Low-impact, adaptable and results-driven, this mindful workout appeals to all ages, from rehabilitation patients to professional athletes
At a time when physical and mental well-being is a rising priority – both for short- and long-term goals – Reformer Pilates is establishing itself as a discipline suited to different needs, conditions and objectives.
In addition to being a comprehensive and safe workout, it is extremely adaptable, with a high margin for progression and noticeable results.
Unlike traditional Pilates, which is performed without equipment, Reformer Pilates uses a sliding carriage equipped with springs, ropes and adjustable straps, which can be used to perform around 200 exercises and train the whole body in different positions.
Reformer Pilates requires concentration, balance, coordination, control and fluidity, and some of the immediate benefits include better mobility and posture. But the advantages go beyond that.
“In addition to promoting muscle development, increasing strength, flexibility and longevity, preventing injuries and relieving pain, it helps reduce stress and anxiety and foster greater body awareness, ensuring a deeper connection between body and mind,” explains instructor Sofia Brás, from EVOC studio in Portimão.
“It is ideal for those with a sedentary lifestyle, pregnant women and, in particular, the elderly, but also for athletes and people undergoing rehabilitation,” she adds.
Many have already embraced this versatile practice, whilst others are only just discovering it, which has led to a steady rise in studios across Portugal dedicated to the activity.
Over the last five years, there has been significant growth in the number of enthusiasts of all ages and levels, and the Algarve is no exception. Essential visited some fitness studios in the region promoting this trend.
EVOC Health Club, Portimão
Exercising under the supervision of a qualified professional is essential to this practice, in order to ensure the correct load adjustment and proper execution of exercises, thus ensuring low impact on the joints, warns instructor Sofia Brás. She teaches individual and group classes, each lasting 50 minutes, at EVOC Health Club in Portimão.
Evoc Health Club, Portimão
Reformer Pilates was introduced at the gym in April 2025 and currently has four instructors and students of different nationalities, including American, Chinese, Brazilian and Portuguese.
Recommendations suggest practising at least once a week, but ideally two to three times a week, always wearing grip socks, the instructor advises. Born in Switzerland, Sofia has a degree in Sports Science and has been teaching Pilates since 2022, having followed closely the Algarve’s growing interest in the discipline, which she attributes to the increasing awareness of the importance of caring for the body, ensuring quality movement and overall well-being.
Pilates Room Lagos
Opened over a decade ago, Pilates Room Lagos was the city’s first fully equipped Pilates studio. What began in 2012 with small, traditional-style classes with three students has since evolved into a fully fitted studio with six instructors, most of whom hold a certification from BASI Pilates, a US-based training organisation.
Pilates Room Lagos
Pilates Room Lagos has always prioritised providing “a friendly and welcoming space where people feel comfortable, motivated and cared for”, says instructor Lisa Longhurst.
The studio specialises in Pilates for injuries and other pathologies, pregnancy and ageing, serving both local and international students between the ages of 14 and 88 who attend group classes held on four Reformer machines.
“There is an atmosphere of sharing and support, combined with respect for individual needs. Classes focus on flow, continuous movement and strength development, providing an energetic and motivating experience,” states the British instructor.
Pilates Studio AllBalance by Sofia Aleixo, Vale do Lobo
Sofia Aleixo began teaching Reformer Pilates in Vale do Lobo in 2022 and opened AllBalance by Sofia Aleixo in April 2025. Using specialised equipment, students can perform exercises “with greater intensity, variety and demand”, explains the physiotherapist, adding that this allows them to “safely achieve greater range of motion, flexibility and agility”.
Pilates Studio AllBalance by Sofia Aleixo, Vale do Lobo
This makes it suitable not only for people with joint issues, chronic pain, recovering from injuries or in the postpartum period – always with medical clearance – but also for those suffering from back, shoulder or hip pain.
“It mainly works the core [abdomen, lower back, glutes and pelvis], as well as the arms and legs, in a balanced way,” says the instructor. She has also noticed a significant increase in the number of students in recent years, particularly among people who had no previous contact with physical exercise and were encouraged to try Reformer Pilates by friends, family or doctors.
The growing concern with health and well-being, combined with the visible results and long-term effectiveness of this low-impact exercise, have helped it emerge as a global trend, says Sofia, who has students ranging from 12 to 90 years old.
Reformer Pilates Algarve, Almancil
Operating since 2018, Reformer Pilates Algarve brings together a wide variety of nationalities. The three instructors at the studio, located in Almancil, welcome students from the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Brazil, South Africa and Portugal. For instructor Victoria Barton, this practice represents “a life change’” both for herself and for those around her.
Reformer Pilates, Almancil
“In my 12 years working in the Algarve and in Sydney, Australia, I have come across real cases that confirm the benefits, from women who have finally found an activity they enjoy, to people who no longer wake up with back pain, and golfers who saw their performance improve,” she recalls, also highlighting the increased interest in recent years.
Victoria, whose students’ ages range from 18 to 79, Reformer Pilates helps people feel better about their bodies, reduces injuries and makes exercising enjoyable again. “You feel the magic of it in everyday life because there’s less pain and discomfort. It really helps us live better,” she stresses.
Q Reformer Pilates, Quinta do Lago
At Q Reformer Pilates, in Quinta do Lago, instructors Pedro Vasconcelos and Cátia Conde welcome students aged between 14 and 82 from all over the world. Both were trained by Inelia Garcia, a leading authority on this discipline created by Joseph Pilates, which promotes the development of “body awareness” and its physical, mental and spiritual benefits.
Q Reformer Pilates, Quinta do Lago
“The focus of the training is on the person as a whole, not just the body,” says Pedro, highlighting the versatility and adaptability of Reformer Pilates, as well as respect for individual needs and goals.
The studio, which opened in November 2024, has seen a steady increase in enrolments, something that Pedro attributes to the fact that people are increasingly seeking “a better quality of life, a fitter body, a calmer mind, and greater awareness of oneself and our surroundings”.
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