Shopping / At-home Pilates
This Foldable Pilates Reformer Brings Class to You, and the Convenience Is a Game Changer
Working out on your own schedule is priceless.
The setup
The first time I spotted a Pilates reformer, I thought it looked like a medieval torture device. Then I tried a reformer workout, and that didn’t totally change my mind about the equipment—that workout was hard. And yet, I find myself going back to Pilates again and again because, no matter how grueling the class is, I always feel great afterward. The strengthening, toning and lengthening of muscles is just too good.
While there are so many positives to Pilates, there are some downsides, too. For starters, Pilates reformer classes are expensive. The cheapest monthly studio membership I’ve found locally is still $210. And then there’s the time commitment. Not only do you have to find a class that fits into your schedule, but you also have to factor in the time it will take you to drive to and from the studio. It’s easy to fall out of an exercise routine when all of these factors are at play.
The machine
Echelon Meridian Pilates Reformer With 22″ Touchscreen
$2,799 (originally $3,099) at Echelon
For years, I’ve tried figuring out how to make getting to class easier and a little more affordable. But whenever I consider biting the bullet on a full-size Pilates reformer, I look around my not-so-big house and think, “Where will I put this thing?”
So when Echelon released its Meridian Pilates Reformer, a commercial-grade machine that can fold in half for storage, I was intrigued.
What comes home
- 01
This reformer looks and feels like one you find in a proper studio, and it comes with a box and jump board, so you really feel like you have the necessities for a professional class. (You’ll have to supply your own magic circle, exercise ball and weights for moves that benefit from extra props.)
- 02
You have the option to purchase the reformer with a 22-inch touchscreen, on which you can stream from Echelon’s library of workouts, or a version with just a tablet holder that costs $300 less. Just download the Echelon app to your tablet of choice and stream classes from that instead.
- 03
Even better, the folks who deliver the reformer will set it up for you—so you won’t have to try and “IKEA” this together. (Yes, I just used IKEA as a verb.)
The classes
How Are the Echelon Classes, Anyway?
Streaming membership
A flexible library, taught by Marie Manalo
$39.99 per month
Honestly, pretty great. The monthly membership to access Echelon’s classes is $39.99, but you can save money by purchasing the one-year membership for $399.99 or a two-year membership for $699.99. Currently, all of Echelon’s Pilates classes are taught by instructor Marie Manalo, and they range from 20 to 45 minutes.
These classes are broken down into Total Body, Upper Body, Lower Body and Core, with some on the “easier” side (I use that term loosely—these all give you a workout) for beginners and others for the more advanced.
Personally, I like mixing and matching the shorter videos to create a full 60 minutes of Pilates once I’m done. It’s a really nice way to customize your own workout without having to make special requests of an instructor for specific moves.
The verdict
Can You Justify the Price?
If you’re going to use the machine, then absolutely. After using it for over a month, I can say I’m back to a more consistent workout routine. I’m able to squeeze in even a short session on busy days, and sometimes I use it to get a little extra stretching in the morning or at night. And when I did the math, a year of a monthly membership at my local Pilates studio costs $2520, and I never make it there every day—it’s three times a week tops.
So the Echelon Meridian Pilates Reformer with the touchscreen isn’t much more expensive, and it’s such good quality that I know I’ll be using it for years.
Copy: Kelly Bryant / Parade · Image: Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images