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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Ellie Davis

Best foldable Reformer Pilates machines for a space saving exercise solution

If it feels like everyone is talking non-stop about Pilates, it’s because they are.

The practice has had a stratospheric rise in popularity in the last few years, in no short thanks to the efficacy of the workout. There’s a reason why Victoria’s Secret models and celebrities from Kourtney Kardashian to Harry Styles praise the movement in their svelte figures.

The strength-building, core-centric exercise offers a low-impact alternative to other intense workouts, remaining gentle on the joints, while still working the muscles so that you can feel the burn from the shoulders down.

“Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s as a form of physical exercise and strength rehabilitation”, explains Jessie Blum, Founder and CEO of Heartcore Pilates. “Joseph Pilates originally called his work “Contrology.” He founded this body/mind/spirit approach to movement on the integrative effect of centring, concentration, control, precision, breath and flow”.

If you want to recreate a Pilates class at home, the equipment required is fairly minimal. You can get by on just a mat, resistance band and a ring. Reformer Pilates, on the other hand? Well, that’s an entirely different story.

Blum highlights the difference: “Reformer Pilates is a full body workout and rather different to mat-based Pilates as the exercises use springs for resistance and usually work muscles through a large range of motion, which is ideal for building and toning muscles as well increasing stability and mobility through the joints.

“Reformer Pilates works the entire body, the core and the peripheral muscles of the arms and legs; in dynamic reformer settings, you’ll often find dumbbells, pilates rings and heavier spring settings incorporated in the workout”.

For Reformer Pilates, you must invest in a designated at-home Reformer Pilates machine. These contraptions are all metal and wood with a carriage that moves with you depending on a combination of adjustable resistance-giving springs, ropes and a foot bar.

You may be looking to elevate your home gym or want to bring the in-studio experience to your own space. You might find it challenging to slot in the fixed class times of the stretch into your busy schedule, or perhaps feel you can better optimise the money that you’re forking out in the costly sessions for something more tangible. No matter why you’re looking to invest in a machine for your home, it will bring the power of mobility, flexibility, balancing and strengthening into your hands.

Fair warning: they don’t come cheap, but a machine should pay for itself in the long run if you’re a regular in classes (£50+ a session). Price-aside, they can also be incredibly cumbersome, taking up far more real estate than most people have to spare. That’s where foldable models come in.

Best foldable Reformer Pilates machines at a glance

These space-saving solutions mean you can make your room multipurpose, unfolding when it’s time to move and stashing it compact when you no longer need it.

See below

AeroPilates Reformer 435 Plus

Best for: a tight budget

Dimensions: L219cm x W42cm x H65cm

This reformer from AeroPilates is great value for money. The sleek black and pink design comes with adjustable resistance cords, plush shoulder rests and optional add-ons, like a pull-up bar for toning that upper body.

However, the real standout feature is the vertical trampoline, ideal for squeezing some cardio into your workout. Jumping while lying horizontally is more effective than using a treadmill or cross-trainer, don’t you know? If you’re tight on space, don’t fret - this model folds down to just 120cm for simple storage.

Downside? When fully assembled, it is significantly shorter than other models on this list, so not ideal for tall practitioners.

Buy now £399.99, Amazon

Latona Foldable Pilates Reformer Machine

Best for: beginners

Dimensions: L248cm x W54cm x H56cm

If you’re relatively new to Pilates, you’ll want a machine that’s straightforward to use and won’t cost thousands.

This Latona machine ticks a lot of boxes with its five adjustable carriage springs, four-foot bar positions and double loop handles, primed for progression. Unlike other models, this reformer sits flush to the ground, ensuring optimal stability when you’re practising those tricky balance postures.

Bonus? It folds away easily in seconds to just 132 cm in length and locks into place. Latona also has its own monthly online subscription service for 24/7 classes.

Buy now £999.00, Latona

Align-Pilates F3 Folding Pilates Reformer

Best for: sturdy yet collapsible design

Dimensions: L242cm x W70cm x H23cm

After numerous iterations, UK brand Align-Pilates has honed its F3 model to ensure it’s its best at-home reformer machine yet.

