Warning: Reformer (lessons) for sale at Aldi!

When I started my studio years ago with just one second-hand reformer and slowly bought some quality material, I really never thought that "Reformerclasses" would become such a hit. To be honest, there was simply no budget to put 6 reformers side by side, let alone 20. And it all started with another hype: Mat Pilates. That was basically a trainer who did training on the weekend and was looking for guinea pigs on Mondays to try everything out. And that on a dirty Mat in the gym or in a discarded gym full of elderly people. Painful to see for real Pilates professionals, but at some point it became clear who really mattered in this world. Although it was also quite sour that Mat Pilates became a kind of reference, because believe me, that is really only a small part of the Pilates Method. And it is not at all suitable for people with back or neck problems... But that was usually solved by just calling it Pilates, when it had nothing to do with Pilates at all. By the way, you can still see that, if you scroll quickly on Instagram, you will see all kinds of exercises that are sold as Pilates.

Anyway, now the situation has gone in a completely different direction. Mat Pilates has been pushed into the background and Reformer Pilates comes to the fore. Let me sketch out what it looks like: 20 Mega-Reformers (or something like that), pumping beats, fitness exercises on the reformers, weak quality, and a trainer. On the outside, there seems to be nothing wrong. A year ago we thought: let's try that too, and it was... really terrible. Everything that Pilates stands for in my opinion is completely ignored. I myself like a little music during a lesson, but not that distracting music. But that's not even that bad. What is so powerful about giving Pilates classes is that you really make a personal connection with each participant. You can make someone feel better in one hour - physically and mentally, make them stronger, more flexible... You can show people the way with your words, your body and your hands. Your participants really need an extra push and pull sometimes. But if you work with equipment that is actually not even allowed to bear the name "Reformer", you immediately get into a completely different street - the street of fitness equipment.

Don't get me wrong, I love the gym. But Pilates should remain Pilates, and not a one-man show of a trainer who probably has no idea what he/she is doing. After all these years of running a Pilates studio, my first line is: find a real Pilates studio if you want to do Pilates. They must have everything: Mats, Chairs, Reformers, Barrels... The second rule is that your trainer himself must train well and be educated. In our profession, that means that you spend years to complete your education (if you are already possible). I also think that 6 reformers is really the maximum for supervising a group lesson. For less experienced trainers I would recommend even less. You need a good eye and a little discipline to give a good workout. A good trainer knows what's coming in the Pilates trajectory; when you have mastered one, a new door opens with new things. And ladder by ladder you get better and better.

I get it, young people see something in this; that hype atmosphere, the music, even more young people, a community. As Pilates studio owners, we can also learn something from that. Sometimes we are so busy with ourselves, being a bit rigid, causing others to run with the prizes. There is work for everyone, so a little collegiality wouldn't hurt either. But that's a story for another time.