The Reformer is the machine most people picture when they think of Pilates: a gliding carriage, springs for resistance, straps for your hands and feet. At Corpus Studios™, we’ve been teaching Reformer Pilates in Brussels since 1999, across two studios in Ixelles — Studio Borrens and Studio Caroly. And we teach it the way Joseph Pilates designed it: as part of a complete system, never as a machine in isolation.
Reformer Pilates is Pilates performed on a spring-loaded apparatus rather than a mat. The springs add adjustable resistance to every movement, so the same exercise can be made gentler or harder in seconds. That is what makes the Reformer so versatile: it builds strength, mobility and control at the same time, and it suits complete beginners as well as athletes. Because the resistance supports you as much as it challenges you, Reformer work is also widely used in rehabilitation.
Spring resistance builds lean, functional strength without loading your joints. The carriage demands control and alignment on every repetition, which is why posture improves quickly. The work is deep and precise — 55 minutes goes by fast, and you feel muscles you didn’t know you had. And because every spring setting scales, you progress at your own pace, class after class.
Here’s what makes our approach different from a reformer-only studio: every session combines the Reformer with at least one other piece of Joseph Pilates’ apparatus — the Tower, the Chair, occasionally the Baby Arc. Two formats, both 55 minutes, both at Studio Borrens and Studio Caroly, and both in intimate groups of four to five participants — never rows of machines:
Reformer & Tower — a resistance and flexibility workout that strengthens, aligns and stretches the whole body.
Reformer & Chair — strength and stability work, from lower-level classes suitable for most people (including those in rehabilitation) up to higher-level classes for a strong challenge.
Every class is led by a fully certified instructor with a strong foundation in anatomy and physiology and a minimum of 750 hours of specialized Pilates training — that’s the difference you feel in the first session. Prefer one-to-one attention? Private and duo Reformer sessions are available at both studios — the fastest way to learn the machine or to train around an injury.
A trial apparatus class is 20€. Group apparatus cards start at 160€ for 5 classes (about 30€ per class on the 10- and 20-class cards), and private sessions from 85€. Yearly membership is 55€ — see the full price list for cards, duo options, and student/senior rates.
You don’t need experience, and you don’t need to be flexible — that’s what the classes are for. Read our first-visit guide, pick a lower-level class on the schedule, and arrive ten minutes early so your instructor can set up your machine and walk you through it.
Yes — arguably the best place to start. The springs support your body weight while you learn the movements, so you can work with good form from day one. Our Reformer & Chair classes include lower-level sessions designed for most people, including clients in rehabilitation, and with only 4–5 participants per class your instructor adjusts the spring settings individually. Most beginners feel at home on the machine within two or three classes. If you’d rather learn the basics one-to-one first, a private session is the fastest route into group classes.
At Corpus Studios a trial apparatus class costs 20€. After that, group apparatus cards (valid for Reformer, Tower and GYROTONIC® classes) cost 160€ for 5 classes, 300€ for 10, or 590€ for 20 — which works out around 30€ per class. Private Reformer sessions start at 85€, duo sessions at 65€ per person. A yearly membership of 55€ is included in packages, with reduced rates for students under 27, seniors and professional dancers. Many Belgian health insurers partially reimburse Pilates — bring their form and we’ll fill it in.
Comfortable, close-fitting sportswear you can move in — leggings or shorts with a t-shirt work well. Avoid very loose clothing, as it can catch in the springs and straps. Grip socks are recommended on the apparatus for hygiene and traction; regular socks or bare feet are fine to start. There’s nothing else to bring — the studios provide all equipment, and both locations have changing rooms.
Mat Pilates uses your body weight on a mat; Reformer Pilates adds a machine with adjustable spring resistance. The springs work both ways: they can assist a movement, making it more accessible than on the mat, or resist it, making it far more challenging. The Reformer also allows many exercises that aren’t possible on a mat — pushing the carriage, standing work, straps work. Most clients get the best results combining both, which is exactly what our System Card covers.
Usually a combination of new movement patterns, breath-holding and the head changing position on the moving carriage — it’s common for beginners and almost always temporary. We wrote a full guide on the causes and how to prevent it: Why Reformer Pilates makes you dizzy. Short version: eat something light beforehand, keep breathing through the exercises, and tell your instructor — they’ll adapt the sequence until your body acclimatises.
Three ways. First, we never teach the Reformer in isolation — every session pairs it with at least one other piece of Joseph Pilates’ apparatus (Tower, Chair, sometimes the Baby Arc), because the method was designed as a system, not a machine. Second, size: our apparatus classes take four to five participants, not rows of ten machines — your instructor actually sees every repetition. Third, the people teaching you: fully certified instructors with a foundation in anatomy and physiology and at least 750 hours of specialized Pilates training. We’ve worked this way since 1999.
Check the schedule for Reformer & Tower or Reformer & Chair classes at Studio Borrens (Rue Borrens 33, 1050 Ixelles) or Studio Caroly (Rue Caroly 33, 1050 Ixelles), and book directly online. The 20€ trial doesn’t require a membership. If you’re not sure which level to pick, call us on +32 2 513 07 66 or write to info@corpusstudios.com and we’ll place you in the right class.