EDITION 20
The Reformer
Round-Up
Reformer Pilates has become part of the weekly routine across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie – fitted in before work, after the school run or in place of a Saturday sleep-in.
The reformer has an unlikely origin. German-born trainer Joseph Pilates rigged springs to hospital beds while interned on the Isle of Man during the First World War, so bedridden patients could exercise against resistance. It was the forerunner of today’s machine: a sliding carriage, springs, straps and a footbar, with the springs setting the resistance as the body moves slowly against them. Low impact and easy to adjust, it suits first-timers and regulars alike.
Indoors and in any weather, it works as well in July as it does in January. Here are 25 reformer studios to get you started, from the city to the lake, and with so many options there should be one not too far from you. Why not give it a try and see why Newcastle has fallen in love with reformer Pilates?
@pilates 24/7
Newcastle · The Junction
An on-demand reformer studio open around the clock, with classes led on screen rather than in person. Choose from hundreds of classes and book a session whenever it suits you.
Balance
Mayfield · New Lambton
A local gym group with clubs in Mayfield and New Lambton, where Pilates sits alongside the gym floor and group classes. One membership covers every Balance location.
Bodybend
Swansea
Reformer, mat and barre classes in Swansea, with a parent-friendly approach. The 9:30am and 12pm classes welcome prams, and an on-site creche runs on weekday mornings.
Body Concepts
Cardiff
An exercise physiology practice in Cardiff that runs Pilates and group classes alongside its clinical programs, for anyone managing an injury or a long-term health condition.
Body In Motion Recovery Centre
Edgeworth
A recovery-minded centre pairing Pilates with infrared sauna, ice baths, red light therapy and remedial massage.
c10 Reformer Pilates
Warners Bay
Small-group reformer classes, from Reformer Essentials for beginners to a slower-paced Clinical Reformer pathway for anyone managing pain or injury.
Club Pilates
Hamilton
Part of a national brand, Club Pilates runs low-impact, full-body classes built around the reformer, with TRX and EXO-chair work for strength and mobility. Fitness levels are all welcome.
Core Collective Pilates
Wallsend
A Wallsend studio offering reformer classes alongside a Rookie Reformer program for first-timers. The team also runs a sister studio in East Maitland.
Fleur Wellbeing
Charlestown
Reformer classes here are capped at eight people. Mat Pilates, barre and TRX round out a timetable that suits anyone building a varied routine.
Form Health Club
Belmont
A health club built around an end-to-end routine: Reformer and Mat Pilates studios with more than 55 classes a week, plus a recovery room with sauna and cold plunge sessions.
Grace Movement
Hamilton
A Hamilton studio with a dedicated Reformer room, set up for movement-focused Pilates in the heart of the neighbourhood.
Insitu Pilates
Boolaroo · Toronto
Two Lake Macquarie studios offering reformer, mat and Hot Mat Pilates, with classes booked online. A relaxed option for anyone on the lake’s western side.
KX Pilates
Kotara
The Kotara studio of a national reformer Pilates brand. Classes follow the same format at every KX studio, so the routine stays familiar wherever you book.
Muse Pilates
Warners Bay · Hamilton
Two boutique studios: one filled with natural light and lake views at Warners Bay, one moody and intimate at Hamilton. Reformer classes run from Fundamentals to Level Up, with most open to all levels.
OUR. Pilates Co
Charlestown
More than 45 reformer classes a week, so there’s a session to suit early risers, lunch breaks and after-work stretches alike.
PHYX Newcastle
Newcastle
A physio-led studio in the city offering reformer and mat Pilates, with sessions shaped by clinical know-how as well as a good workout.
The Pilates Space
Newcastle · The Junction
Small-group reformer classes across two studios, with around 130 classes a week. The reformer adjusts to each person’s fitness level, so athletes, beginners and new mums are all catered for.
Positive Energy Pilates
Cardiff Heights
Beyond the Reformer, this studio’s equipment list takes in the Exo Chair, Trapeze Table and Ladder Barrel, plus Mat classes — a full range of Pilates apparatus under one roof.
Salud House of Health
Fern Bay
A Fern Bay wellness studio with just six reformers, so every class stays personal. The timetable runs from beginner-level Foundations to high-intensity Pump, with Stretch for recovery and Mature Movers for the over-55s.
Sento Club
Lambton
Inspired by longevity and the Mediterranean way of living, Sento Club pairs reformer Pilates with an infrared sauna and personal coaching. Classes build strength, control and balance, from first-timers through to advanced.
Strides Physio
Islington
A small, female-owned physiotherapy clinic in Islington, where every reformer class is physio-led and capped at four people. Private reformer sessions are available too, and the clinic also treats running injuries and sports niggles.
ToneLAB: Reformer
The Junction · Warners Bay · Lambton
The Pilates arm of a Newcastle-owned fitness brand, built around the Reformer. Low-impact classes build strength, tone and flexibility, with expert coaching and options for every experience level.
Urth Fitness
Lambton · Charlestown · Belmont
A gym where reformer Pilates joins barre and yogalates in the studio timetable, among 275-plus classes a week across three clubs. Afterwards, the recovery lounge offers an infrared sauna, massage chairs and a CryoLounge.
Warners Bay Pilates
Warners Bay
A boutique studio where every session is built around the individual. Classes are capped at four clients per instructor, using the reformer alongside traditional Pilates apparatus. New clients begin with an assessment, so the program fits their goals.
Wickham St Studios
Wickham
Owned by twin sisters Sinead and Aishling Barrett, this Wickham studio offers three 50-minute reformer classes: Reformer Daily Moves, Technique Freak and Max Relax. Mat Pilates, yoga, barre and hot classes are on the timetable too.
Every studio here does things a little differently: smaller classes, physio-led sessions, a sauna to finish, a 6am start or a doors-always-open timetable. The only way to find your fit is to try a few. Check each website for current class times and introductory offers, then book in. This is a selection, not a complete directory.