Reformer pilates is an expensive phenomenon – but it has a dark side

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Membership spiked post-pandemic and “hasn’t really stopped since”, the owner of one west London reformer empire – with neighbourhood outposts in Queen’s Park, Parson’s Green and Kensal Rise – told Elle. open image in gallery As with all microtrends, reformer pilates has its online component too Thanks to its small class sizes and high profile followers – Margot Robbie; the Kardashians; Adele supposedly “transformed her body” thanks to reformer; Harry Styles was spotted on a reformer bed in Primrose Hill – high demand means high prices. “Pilates in the clouds”, also in Notting Hill, offers Kim Kardashian’s favourite “suspension pilates” – a twist on reformer which sees you suspended above the board and not strapped to it – with just three people max per class. It would be naive to ignore that on some level at least, the appeal of reformer is not just thanks to its promises about reducing back pain and increasing mental clarity, it’s the prospect of the amorphous dream sold to its clients: a long, lean, “pilates body”.