

What should I wear, and do I need grip socks?

Wear something you can move in - leggings or shorts and a top that won't ride up when you're lying down. Grip socks are required for Reformer (they keep you steady on the carriage), and if you don't have a pair we sell them at the studio, so you're covered. Bring a water bottle; the showers are stocked with everything else - shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, hairbands. That's it.

How is Reformer Pilates different from Mat Pilates?

The reformer adds adjustable resistance; Mat Pilates uses just your bodyweight on a mat. Think of it this way: your leg weighs what it weighs - on a mat, that's the load you're working with; on a reformer, the springs can make it lighter or heavier to suit you. They're not a ladder, with one above the other - they're different, and they complement each other well, which is why a lot of members do both. If a roomful of machines isn't where you want to begin, Mat Pilates is a calm place to start; if you like the idea of resistance you can dial in, start with Reformer Foundation.

How often should I do Reformer Pilates?

Once a week keeps you ticking over nicely; come twice or more and you'll progress faster - the work compounds. There's no rule, and nothing you have to commit to up front. Mat Pilates does the same job, so either one on its own maintains you and a combination is good for progress; some members add Barre or Small Group Personal Training for more intensity, or Yoga for mobility - all five are in the same membership.
MORE CLASSES

More classes.

Five disciplines, one membership.

See all five class types →

INTRO OFFER

Try three classes for £33.

Three classes for £33, valid for fourteen days, and you can use them across Reformer Pilates and our four other disciplines. If it's your first time on a reformer, pick a Foundation class - that's the one built for it. Everyone's welcome; no experience needed.

Try three classes for £33 See membership options