The Pilates reformer is a traditional piece of Pilates equipment which looks like a bed with springs, a sliding carriage, ropes and pulleys. It is the one of most versatile and effective piece of exercise equipment.

The 5 springs provide much of the resistance on the reformer, adding or subtracting springs can vary the intensity considerably. The surprising element of the Reformer is at times more springs (resistance) reduces the exercise difficulty and at other times increases intensity.

The Reformer allows exercise in a horizontal plane of motion without vertically loading and weight-bearing through the legs.ie. following a knee injury or surgery exercising in the horizontal plane enables strengthening of the lower limb through a larger range of motion, whilst using a lighter resistance than their body weight. Therefore the reformer assists accelerating the recovery process through controlled progressive resistance.

Reformer Pilates works on core stabilisation, muscle endurance, lactate tolerance, peripheral joint stability, muscle strength, balance, coordination.
The number of exercises available on the reformer would seem only limited by the imagination.