Why Don’t More Athletes Do Reformer Pilates?
(The Secret Weapon Your Competition Isn’t Talking About)
Look, I’m not saying your rivals are keeping secrets …
But if you’re wondering why that one competitor in your age group keeps getting faster, stronger, and somehow never looks injured it might be because they’re doing Reformer Pilates and not telling you.
Because honestly? They don’t want you to know.
Reformer: The underrated weapon in your training toolbox
Reformer Pilates looks gentle. Graceful. Almost like a recovery day.
Which is exactly why so many athletes overlook it.
But here’s the plot twist: Reformer is one of the best ways to build control, mobility, and that extra 10% that wins races, comps, and podiums. It fine tunes your body in ways that traditional strength work or endurance training simply can’t.
We’re talking:
Spinal mobility (hello, better posture and running form)
Hip stability (no more lazy glutes)
Core endurance (that actually lasts longer than your warm-up)
Joint control under load (aka fewer injuries)
And bonus! It forces you to slow down and actually connect to your movement. Which sounds boring until you realise your squat depth just improved and your lower back isn’t cranky anymore.
But it’s not “real training”, right?
Wrong.
That shaky leg moment on the Reformer? That’s not just your ego leaving the building that’s neuromuscular recruitment, baby. You’re tapping into stabilisers you didn’t even know existed.
It’s you vs. springs, and you’ll lose (in a good way).
A lot of elite athletes and coaches now include Reformer Pilates in their programming but you won’t see them posting about it much. Why? Because no one wants to give away the edge.
So why don’t more athletes do it?
Let’s be real:
It doesn’t feel “hardcore” enough.
The machines look weird.
It’s often seen as a “rehab” tool, or worse… “something for dancers.”
And yet, those same athletes will spend hours foam rolling, stretching, and seeing their physio when they could just be getting ahead with fewer niggles and better movement patterns by jumping on the Reformer once or twice a week.
The verdict?
If you’re serious about performance, Reformer Pilates isn’t optional.
It’s not just for injuries or Instagram. It’s strength, mobility, and movement control all in one machine. And yes, you can still wear your gym gear. Just leave the ego at the door.
Because once you’ve had your ego handed to you by a set of springs and some glute bridges, you’ll understand why the best athletes do Pilates.
They just don’t always tell you.
