{"id":260729,"date":"2026-01-27T21:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/260729\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T21:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:52:10","slug":"i-did-100-reformer-pilates-classes-heres-what-happened-to-my-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/260729\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I did 100 reformer Pilates classes \u2013 here’s what happened to my body’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reformer Pilates<\/a> is now one of the most popular workouts globally. According to a report from Allied Market Research<\/a>, the Pilates and yoga studio industry is projected to reach $520.6 billion by 2035, growing by 14.3 per cent between 2025 and 2035, and it was ClassPass’ most-booked workout<\/a> of 2024.<\/p>\n

Fitness enthusiast Michel Janse<\/a> decided to put the hype to the test by completing 100 reformer Pilates classes to see whether she\u2019d experience any meaningful benefits. \u2018I\u2019m here to share all of my thoughts on whether I like reformer Pilates, if I\u2019ve noticed a change in my body, if I think it\u2019s worth the hype, or if I just think it\u2019s an expensive trend,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

Not an elite athlete, Janse had dabbled in a wide range of workouts, from tap dancing and Orangetheory to cycling. \u2018I have always loved trying workout classes and sticking with them,\u2019 she explained. Ready to commit to something new, here\u2019s what she discovered after developing a consistent Pilates practice.
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1. Joint stability improves<\/p>\n

One of Janse\u2019s main reasons for starting Pilates was to address joint instability. \u2018I have hypermobility and something that I suspect runs in my family called hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome [hEDS], where my joints dislocate all the time,\u2019 she explained.<\/p>\n

She hoped reformer Pilates would help her build stability. \u2018I looked at Pilates as a way of building strength because it focuses on tiny stabilising muscles. I did dance growing up, and I\u2019d compare Pilates to using some of the same muscles you\u2019d use in ballet at the barre.\u2019<\/p>\n

Around class 30 or 40, she began to notice changes. By the end of the 100 classes, she was barely experiencing dislocations at all. \u2018I haven\u2019t had a shoulder \u201cuh-oh\u201d in months, whereas it used to be almost a bi-weekly occurrence that I would at least sublux and have to grab my shoulder and pull it back in. That was the main goal, and I feel like I accomplished it.\u2019<\/p>\n

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She did, however, experience some knee discomfort, though it wasn\u2019t clear whether Pilates was the cause. \u2018Normally my knees don\u2019t bother me because I stay away from high-impact activities. But I\u2019ve noticed during plank sequences or movements where I have to lock my knees, they catch and feel like they might slip or pop. It might be my form. Otherwise, all of my other joints feel so much better.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\"fitness<\/a>2. It builds core strength \u2013 with the right technique<\/p>\n

\u2018So much of Pilates is core-focused,\u2019 Janse says. Even when movements target other muscle groups, the abs are almost always engaged. \u2018You\u2019ll be sitting doing arm work, but you\u2019re scooped into a C-curve while pulling the ropes. If you\u2019re not engaging your core properly, you could be training your muscles to work incorrectly.\u2019<\/p>\n

For that reason, she recommends choosing a studio that prioritises technique. \u2018That\u2019s the critical difference between enjoying your classes and seeing results versus not.\u2019 <\/p>\n

3. Variety prevents plateaus and boredom<\/p>\n

One of the biggest draws was that no two classes felt the same. \u2018Even if we do similar movements, the sequences are always completely different.\u2019 That variety also ensured a full-body workout using just one machine. \u2018I trust that I\u2019m not overworking the same muscles and neglecting others. Everything gets hit across the week.\u2019<\/p>\n

Unlike gym machines<\/a> that isolate one muscle group, reformer Pilates allows you to adjust resistance while staying on the same piece of equipment. \u2018You can customise the weight on one machine the whole time.\u2019<\/p>\n

It was a refreshing change from workouts she\u2019d previously found repetitive. \u2018I\u2019ve taken so many classes, like cycling<\/a>, where it\u2019s the same thing every day. Eventually, I feel like I\u2019ve hit a wall. With Pilates, there\u2019s so much variety and customisation that reaching a plateau feels far less likely.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"100<\/p>\n

Michel Janse\/\/YouTube<\/p>\n

4. Mental health benefits show up quickly<\/p>\n

The psychological benefits were immediate. \u2018I felt the mental benefits straight away,\u2019 Janse says, crediting the calming studio environment. \u2018It feels like a treat to go, the playlists are great, and I leave feeling refreshed and in a better headspace.\u2019<\/p>\n

She also likened Pilates to yoga<\/a> in its restorative elements. \u2018You finish with stretching, breathing and mindfulness. And sometimes you\u2019re lying down for a good chunk of the class, which doesn\u2019t hurt.\u2019<\/p>\n

Another unexpected benefit was switching off digitally. \u2018In a class, I don\u2019t have my phone with me. Taking an hour to unplug has had such a positive impact on my mental health.\u2019 She also found it sparked creativity. \u2018So many ideas come to me mid-class. It\u2019s better than shower thoughts.\u2019<\/p>\n

5. It\u2019s not enough for cardio on its own<\/p>\n

One downside was that Pilates alone didn\u2019t improve her cardiovascular fitness. \u2018It\u2019s really not very cardio-focused. Sometimes my heart rate goes up during a tough plank<\/a> or lunge sequence, but it\u2019s nothing like doing proper cardio,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

Research supports this. One study found energy expenditure during Pilates was similar to slow walking at 3.2kph and lower than normal walking at 4.8kph, suggesting it may not be enough to drive aerobic adaptations.<\/p>\n

As a result, Janse plans to add more cardio alongside Pilates. \u2018It would probably be healthy to mix in cycling or walking on an incline<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n

6. Physical changes happen gradually<\/p>\n

Visible changes took time. \u2018Around class 70, we were facing the mirror during some tricep<\/a> and shoulder work, and I noticed a bit of muscle<\/a> definition,\u2019 she said. \u2018I\u2019ve never really seen myself look strong before.\u2019<\/p>\n

Feeling stronger was one of her original goals, and she feels she achieved it. \u2018I\u2019ve noticed big improvements in how I feel day to day.\u2019 That was partly due to choosing a strength-focused Pilates studio. \u2018There\u2019s a lot of slow, controlled, weighted, balance-focused work.\u2019<\/p>\n

7. Progress is possible at any level<\/p>\n

One of Janse\u2019s favourite aspects was how adaptable the workout is. \u2018They always give modifications to make an exercise easier or harder.\u2019 That flexibility made progress feel accessible. \u2018As long as you\u2019re in tune with your body and know what\u2019s challenging, you can keep improving.\u2019<\/p>\n

After 100 classes, she doesn\u2019t see it as the end point. \u2018I want to keep going because I genuinely enjoy it, and that says a lot about the workout.\u2019
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