Slide the carriage along the lightweight aluminium runners and you won’t notice that it’s a foldable design. Add to this the silent rope pulleys and you’ll be impressed by how quiet it is; you won’t even disturb anyone in the next room. When you’re done, just fold it up and use the wheels to slide it into the corner.

Note: It’s not the longest reformer out there, but it’ll suit those up to 6ft 4in tall.

Buy now £1799.99, The Mad Group

nexace Pilates Reformer Machine Foldable Pilates Machine Equipment for Home

Best for: easily assembled

Dimensions: L114.3 x W63.5 x 27.94cm

It takes just a few minutes to assemble the parts of this Pilates machine and then you’ll be up and running. The nexace may not be the most attractive on the market but the metal frame is incredibly sturdy and durable, standing the test of time as you stretch, bend and flex for years to come

What’s more, it’s foldable and there are wheels to move it easily around as needed. While it’s metal, it is fitted out with a plush cushion so you’re comfortable and the carriage glides with ease, no creaking or disturbing the neighbours during your class.

Buy now £499.00, Amazon

FITIS Home Pilates Reformer Edit

Best for: space-deprived Pilates enthusiasts

Dimensions: N/A

If you don’t have the space for a fully-fledged Reformer Pilates machine, Amazon has this innovative solution. It is as if the box was deconstructed, giving the carriage a whole new form. In the set, there’s a birch wood board adorned with wheels and various bands for different levels of resistance ranging from red (extra-heavy) to yellow (extra-light). There is also a non-slip silicone pad to keep you secure while you work your core.

Buy now £209.80, Amazon

Merrithew SPX® Max Reformer Bundle

Best for: storing upright

Dimensions: L246 x W56

Not exactly a folding reformer, the upright stand on this device means it still offers compact storage.

This is a professional-looking Reformer machine complete with all the components you need to step up your Pilates practice to the next level - including a tall box. There’s a delightfully padded carriage with detachable shoulder rests, ropes with a slightly longer design to encourage a full range of motion and a gliding rolling mechanism that comes into play as you move across the aluminium rails.

Buy now £3680.00, Best Gym Equipment

FITT Gym MultiGym Home Workout Machine

Best for: multipurpose use

Dimensions: L165 x W41 x H80cm

If you’re looking for a multitasking machine that will support you beyond your Pilates workout and for other aspects of weight training, this MultiGym has got you covered. It’s easily assembled, collapsed and repositioned so you can incorporate varied exercises for the abs, arms and beyond. The adaptability is endless; you can use it flat, at an incline, with weights or simply bodyweight and it’s sturdy too with a quality steel construction.

Buy now £199.02, Amazon

Frame Sunrise Reformer

Best for: streaming your workout

Dimensions: L94" x W25.5" x H36"

To assist you in your Pilates practice, Frame has constructed an at-home Reformer machine complete with a touchscreen monitor. The display can swivel for easy storage and viewing and it has Bluetooth connectivity so you can play music and stream your workout from your phone to the screen.

Convenience is a priority of the brand, so the machine is on wheels and the resistance can be adjusted at the touch of a button.

Buy now £5799.00, Healf

Need more convincing to join the Reformer Pilates revolution? Jessie Blum, Founder and CEO of Heartcore Pilates breaks it down.

Is Reformer Pilates good for weight loss?

Yes, but it also depends on your lifestyle choices like your diet, how often you move, how well you sleep, genetics etc.

Dynamic Reformer Pilates, especially our Heartcore Method, will get you moving, sweating and working hard in every session. The combination of strength, mobility and conditioning training will help you fire up your metabolism and build muscle mass - which is a great combo for toning your body in a safe way. And with the focus on breath, you’ll also benefit from feeling more connected in mind and body, calming down your nervous system and regulating your hormone levels which can also have a huge impact on your weight and body shape.

Can you do Reformer Pilates while pregnant?

Yes, and we take joy and privilege in guiding women through their pregnancy and beyond. Pilates is a great way to prepare the body for the changes to come and to help it return to its strongest, post-partum. It’s also a great way to boost your mental well-being during a time which, let’s be honest, isn’t without its stresses.

When taught by an expert, Pilates is very safe for mums-to-be and can be practised right up until giving birth. Low-impact exercise classes such as Pilates won’t harm your baby, and there’s evidence that active women are less likely to experience problems in later pregnancy and through labour.

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