With demand for Pilates soaring, reformers are no longer “extra,” they’re essential. Smart design and hybrid delivery are making them the cornerstone of future clubs.
Pilates is booming. Members are asking for it, wellness trends are fueling it and clubs that offer it are seeing stronger retention. Yet for operators, reformers can be tricky — bulky equipment, limited class spots and the question of how to optimize programming. That tension has made reformer Pilates both one of the most exciting and one of the most complex growth opportunities in fitness today.
For Ben and Emma Stallworthy, co-founders of Your Reformer and former gym owners, these dynamics aren’t abstract trends. They are lived experiences that shaped their company. The couple grew Pinnacle Health Club in Australia from just 420 members to more than 7,500 across six locations before selling the chain in 2021, a journey that gave them first-hand insight into what drives sustainable growth in modern fitness.
“In 2016 we saw a boom in low-cost, high-volume operators,” says Stallworthy. “We had to make a decision — drop prices and compete or go in a different direction. We chose to incorporate wellness studios with reformer Pilates and mat Pilates, and the results were incredible. Membership revenue went through the roof, and we attracted both new members and higher-value tiers.”
That pivot informed the DNA of Your Reformer: an operator-first brand designed to help clubs grow yield, attract new members and maximize retention.
Hybrid Models as the New Normal
The ability to offer both instructor-led and self-guided experiences is becoming a defining feature of fitness facilities today. Your Reformer has been at the forefront of this movement, with solutions like KioskPro and ClassPro enabling members to engage with Pilates whenever they want.
“Making all fitness modalities more accessible is the key,” Stallworthy explains. “If members can access what they want, when they want, it improves retention. Our solutions are built around that philosophy.”
As more members seek out Pilates for its blend of strength, flexibility and recovery, reformers are becoming a cornerstone of fitness facilities. For the Stallworthys, the opportunity lies in turning that demand into lasting impact and a strategic driver of growth.
“When I put my club hat on, the first question is: is this a cost, or is this an investment?” says Stallworthy. “If it’s just equipment, it’s a cost. But if it brings in more members, improves yield and drives retention, then it’s an easy decision. That’s how we think about every solution.”
This perspective helps explain why Your Reformer has become the fastest-growing reformer brand globally, now supporting gyms in 38 countries.
Designing for Space and Scale
Another challenge the Stallworthy’s faced first-hand — as so many operators do — is ensuring every inch of space added value and ROI. Your Reformer was designed with that in mind. The reformers are slightly slimmer in width, allowing clubs to fit more units per studio — sometimes two additional reformers in the same footprint. They also feature stackable and storable designs, making it easier for operators to adapt multipurpose spaces.
“We could never fit enough participants into our classes because of the demand in our clubs,” Stallworthy recalls. “So we designed the equipment to save three to five inches per unit, which really adds up.”
Coupled with digital offerings that extend utilization beyond peak hours, Your Reformer helps operators squeeze more value out of every square foot.
Expansion hasn’t been without challenges, but the company has invested in solving them. Logistics are critical — ensuring safe delivery in every market — but so is localization. Content is already being translated into German, French and Spanish, with more languages on the way.
The U.S. has become a major focus, with delivery hubs, company-employed installation teams and showrooms in Los Angeles, New York and soon Dallas. “We’re all in on the U.S.,” says Stallworthy. “We want to be present and supportive for operators here.”
Your Reformer’s commitment extends past delivery. Operators receive onboarding strategies, marketing kits and even customizable digital experiences, such as allowing clubs to upload their own instructor videos into the kiosk system. Constant reinvestment in new content, weekly class additions and challenges keep members engaged and clubs energized.
“For us, it’s about being all-in with our partners,” Stallworthy says. “We know what it’s like to be on the other side, so our goal is to deliver everything a club needs to succeed.”
As hybrid models become mainstream and space optimization grows more urgent, the role of reformer Pilates in fitness centers is only going to expand. “In my opinion, in the next few years, it won’t be a question of whether you have reformer Pilates,” Stallworthy predicts, “It will be, ‘What’s your reformer Pilates strategy?’”
