The At-Home Pilates Reformer

We were determined to find out. As January’s blustering cold continues to build and our motivation continues to dwindle, this month’s We Tried It was all about finding a new way to workout...preferably one that doesn’t include leaving the house. Enter: The Gaiam Pilates At-Home Reformer, a just-in piece of exercise equipment that Team FP Movement was dying to test out.

Tested out by two women who know their way around a reformer, the Gaiam was put to the test by Jackie, a member of the FP Movement Merchandising team and a Core Power instructor, and Misa, a member of the Free People Merchandising team and a SolidCore instructor. We’ll let them take it from here:

Jackie: “I did pretty much a full body workout. The exercises I did are: lateral lunges and reverse lunges, which works the glutes, quads, calves, and hamstrings, overhead tricep extensions, which works triceps, wide arm bicep curls, and front raises, which work the biceps and shoulders. I also did some mountain climbers, plank holds, and plank crunches, which work the transverse abdominals (top and bottom abs and obliques) and shoulders. I finished off with some push ups to work my chest and core”

Misa: “I used the reformer primarily for center exercises: a plank hold, cat/cow or prone crunch, and sliding plank extensions. These exercises mostly targeted my transverse abdominal muscles by adding instability through sliding or extending. The rectus abdominis was the muscle focus in the prone crunches / cat cows.”

So…what did we think of the reformer?

Jackie: “Overall I do think this would be better for someone who is more of a beginner, because they will just be getting used to doing these moves. When I take a reformer class, I typically use a mid-high resistance to challenge myself more, but this does not allow for added resistance and I think that would be the most important thing to make this a better option for people who use reformers often. However, it offers a variety of workouts to target many different muscle groups and it’s portable and lightweight so can bring it with you to the gym or on-the-go. Very easy and intuitive to assemble!”

Misa: “I thought it was a great supplementary reformer option for at home. For me it would be a nice way to practice form, focus on core, and find some low pressure at-home movement. I didn't see myself getting an intense sweaty workout at home, but that is what I liked about it. Since I'm someone that regularly takes + coaches high intensity megaformer classes, I'm always looking for ways to incorporate some of those workouts at home without it feeling like a daunting physical challenge.”

What about home workouts in general?

Jackie: “I 100% prefer to workout in a studio with a guided instructor and other people in class. It’s just much more motivating to me personally. Working out at home is good for people who want to be more private and are a little more shy to step into a gym/studio, but I find it really helpful to have someone guiding you and telling you how to do specific workouts.”

Misa: “I find it hard to workout at home. I find I need to leave my house for a scheduled workout time to actually get myself to workout. I will say, the size of this reformer is just perfect for small spaces. I used it right at my desk and downstairs in the living room. Highly recommend using a mat under it to keep it from sliding!”

These workouts primarily engage your core (including deep abdominals and back muscles) while also strengthening glutes, hips, shoulders, and legs. The controlled movements help build strength, stability, and flexibility all at once, targeting smaller stabilizing muscles that traditional exercises often miss.

Absolutely! Our compact reformer is designed with beginners in mind, offering a gentle introduction to reformer-style movements. Just move slowly, focus on proper form, and start with shorter sessions to build strength and body awareness before progressing.

You'll need enough room to lie down fully and move your arms and legs freely (basically, a yoga mat's worth of space). We recommend clearing a flat, non-slip surface with a few feet of clearance around you and placing a mat underneath to keep everything stable.

Consistency is key! Many people notice improvements in strength and posture with 2–4 Pilates sessions per week. We love alternating reformer days with rest or lighter movement to support recovery and keep your body balanced.

While a compact Pilates reformer offers similar resistance patterns and core engagement as studio equipment, it's best for light to moderate resistance and learning foundational moves. It's a wonderful way to practice form, focus on your core, and enjoy low-pressure movement without leaving home.

We recommend soft-stretch, low-impact pieces that move with you—think comfortable sports bras, breathable leggings with four-way stretch, and grippy Pilates socks for enhanced stability. Choose styles that keep you dry and distraction-free so you can focus on your flow.

A thick mat adds comfort, especially for kneeling exercises. You might also enjoy small props like light hand or ankle weights, blocks, or a Pilates ball if your routine calls for them, but the reformer itself is a great starting point.

Look for video classes, digital workouts or detailed exercise guides that walk you through sequences step by step. Following an instructor helps you maintain proper alignment, find the right resistance, and keep your practice varied and effective.