Why Strength Training and Reformer Pilates Work Better Together
If you’ve been doing Reformer Pilates or strength training on its own, here’s why the best results come from combining both.
At HALM, we see it every day: men and women who feel stronger, leaner, and more in control of their bodies. Not by choosing between the gym and Pilates, but by doing both with purpose. Whether your goal is fat loss, muscle definition, better posture, or improved mobility, the smartest and most sustainable way to get there is through a combination of Reformer Pilates and structured strength training.
Here’s why it works and why we’ve built our programs around this approach.
1. Train for Your Goal, Not Just to “Work Out”
Before choosing how to train, it’s important to ask: what is your goal?
● Build strength
● Improve muscle tone
● Target specific areas
● Recover from an injury
● Stay strong as you age
Both strength training and Reformer Pilates can support these goals, but they do so in different ways. Strength training gives us the ability to progressively load muscles, which is key for building and maintaining muscle.
If you’re in a fat loss phase, lifting weights helps preserve muscle so the weight you lose is mostly fat, not muscle. It also supports long-term metabolic health and body composition.
For women over 35, resistance training becomes even more important to stay strong, mobile, and injury-resistant as the body naturally changes with age.
Read more in our article on why strength training is essential for women over 35, especially for improving muscle tone, supporting hormone health, and preventing long-term decline.
2. Strength Training Builds the Foundation for Pilates
Many Reformer Pilates exercises, like lunges, bridges, and squats, require underlying strength. If you’re not able to control your bodyweight in those positions, the movement becomes more about survival than skill.
That’s why at HALM, we use strength training to prepare you for Pilates, not replace it. For example, a Reformer lunge targets the glutes, quads, and inner thighs. In the gym, we isolate those same muscles through exercises like:
● Hip thrusts
● Leg extensions
● Seated hip adductions
This makes you stronger in the exact patterns required for Pilates, helping you move with control and get more from every rep.
In our Personal Training Studio, we often work with clients who have never done strength training before. With guidance and the right equipment, they quickly build the strength to feel confident both in and out of the Reformer studio.
Unlike the Reformer, which uses spring tension that increases the further the carriage moves, the machines in our private gym are engineered to match your body’s strength curve. That means the resistance adapts to how your joints move, making your reps more efficient, safer, and more effective at building strength and muscle.
3. Pilates Complements the Gym Where It Matters Most
While strength training builds power, Pilates improves mobility, stability, and control which are all essential to a strong, balanced body.
In Reformer Pilates, you’ll work on:
● Core control and pelvic stability
● Spinal mobility and articulation
● Hip and shoulder flexibility
● Balance and coordination (especially through unilateral movements)
These are areas that strength training programs can sometimes miss. Pilates helps correct poor movement habits, strengthens stabilisers, and improves body awareness - things that make your gym lifts feel smoother and more controlled.
Our Private Reformer Pilates sessions at HALM are especially effective if you're recovering from injury, new to Pilates, or looking for a more personalised approach. We tailor every session to your body and goals—helping you progress faster and move more confidently. [Link to private Reformer page]
And when done alongside strength training, Pilates acts as both a movement quality check and a mobility booster so you get stronger with less stiffness and fewer aches.
4. They Make Each Other Better
The combination of strength training and Reformer Pilates does more than cover both ends of the spectrum.
It actively enhances results in each.
● Strength training improves strength & mobility by loading joints through their full range of motion.
● Pilates improves posture, control, and range, which helps you lift better and more safely.
Together, they create long-term strength, lean muscle, joint resilience, and better recovery.
At HALM, we’ve seen Pilates-first clients start strength training and suddenly feel more grounded and strong.
We have also seen long-time gym-goers try Pilates and discover tight hips, weak stabilisers, and balance issues
they never noticed before. With the right balance of both, your training becomes more complete—and more enjoyable.
5.Training That Works With Your Body, Not Against It
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all programs. Your training should be shaped by your goals, whether that’s fat loss, muscle gain, improved mobility, or simply feeling stronger and more confident in your body.
At HALM, we combine:
● Resistance training to build strength and positively shift body composition
● Reformer Pilates to improve control, alignment, mobility, and recovery
● Expert coaching to personalise the journey and ensure every session moves you forward
This integrated approach delivers results that feel right for your body and last far beyond the short term.
Ready to Feel Stronger, Fitter, and More Confident?
Book a consultation and private tour to explore how we can create a program that brings together the best of Reformer Pilates and Strength Training, tailored to your body and your goals.
