Ruth Langsford’s at-home folding reformer pilates machine is an ‘excellent piece of equipment’

It can often feel tricky to get a decent workout done at home, especially if you don’t have a lot of space or equipment, which is why we’re obsessed with Ruth Langsford’s handy reformer pilates machine. The Loose Women and This Morning presenter gave fans a glimpse at one of her home exercise sessions on the AeroPilates Reformer machine, prompting an influx of requests to share which machine she was using.

Whilst Ruth only specified that it hailed from AeroPilates, we suspect it’s the Reformer 287 machine which is the perfect piece of compact kit to get a studio-worthy stretch at home. In her video Ruth said the workout was “Hard work but the back stretch is worth it”, confirming that despite not being in an official studio, the AeroPilates Reformer still made sure she was working hard.

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You can pick up the folding reformer machine for £529 at Amazon right now, and whilst that may be a splurge, when you consider the fact the average reformer pilates class costs between £20 and £35, you’ll soon be saving money. Plus the at home kit means you can fit your workout in whenever you want, rather than having to stick to a strict class schedule at a studio.

The AeroPilates Reformer has elastic resistance cords which help give a smooth resistance through the movements, with a three-cord system that lets you customise the intensity to suit all experience levels. It also has a wide cushioned platform with high density foam shoulder pads, an adjustable head rest and foam grips to help keep you comfortable and improve relaxation.

The machine folds in half for easy and convenient storage, and has wheels on the edge so you can easily wheel it in and out in seconds. This is ideal for those who don’t have a lot of open space and need to store the machine under the sofa, bed or in a cupboard between uses.

As well as the AeroPilates Reformer, you’ll also get three expert-lead pilates workout DVDs to follow along with. The DVDs take you through an introduction to reformer pilates, as well as fully body workouts.

If you want a more luxurious option, the Original Fold Reformer is one of the closest machines you’ll get to having a real studio one at home, and is currently on sale with £150 off, slashing the price from £1,899.99 to £1,749.99. At the other end of the price spectrum is the Myga Reformer Set Compact Home Workout Equipment which is £49.99 and has a compact design with sliding plates, resistance bands and push up bars to give you a full body workout without needing a bulky machine.

However Ruth’s AeroPilates Reformer has been praised by Amazon shoppers, with one saying: “For the price this is an excellent piece of equipment. Could be a little more robust, but for a fairly affordable Pilates reformer it's not bad. The shipping was fast and service was good.”

Another wrote: “This was super easy to set up, though it is missing two screws that attach the bar at the end. It is still functional without these screws. The bungee make it easy to adjust resistance. The handles on the pull strings are comfy. The track is nice and smooth which means it isn't distracting during use. It folds up fairly easily to hide away when not in use. The pad is comfortable and has held up well so far.”

One did add: “Like it but not light,” whilst another wrote: “While it's good to have a reformer at home I really miss the risers, too many exercise are hindered by the straps scratching my shoulders or head and it feels very small/short, I feel crammed on this reformer and I am 5'6". It's nice that can be folded but I find it a clumsy procedure. The lack of risers does mean that I can slide in and out of under the sofa very quickly, love that! (but still I wish I had risers while exercising.”

However another countered: “Pilates class was running about 95.00 a month. I can do everything on this machine as I would in class. Smooth motion and glide, I’m 5’6” and it’s the perfect size. Comfy and was easy to put together.”