I Used The Viral At-Home Pilates Reformer For 2 Weeks. Here’s What Happened
Could a machine worth less than $100 get the same results as a Pilates reformer?
I must admit that I was quite hesitant hitting the ‘checkout’ button on this particular purchase because this board honestly reminded me of all those infomercial ads of the 80s’, 90s’, and even 2000s’, in which workout machines and DVD’s were sold with the promise of life-changing results, but many well intended buyers ended up simply hoarding near-useless equipment. Was this machine TikTok’s version of this? I decided to find out.
Why a Pilates Board?
It’s worth mentioning that this viral board has been trending on TikTok for many months now, which led me to believe that either the internet levels of gaslighting are at an all-time high, or there is truly something of value to this board. The board’s design is meant to imitate the pilates movements done through a reformer machine which is known to be well-loved by A-list celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Aniston. Both of which have incredible figures, I might add.
While having a full blown reformer machine at home is a luxury that space and funds don’t allow for many, this board came into the market as the alternative. Before purchasing the machine, I looked up the negative reviews online since TikTok seemed to only have nice things to say about it, and I found out that the main grievance customers had is that the machine is made with cheap materials and doesn’t have the ability to change tension levels as a reformer does. While I think these reviews are valid, I also think that there is only so much we can expect for less than $100. It’s also worth mentioning that the board is not exactly the equivalent to a reformer machine, which is usually over $1,000, since it lacks the extra angles provided by the side bars. Nonetheless, I do think this machine is comparable to the reformer machines we see in luxury gyms because it allows us to utilize muscles that we would not be able to target (or to target as well) if we were only doing pilates on a floor mat.
How the Pilates Board Differs From the Reformer or YouTube Videos
I’ve been in my Pilates era for a while now and before purchasing this machine, I was dedicated to various YouTube Pilates channels which I truly love. But I must admit, this pilates board allowed me to do movements and target muscles that I would not have been able to do so easily without it. For example, all the leg gliding moves targeting thighs and glutes are almost impossible to do without the board. I’ve seen a few attempts with gliding discs or even paper plates, and I have tried those, but I’ll admit that the pilates board allows for much more smooth movement making the workout more efficient and comfortable.
The board’s smooth sliding comes in clutch while you hold a plank and glide your feet. This move imitates mountain climbers but provides even better results, given that the core remains constantly tight and isn’t shaking by the slight jumping otherwise required. After relentlessly scrolling through TikTok tutorials, I can confirm that the vast majority of the board’s movements are based on core strength, so if you’re looking to improve your posture, get those ever-elusive abs, and snatch your waist, this board is a no-brainer.
In shorter words, this board leveled up my at-home pilates workout game and the novelty of it made it extra enjoyable. Before purchasing, I was already aiming for 3 pilates workouts per week, but since I was testing this machine out I upped my game to 5 workouts per week. By the second week of using the machine I could see results and I was consistently feeling sore. But was it worth it? I really think so! Given how expensive pilates classes can be, this machine quickly made its money’s worth since it allowed me to get near-identical results to what a reformer machine can do.
How to Use It
Whether the machine is worthwhile or not largely depends on how much you use it and how well you use it. My initial plan was to find different routines on TikTok and target a specific area each day. This way I could allow certain muscles to rest while working out other areas, but I soon found out that this would not work because the vast majority of workout videos target the core. Essentially, everyday became core day. On the positive, I decided to workout my core 5 days a week but only for about 10 minutes. Some days I did movements that also targeted my arms, such as the mountain bike style movements, and other days I focused on leg slides, which targeted the glutes, inner-tights, and core.
Any fitness enthusiast will tell you that consistency is key, so allowing myself to do around 10-minute long workouts in my bedroom meant that there was truly no excuse. I accompanied this routine with 10k steps per day and, before the end of the two weeks, the results were already evident. Some on TikTok complained that the pilates board would never truly compare to a pilates class, since the peer pressure to keep going and having an instructor yelling at you is part of the experience. If that’s what works best for you, no worries. But this board is about accessing the benefits of a reformer class without ever stepping foot outside your home.
The practicality of this board is certainly a strong element in its favor since it’s easy to slide it under the bed and use it for 10 minutes in the morning or at night. At one point, I even realized that my coworker also had one and we agreed to bring it to work and do a quick workout during our lunch break. It was not difficult to transport and set up in our office, so practicality wise, I don’t think it could get much better. It also fits under the sofa, so there is truly no excuse to not keep it handy and ready to go at any moment. Whether this is about to become your new go-to pilates regime, or if it’s just something extra to compliment your favorite pilates class, it is most definitely worth the hype.
