
What is Pilates Reformer? What is the difference between it and ordinary Pilates mat?
“You may have seen the ‘mysterious machine’ with a slide, springs and ropes on social media – it is the Pilates Reformer, invented by Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates in the 1920s. It was originally designed to help bedridden patients recover, and now has become a star equipment in fitness studios.
The core secret of the Reformer:
- Spring resistance system: Just like the transmission of a car, 5 gears of resistance (light-heavy) allow you to find the intensity that suits you from beginners to athletes.
- Slide + pulley combination: When lying on the slide to do exercises, the body needs to resist the instability of sliding, which activates 20% more deep muscles than mat training.
- Multi-functional accessories: foot bar, elastic rope, adjustable shoulder rest, a set of equipment can complete stretching, strength training and even aerial yoga.
Common misunderstandings: 4 major rumors about Pilates machines
Myth 1: ‘Reformer is only suitable for women’ → Male users account for more than 40%, especially for basketball and golf players to improve flexibility;
Myth 2: ‘Home machines are not as effective as gyms’ → Raetin user data shows that 90% of people have a significant improvement in their body shape after 3 months of persistence;
Myth 3: ‘You must hire a personal trainer to use it’ → Built-in AI error correction function, novices can also practice independently…”
Why choose Reformer instead of a mat?
More friendly to joints
Spring cushioning reduces pressure on the knees and wrists, suitable for postpartum mothers or people with joint pain.
Diversity of movements
There are about 50 basic movements in mat Pilates, while Reformer can be expanded to more than 500, such as using slides for jumping training (yes, you can jump while lying down!).
Precise shaping
By adjusting the resistance, you can strengthen local muscles such as arms and buttocks separately, which is difficult to achieve with mat training.
Raetin Reformer’s unique design
The most user feedback we received was: ‘It turns out that home machines can be so professional!’ Raetin’s full rail system makes the skateboard move more smoothly, and with medical-grade springs, its service life is three times that of ordinary models. When using it for the first time, it is recommended to start with the 2nd resistance level to experience the “gentle but effective” force mode. “
How can a novice safely get started with the Reformer? 5 must-learn movements are recommended!
No need for complex choreography, practice these 5 movements every day to easily activate the whole body:
- Footwork: Lie on your back and press your legs, adjust the spring resistance to feel the core force;
- Short Box Series: Improve hunchback, a must-do for office workers;
- Kneeling Arms: Tighten the back line and say goodbye to the “rich bag”;
Elephant: Stretch the spine and relieve long-term sitting back pain; - Mermaid: Improve hip joint flexibility.
Why is Raetin Reformer called a "home artifact"?
- Folding in 3 seconds, a savior for small apartments: Traditional Reformers need to remove screws to fold, which takes more than 15 minutes, while Raetin’s Pilates Reformer can be folded from a full size of 200cm to a thickness of 35cm with one hand pull and buckle. The bottom has built-in rollers, which can be easily pushed to the corner or under the bed.
- Warranty policy: Free replacement of the frame, 3-year warranty for springs and accessories
- Material technology: Aviation-grade aluminum alloy frame can bear up to 300kg, no loss after 100,000 sliding tests, non-slip pad is odorless and anti-aging.
Why are more and more people choosing home Pilates machines?
Time freedom
Tony Egwu, an office worker, said: ‘It used to take an hour to get to the studio, but now I can complete a set of fat-burning training by getting up 30 minutes earlier.’ Raetin user data shows that people who own home machines train an average of 4.2 times a week, 67% higher than gym users.
Privacy and comfort
No need to worry about other people’s eyes: Wearing loose pajamas, sweating without makeup, and pausing at any time to take care of children – these are the main reasons why mothers choose home training. Raetin Reformer’s widened skateboard (15% wider than the standard model) and memory foam shoulder rest allow big men to train comfortably.
How to ensure the effect?
Set up an ‘exclusive exercise corner’: Place the Reformer by the window or opposite the TV to increase the sense of ritual of training.
Use smart assistance: Raetin APP’s ‘3D action guidance’ function corrects posture in real time through the mobile phone camera with an accuracy rate of 92%.
Join the community challenge: Buy Raetin to join the membership group, hold a “21-day check-in plan” every month, and those who complete it will be given a resistance rope or course voucher. “
How to choose the most suitable Pilates machine for yourself? Does "expensive" mean good?
The prices of Pilates machines on the market range from 2,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan, but expensive does not mean suitable for you! Focus on the following dimensions when purchasing:
Space adaptability
- Folding design: Raetin SlimFit has an unfolded size of 200x80cm, and is only 35cm thick after folding, which can be directly stuffed under the bed.
- Silent pulley: Avoid the “creaking” sound when sliding to disturb neighbors, especially suitable for apartment users.
Resistance system
- Spring material: Stainless steel springs (such as Raetin medical-grade springs) are preferred. Poor-quality springs are prone to rust or elastic attenuation.
- Number of gears: at least 3 gears, Raetin Pro provides 5 gears, from 1 gear (gentle rehabilitation) to 5 gears (athlete-level explosive training).
Accessory expandability
- Basic models must have: footrest, elastic rope, detachable shoulder rest.
- Advanced needs: Raetin’s ‘multi-function tower’ (purchased separately) can be upgraded to a Cadillac system to enable aerial inversion training.
King of cost-effectiveness - Raetin Reformer
- Price: Only 1/2 of similar high-end models, but uses the same aluminum alloy frame as the studio model.
- User testimonials: Yoga instructor Linda said: “The studio purchased 5 Raetin pilates, and members reported that the smoothness of the slide rails even exceeded that of international brands.”
A Reformer, unlocking infinite possibilities
When writing this guide, we interviewed 367 Raetin users and found that their biggest resonance was not how much weight they lost, but——
- “For the first time, I felt that exercise was not painful” (@Programmer Akai, used Reformer to cure lumbar disc herniation)
- “It has become my emotional decompression valve” (@Bao Ma Sara, 20 minutes of Reformer training after the child went to bed instead of browsing the phone)
In 2025, instead of struggling with “whether to start”, let Raetin Reformer give you an answer:
Be responsible for your health: use the price of a light luxury dinner in exchange for an average of 5 yuan per day for lifelong health investment.
Friendly to space: 0.2㎡ of land is exchanged for countless mornings and sunsets of sweat and transformation.
Finally, borrowing the famous saying of Joseph Pilates: ‘In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 you’ll see the difference, in 30 you’ll have a new body.’
And today, you only need one click to make the change happen. ”