Why Reformer Pilates is shaking up Switzerland

Reformer Pilates has long been more than just a niche workout – studios combining exercise, design and lifestyle are constantly opening in Zurich, Basel and Geneva.

One person helping to shape this trend is Scarlett Steiner. With KULT Pilates, she has created a space that shows attitude – and explains why precision means more than strength today.

Ms Steiner, Reformer Pilates is more popular than ever. Why is that?

It’s actually difficult to put this hype into words – the Reformer has an almost magnetic effect. On the one hand, this is due to the Reformer itself, a piece of Pilates training equipment invented by Joseph Pilates after the First World War. It consists of a padded lying surface mounted on a frame with springs and rollers, which allows for a variety of full-body exercises. These exercises are precise, easy on the joints and almost meditative. Participants therefore feel almost immediately how a balance of strength, flexibility and stability is achieved on the Reformer. What’s more, Reformer Pilates is not an anonymous workout like at the gym, but is competently guided by well-trained instructors for each exercise. The small groups also allow for individual adjustments and quickly visible progress, which is of course extremely motivating.

What can the Reformer machine do that other training equipment cannot?

The Reformer achieves something that other forms of training cannot: it combines strength, control, calm and challenge in a single session. Our classes are powerful yet grounding, focused yet invigorating. The movements are aesthetic, clearly guided and put participants into a state of flow where they are completely present. This deep focus – this connection between body, mind and breath – is the real magic. You only get that with Reformer Pilates.

What kind of people are particularly drawn to this form of training?

We see a very broad and diverse target group, consisting of women and men of all ages – from beginners who have never done Pilates before to professional athletes who use Reformer Pilates as a complementary training method. There are also those who want to start training again after a long break from sport or those who want to recover from injuries. And last but not least, women who are starting postnatal recovery after pregnancy.

On social media, you often see perfect bodies on the Reformers. What is myth and what is truth?

Social media often shows a very curated, aesthetic side of Reformer Pilates. The reality is much more inclusive, as this training is suitable for all bodies, all ages and all levels. The Reformer provides support where needed and challenges you when you’re ready. This makes the equipment just as accessible for beginners as it is for advanced users. And at KULT, we consciously embrace this inclusivity – from the studio design and communication to every single class. No one has to fit a certain mould; everyone is welcome.

The term KULT has power – and also something contradictory. How do you interpret it personally?

The term KULT has enormous power – which is precisely why we chose this name, even though some may find it contradictory, for our Reformer Pilates studio. It plays with an intensity that you don’t really associate with wellness or fitness. At the same time, this name pretty much describes the feeling that arises when people experience something together, grow from it and learn to love it. For us, KULT is not blind faith, but an experience. A feeling of ​‘I belong here’. Ultimately, we are about a modern cult of movement, community and self-care. We therefore use this term with a wink – but the energy behind it is real: if something is good for you, you can celebrate it, talk about it and even get excited about it. It’s not for nothing that Pilates is said to have transformative power. And when people come to our studio three or four times a week, feel better, grow stronger and connect with others – then this cult feeling automatically arises. We simply give it a name.

What did you want to create with KULT – a studio, a space or an attitude?

Even before we opened our studio in September, we had a vision of creating a place where people could come together, whether to exercise, learn something new, connect with others or simply feel stronger again. Of course, we also operate as a business. Nevertheless, we are particularly driven by the positive changes and feedback from our customers: our community is growing rapidly, many are discovering Pilates for the first time and falling in love with the Reformer. That’s why we refer to what’s happening right now with a wink as ​‘obsession’ – another metaphor that describes us and what we do so well.

What role do lighting, materials and atmosphere play in what people experience in your studio?

Lighting, materials and atmosphere are not decorative for us – they are part of the practice. In the performance area, where the Reformers are located, the lighting is designed to support the training so that you can perceive your bodily alignment. That’s why we work exclusively with indirect light and sports mirrors that create a subtle background glow and don’t distract. This allows us to create clarity without harshness, and thus an atmosphere in which one can train precisely, calmly and with focus. In our community area, featuring a matcha bar and small boutique, the mood shifts deliberately. The lighting is brighter, more open and inviting. Materials and lighting guide people through two states: concentration and connection. Both are part of KULT. And both should feel right as soon as you enter the room.

Pilates is considered a form of training that strengthens the body and improves focus. What changes do you observe most in your clients?

Joseph Pilates once said: ​‘After ten lessons, you feel better; after twenty, you see the difference; and after thirty, you have a completely new body.’ This statement describes the reality of our customers remarkably well. Many experience very rapid changes and often tell us that they sleep better or feel more alert and stable. Some even have less back pain or go through everyday life with a more positive attitude. This is no coincidence. Reformer Pilates not only strengthens the body, but also sharpens focus. You learn to move more precisely, breathe better, stand or walk more consciously. We see the transformation most clearly in those who come regularly – twice a week is ideal. Something happens: physically, mentally and in terms of self-confidence.

At a time when so much is happening digitally, you have chosen to rely on a physical location. Why was this real space important to you?

Because movement is something you must experience physically. A body can only really train, perceive and let go in a space, in direct contact. In addition, in times of home working and the like, people are increasingly looking for places where they can consciously switch off – away from screens and constant digital demand. At the same time, we are currently experiencing a societal shift: training sessions in studios are turning into social happenings. People are going out less these days and longing for a community that fulfils them creatively and authentically. That’s why at KULT we not only provide training, but also promote the idea of community: people who meet each other on the Reformer can grow together through Reformer Pilates and motivate each other. This turns exercise into a ritual, which we intentionally expand with events. These include manifestation workshops or wellbeing rituals around topics such as intention setting or recovery. The physical space is the basis for this. It is what makes encounters, energy and genuine connection possible in the first place.

And finally: how do you personally recognise that exercise has done you good?

The Reformer has given me a new life. I had a persistent shoulder injury that had been with me for years. Unfortunately, conventional medicine and physiotherapy did not help and suddenly, yoga was no longer possible for me. The only way I could continue training was on the Reformer. Step by step, in a controlled manner, pain-free – and at some point, the injury was gone. This experience shaped me. Today, regular practice is non-negotiable for me. It makes me more balanced, more patient, more resilient – but also a better person: as a friend, wife and mother. Because in Pilates practice, you learn exactly what you need in everyday life: focus, perseverance and the conscious letting go of expectations. Furthermore, awareness of the body and, at the same time, gratitude for it.

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