Carriage
The padded sliding platform that runs the length of the rails. You lie, kneel, sit, stand, plank or invert on it for every move.
Reformer Library · Equipment
The reformer, named.
Every part of the reformer, then the rest of the Pilates apparatus family, the Cadillac, the Wunda Chair, the Spine Corrector, the Ladder Barrel. Plus the modern brand landscape and what R1SE uses.
~ 10 min read
← Back to the Reformer LibraryThe reformer
Eleven named parts
Walk into any reformer studio in the world and the names match. Knowing them turns a confusing first session into a confident one.
Rails / frame
Hardwood or aluminium frame that the carriage glides along. Commercial-grade frames at R1SE are precision-engineered for ten thousand-plus session lifespans.
Springs
Colour-coded coil springs that load the carriage. Heavy (often red), medium (blue), light (yellow), and extra-light. Combinations give a stepless resistance range across hundreds of pounds.
Foot bar
Padded bar at the front of the reformer. Adjustable height. Foot bar is the platform for the feet during footwork, hands during long-stretch, and the entire body during inversions.
Headrest
Hinged padded section at the foot-bar end. Raised or lowered depending on the position of the head for any move; the right setting is what keeps your neck happy through a session.
Shoulder blocks
Two padded blocks at the foot-bar end of the carriage. They anchor the shoulders or thighs against the spring load during supine and prone work.
Straps / loops
Long ropes with leather or padded handles, plus foot loops. Run from the carriage to a pulley system at the head end. Used for arm work, leg work, and the strap-based abdominal series.
Risers
The upright posts at the head end that anchor the strap pulleys. Some commercial reformers have adjustable riser height to suit different limb lengths.
Box
A padded wooden box that sits on the carriage for short-box and long-box exercises. Comes in standard sizes; some studios use small and large.
Jumpboard
A vertical board that replaces the foot bar. Used for plyometric, low-impact cardio work. Particularly common on contemporary and athletic reformers.
Foot strap
Padded loops fixed to the foot bar that hold the feet down during certain short-box and abdominal moves.
The wider apparatus family
Beyond the reformer, Joseph designed the whole studio
The reformer is Joseph's most famous invention but it was never meant to stand alone. A complete classical studio uses six or seven distinct pieces of equipment, each with a specific role.
Cadillac (Trap Table)
A raised, table-like apparatus with a trapeze bar, push-through bar, leg springs, arm springs and a tower of pulleys. Functions as the ‘teaching apparatus’ in a classical studio, every spring length and direction can be precisely controlled.
Wunda Chair
A small bench with spring-loaded pedals. Looks innocent; ferociously difficult. Trains deep core, balance, and unilateral leg strength in a tiny footprint. Joseph designed it for apartment living.
Spine Corrector
A curved padded prop, two variants (small and large). Supports thoracic extension, hip mobility and abdominal work in beautifully specific positions.
Ladder Barrel
A wooden ladder fixed to a half-barrel. The horse-back of the apparatus family, used for spinal extension, side bend, hip flexor stretch, and the ‘swan’ series.
Pedi-Pole
A vertical pole with spring-loaded handles at chest height. Trains standing core and arm work; a less commonly seen but classic piece.
Magic Circle
A flexible padded ring used to add resistance to mat and reformer work. Cheap, brilliant, infinitely useful for refining alignment cues.
Foam roller
Modern addition. Used for mobility, scar-tissue release, and as an unstable surface in pre-Pilates warm-ups.
Modern manufacturers
The reformer brand landscape
The 2000 lawsuit ended the trademark monopoly on the word “reformer”. Today there are dozens of manufacturers; these are the six most relevant.
| Brand | Angle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced Body | California, contemporary-leaning | The dominant commercial brand globally. R1SE uses Balanced Body Allegro 2 reformers, high spec, durable, serviceable parts. |
| Gratz | Brooklyn, classical/authentic | Makes reformers to the original Joseph Pilates specifications. The choice of classical-method studios. |
| Stott Pilates / Merrithew | Canadian, contemporary | Reformers paired with Stott's biomechanical re-interpretation; widely used in physiotherapy and rehab contexts. |
| Peak Pilates | Boulder, contemporary | Strong commercial reformer line; popular in gym and group-fitness chains. |
| Align-Pilates | UK-based | Strong home-reformer market; commercial F3 and C2 lines used in many smaller UK studios. |
| Lagree Fitness (Megaformer) | Heavily modified | Not a Pilates reformer in the traditional sense, a longer carriage, different cable system, designed for high-intensity, low-impact group fitness. Distinct discipline. |
Meet the equipment in person.
R1SE Brook Place runs Balanced Body Allegro 2 reformers, commercial-grade, serviced regularly, spring-tension honest from session one to session a thousand.
Continue Reading
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ReadClassical Repertoire
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ReadTake a class at R1SE
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Book a Reformer SessionTrain to teach
R1SE Academy delivers Level 3 Mat & Reformer Pilates qualifications , YMCA-accredited, Ofqual-regulated, in partnership with CreatePT.
R1SE Academy