I’ll be honest: I’ve done plenty of mat Pilates and the odd yoga class over the years, but until last week I had never clipped my feet into a reformer carriage. So when a friend suggested trying Everwell, the sleek little studio tucked away in Bermondsey, I booked an ‘Adapt’ All Levels class and hoped for the best.
Waiting outside for the doors to open (a keen bean – I had arrived early to change), I couldn’t get in until the instructor opened up for me – mental note to arrive already kitted out in stretchy gym wear and ideally with rubber-soled socks for grip.
The space was intimate, with just ten reformer machines which slightly resemble torture machines from an old school movie, but I was reassured that I would experience more pleasure than pain!
Alexis, the instructor, greeted us all by name and opened with a simple walkthrough: how the springs behave, how to adjust the footbar, and, crucially – how to get in and out of the straps without accidentally catapulting yourself across the room. Small victories- and essential to remember in a class that was set to lengthen and strengthen inner thighs, triceps, core and shoulders.
The session itself was 50 minutes of slow, precise burn. Footwork, arm work, leg circles, side-lying sequences – even a version of the splits! I loved it! Different from mat work, yet strangely comforting, I felt at home with the moves, and the moving carriage adds just enough instability that your deep core muscles clock in immediately. You can’t switch off- your body is in conversation with the machine the whole time, and Alexis moves around the studio continuously to refine alignment without breaking the flow.
The result was a full body workout working every muscle, big or small – from abdominals to your side waist to your back and glutes. I was already aware of the benefits of core strength, but this was also a challenge to balance and flexibility.
If you’ve been curious about trying out a reformer class, but wary of studios that feel more like a bootcamp than sanctuary, Everwell is an ideal entry point. Small classes, instructors who genuinely care about form and safety, and a studio that feels more like a retreat than a fitness space.
I can see an addiction coming on – I just wish they would open a studio in Brighton!
Book your sessions here
Everwell Pilates, 90-92 Spa Road, London, SE16 3QT
07498 366933
If you’ve been curious about reformer Pilates but worried it might feel too “hard-core” or impersonal, Everwell is the perfect place to start. Intimate classes, instructors who actually care whether you’re doing it right (and safe), and a genuinely serene space in the middle of SE1. I’ve already booked my next three classes.
Highly recommend – whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for a studio that feels more like a sanctuary than a sweat factory.
FACTBOX
Pilates and yoga equally, even though many of us would be hard-pushed to explain the difference between them. The former owes its capital letter to one Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer who developed his method early in the 20th century, although the man himself called it ‘Contrology’. Pilates’ exercises are focused on developing core strength and efficient movement habits while yoga, although its poses do develop core strength, revolves more around stretching and flexibility; perhaps it’s fair to say that Pilates leans towards gaining control and yoga is more about letting go.
Whatever camp you’re in, both are brilliant body and mind disciplines
this dynamic 50-minute class has been designed by expert trainers to improve strength and core fitness – and given our DOMs the next day, we can vouch it does exactly that. Expect mini routines that target your glutes, arms, back, thighs and core which are delivered in a safe and welcoming environment, as class instructors provide modifications for each move in case they’re too challenging. Unlike many reformer classes where it seems like you’re lying down for the duration,