If you have never tried pilates before, we highly recommend giving it a go. Not only does pilates help strengthen and lengthen your muscles, it does this with very low impact on your joints. Many have reported improved posture, energy levels, back pains and mobility after regularly taking up pilates. Invented by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, you can now find a wide range of different pilates classes: from mat, reformer, contemporary, to prepartum or postpartum. If you want to get toned and become more flexible, we have personally tried a wide range of reformer pilates studios and compiled a list of the Best Reformer Pilates Classes in London to get you started.

Best Reformer Pilates Classes In London

Psycle

Chances are you’re probably already familiar with Psycle, best known for their Ride class which sees you cycling your heart out to an upbeat tempo. Well their Reformer classes, the newest addition to their workouts selection, is equally worth adding to your weekly class schedule. If you’re craving the burn, then this reformer class is for you. Targeting all muscle groups, the hour long class goes by in a flash leaving you with that serotonin and dopamine high. We went on a Monday and it was a great way to start the week. And if you’re in need of a little pick-me up post class, their energy kitchen is on hand to prepare some incredible smoothies (you can even order them pre-class so they’re ready waiting for you!).

What we love: we loved how challenging yet achievable this class is. It targeted each muscle group and the instructor was very attentive to everyone. If an exercise is too difficult for you, you will be given tips to make it is more suitable to your level. The changing rooms are also very nice with fresh towels and everything on hand to go from pilates to office in no-time.

Tempo 301

What’s not to love! We went to Tempo 301’s Shoreditch location, just a stone’s throw away from Shoreditch high-street station. From the moment you step through the door, you will be warmly greeted into their intimate studio. The instructors made sure to go see everyone individually to ask them about any injury and whether they have used a reformer before. No two classes are the same here so no matter your level, you can be sure you will target your whole body and get a really good sweat. The changing room is compact but super functional with plenty of lockers, showers and toiletries on hand. We left the class with a real spring in our step ready to tackle the afternoon ahead.

What we love: we loved the intimate studio and small class sizes compared to some other studios. The instructors were super attentive to everyone in the class and the amazing warm-up and wind down meant that we had less muscle soreness post-class than usual.

Studio Anatomy

We simply couldn’t skip over this stunning pilates studio in our list of Best Reformer Pilates Studio in London. If you live in Hackney and London Fields area than this is the studio for you! This is by far the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing space we have tried for reformer pilates so far and we bet you anything you will not be able to resist posting a few snaps of the studio on your Instagram. But the studio is not just about looks, the reformers classes are a real pleasure and challenge at the same time. The instructor is very knowledgeable and takes the time to go around asking everyone if they have any injuries and whether they have tried reformer pilates before. The class just flies by and you feel stronger and more toned after just one class.

What we love: we absolutely fell in love with the beautiful space and the brand new reformers in the studio. The class was challenging but in a good way. Highly recommend!

FS8 Oxford Circus

If you like a real challenge and you’re a fan of circuit training, then the FS8 class is for you. Mixing reformer pilates, yoga exercises with mat work and weights, this class targets the whole body. A perfect mixture that is low impact but high performance and will leave you toner all over.

What we love: we love the change of pace and concept of integrating reformer pilates into a circuit training type of class. It was a challenge but definitely doable. If you’re after a more challenging class that isn’t 100% reformer than this is for you.

East of Eden

Tucked away in a quiet mews is the East of Eden studio in Walthamstow. With a variety of classes available from yoga to pilates and ballet inspired classes, there’s something for everyone. We tested the pilates reformer class with a great instructor and there are a variety of reformer classes for all levels: from beginner to experienced and even gentle classes which are great if recovering from an injury or surgery. The changing rooms are located up the stairs with plenty of room and privacy for everyone which is quite rare.

What we love: our instructor at East of Eden was great and helped to adapt exercises to different levels. We loved that the class ended with more flexibility work as that’s not always the case in every reformer class. The class was challenging but very achievable for a variety of different levels. We also loved the little café at the entrance of the studio, a great post-class pick-me up!

Bootcamp Pilates Notting Hill

Get ready to feel the burn and the shakes! But in a good way. We tried the legs, bums and tums class at Bootcamp Pilates in Notting Hill and the workout was amazing. A real challenge but with an amazing instructor that kept us motivated during the entire class and an upbeat playlist to keep us going.

What we loved: we loved how challenging and targeted this class was. The instructor was great at adapting the exercises for different levels and keeping it fun even when the burn was starting to get to us. A great class that we highly recommend for those wanting a bit more push from their reformer practice.

Exhale Pilates

Last but not least on our list of Best Reformer Pilates Classes in London is the award-winning Exhale Pilates with studios located in Primrose Hill, North Finchley and soon Marylebone. From reformer to tower pilates and mat classes, there’s something for everyone with a variety of different levels. So whether you’re brand new at pilates or a pro, you know you’ll find a class for you taught by attentive and very knowledgeable teachers.

What we loved: The space and equipment at Exhale Pilates was some of the best we have tested. A bright, clean and modern, we tried both their reformer and their tower class and absolutely loved both. Their reformer class will engage every muscle in your body and is definitely challenging but in a way that will leave you feeling stronger and more powerful. Their tower pilates class was new for us and our teacher was absolutely incredible at showing us the ropes and ensuring the practice was challenging yet achievable for everyone. If you live in North London we highly recommend!

Pilates on Tap

Now this isn’t exactly a reformer pilates class or a pilates studio but we couldn’t not include it in our list of Best Reformer Pilates Classes in London for all the busy business women, mothers and carers out there. If you’re too tight for time and can’t go into a studio but still want to include pilates in your day to day, Pilates on Tap is an amazing app that offers a personalised pilates session based on your goals and needs. After a quick questionnaire, their algorithm will come up with the perfect pilates workout for you to do at-home taught by a qualified instructor.

What we loved: we loved how easy it was to incorporate this into our busy day to day life. In 10 to 15 minutes you have done an incredible workout that is so much more personalised than what you can get on youtube videos or social media. The instructions were super clear and the voice of the instructor was both soothing and encouraging. Even though you don’t have the class environment to keep you motived until the end of the workout, the instructor and exercises meant that we did finish the whole workout with ease.