At Episod, Pilates is combined with weight training: is it time to start?
An intimidating machine, a catchy name and a promise of visible results. Episod’s Reformer Strong transforms Pilates into a high-level workout.
A Pilates version of intense strengthening
From June 2025, the Episod chain is rolling out its new Reformer Strong course in Paris. The concept? Mix the basics of Pilates Reformer with the techniques of weight training and functional fitness. The result: a more dynamic, more targeted and, above all, more intense session. A trend inspired by Californian studios that’s taking Instagram by storm.
“Strength, motor control and mobility” is the promise. The session is divided into three parts:
- Stability and posture to consolidate muscular foundations.
- Power block with explosive machine movements.
- Core training and mobility to improve joint amplitude and optimize recovery.
A combo designed for demanding sportsmen and women, but also for those weary of conventional training.
Why is it so appealing?
The answer can be summed up in one word: efficiency. This Pilates 2.0 activates deep muscles, boosts coordination and is part of a major current trend: the muscle/mobility hybrid. No need to lift extreme loads: here, the Reformer works for you, or almost.
Even beginners can get started. “The machine looks impressive, but it actually makes movement easier, especially for non-muscular people,” points out Chloé Bouscatel (Monday Sports Club) in Bazaar France.
All of Paris flexes its Pilates muscles
With gyms like Kore, Zones and L’Usine rolling out their own muscle-building concepts, Episod confirms that this trend is taking root. Demand is exploding. “We have to add classes every week,” confided Kore CEO Lina Khelfa-Martin recently.
After its Athletic Lift classes, Episod reaffirms its shift towards pure training. Pigalle, République, Louvre or Levallois, Parisian studios are ready to welcome this new generation of Pilates.
A test session?
The Reformer Strong experience costs €39 per session. What if it was time to put an end to the clichés about flabby Pilates?
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