There’s Reformer and there’s Reformer…

The rise of commercial pop-up Reformer Pilates studios has made the method far more visible and accessible, but it’s also introduced a tension between the essence of Pilates as a method and its commodification as a fitness trend.

Reformer Pilates is being diluted by the commercial boom- here are my thoughts as a classically trained Classic Mat and Reformer instructor:

Classical Pilates emphasises controlled, precise movement, breath coordination, progression, and individual adaptation. It’s a system, not just a workout.

Commercial pop-ups often strip this down to fast-paced, “burn-style” classes marketed as cardio or toning. The focus moves to calorie burn, sweat, and intensity rather than alignment, control, and mind–body connection.

Traditionally, Pilates teachers undergo hundreds of hours of training across mat, Reformer, and other apparatus, with in-depth anatomy study.

Many pop-up studios hire instructors trained via short crash courses (sometimes just a weekend certification). This lowers cost but risks injury and dilutes the knowledge base.

Pilates was designed to be adaptive to each body — addressing imbalances, injuries, and progression.

In commercial settings, large group classes (12–20 Reformers packed into a studio) mean cookie-cutter routines, with little attention to form or modifications. This makes Pilates look more like group HIIT on a machine than therapeutic movement.

Joseph Pilates’ method (“Contrology”) was about whole-body health, discipline, and lifelong practice.

Pop-up studios reduce it to a trendy, Instagrammable workout, stripping away the philosophy and deeper benefits.

The one positive to this commercial boom is these pop-ups are introducing thousands of people to Reformer Pilates who might never have tried it. Some hopefully may transition into more traditional, teacher-led Pilates after exposure.

The challenge that teachers like myself are faced with is without education, many people now equate Pilates with “sweaty group Reformer classes,” undermining the credibility of classical teachers and potentially putting clients at risk. Always check who is teaching you- are they qualified to Level 3 in both Classic Mat and Reformer?

I will continue to stay true to my training and only deliver movement based sequences that are under the umbrella of the Josepth Pilates Method!