The Pilates reformer is a traditional piece of Pilates equipment that looks like a bed with springs, a sliding carriage, ropes, and pulleys. The origins of the Pilates reformer date back to the original Pilates studio in New York in the 1920s which was designed by Joseph Pilates himself. We love the reformers for newbies. While you can perform the same series of exercises on the reformer that you can on the mat, the workouts are notably different. Mat classes utilize the body weight for exercises, while the Reformer adds resistance to the Pilates exercises via the use of the springs that form part of the machine and can help you understand how to use your body.