Balanced Body Reformer Require a Lot of Space
The Pilates reformer is a quintessential fitness apparatus that brings both beauty and movement to your studio. While its benefits are well documented, a common concern from potential clients is the amount of space needed to house this popular equipment. To help demystify the spatial requisites of this iconic equipment, we take a closer look at how much room your client will need on the head- and foot-end to perform a full session of Pilates on one of our machines.
In comparison to other Pilates reformers, the balanced body reformer and Flexia Reformer require a larger amount of space at the head- and foot-end of the machine. The difference lies primarily in the sitting box. The Flexia Reformer’s sitting box fits to the carriage frame in a short-box position, and offers hand cutouts for easy gripping during use. It is a more open and flexible design that also makes it easier to move, transport and set up.
With the exception of the hand cutouts, both the torso and legs of the sitting box fit comfortably inside the carriage pad, ensuring that the space is used effectively. In addition, the flexia’s standing platform is built into the reformer frame rather than sitting over it, making it more stable during use. The flexia’s springbar also sits further away from the carriage in its closest gear bar position at the stopper, which reduces the likelihood of bumping up against the platform when moving the bar in and out.
Does the Balanced Body Reformer Require a Lot of Space?
The flexia’s pulleys, like those of the Studio Reformer, are marine-grade, providing a smooth, reliable experience during movement. The head-end pulleys are connected to the carriage frame with cam cleats, which make adjusting the length of the ropes as simple as tying a prusik knot (a climber’s knot known for its reliability). Simply hold the prusik in one hand and pull on the side of the rope you wish to adjust (up for longer ropes and down toward the carriage for shorter ropes), then drop the knot and it will automatically lock into place.
Portia Page is an internationally certified Pilates teacher and Educator at Balanced Body, teaching all ages and ability levels. She has 33 years of fitness industry experience and is the author of Pilates Illustrated. She is ACE and NASM certified, an RYT 200 with Yoga Alliance, a CEC provider through NPCP, and has studied cancer exercise specialist training under the CETI program. She is also an AFAA trainer and holds many specialty certifications in the areas of strength, injury prevention, myofascial release and functional movement analysis.
Blue Springs: Blue springs offer heavier resistance, suitable for strength-focused workouts or exercises where you need to build more power or engage more muscles. They can be used for resistance training and more advanced Pilates movements. Green Springs: These are the heaviest springs, typically used for exercises where maximum resistance is needed. They offer the most intense workout and are often used for advanced users or for exercises that focus on building muscular strength.
