Yoga vs Reformer Pilates – a question that is constantly debated. Or it seems that way on social media anyway!

As we prepare to open the doors to our new reformer Pilates studio in Highland Park, NJ this September, we’ve been reflecting on the synergy between two movement disciplines we hold close: yoga and Pilates.

While they may appear different on the surface—yoga with its roots in ancient breath and stillness, Pilates with its structured resistance and focus on control—the two actually work in harmony to create a resilient, mobile, and deeply aware body. If you’re currently practicing yoga at our North Brunswick studio, adding just one reformer session a week could be the key to elevating your practice and optimizing your overall strength and movement.

Here’s why.

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1. Yoga vs. Reformer Pilates: Yoga Builds Awareness. Reformer Builds Structure.

Yoga teaches you how to listen inward. Through breathwork, balance, and mobility, you begin to move with intention rather than momentum. But for some practitioners, especially those with hypermobility or chronic tightness, yoga alone may not provide enough resistance-based training to build muscular support where it’s most needed.

Enter reformer Pilates—a method that focuses on time under tension, core control, and precise movement. It strengthens underused muscles, stabilizes joints, and creates the kind of structural support that actually makes your yoga poses feel more accessible and sustainable.

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2. They Work Different Planes of Movement

Yoga often focuses on forward folds, backbends, and twists—beautiful patterns that awaken the spine and open the breath. Reformer Pilates, especially on the Xformer machines we’ll be using in Highland Park, takes you through multi-directional resistance training that challenges muscles across planes you might not access on the mat. Think: side glides, single-leg presses, and core sequences that fire stabilizers you didn’t know existed.

Practicing both provides a more holistic, 3D approach to movement. You’re not just stretching and strengthening—you’re training your body to move well in all directions, with control and intention.

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3. Dual Practice, Dual Benefits

Clients who combine yoga with just one reformer class a week often notice:

• Improved posture and spinal alignment
• Greater muscle tone without burnout
• Better joint stability and reduced risk of injury
• Increased body awareness and breath control
• A deeper sense of mind-body integration

Whether you’re a longtime yogi at our North Brunswick studio or you’re brand new to reformer Pilates, this pairing offers a sustainable movement routine that supports both strength and softness, effort and ease.

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4. Our Membership Model Reflects This Philosophy

Because we believe in the power of both practices, we’re offering dual membership options between our North Brunswick yoga studio and our new Highland Park reformer studio. That means you can flow one day, strengthen the next, and do it all within two intentional spaces that support your long-term wellness.

Our reformer studio will feature signature formats including:

• Reform 50: A dynamic strength-based Xformer class
• Form 50: A slower, mobility-focused session inspired by classical Pilates
• Format 50: Half-reformer, half-mat for functional movement and sculpting
• Preform 50: A beginner-friendly intro to the machine

These complement everything you’re already doing on your yoga mat—helping you build strength without sacrificing flexibility and train with variety without losing focus.

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Ready to Try Both?

Whether you’re looking to deepen your yoga practice or try something completely new, this is your invitation to explore how yoga and reformer can work together to support a strong, supple, and sustainable body. Simply put, we believe in the Yoga vs Reformer Pilates discussion, you need both to acheive long term strength and flexibility.

Follow us on Instagram for updates as we prepare to open our doors in Highland Park this September, and if you’re already part of our North Brunswick yoga community, stay tuned for dual membership options and exclusive early access.

Because the best version of your practice might not be either/or—it might be both.