In 2026, Reformer Pilates has solidified its spot as the world’s ultimate fitness trend. Its rise is fueled by an A-list obsession: Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga, and David Beckham all swear by the method, while elite athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic use it to stay at the top of their game.
Yet, this rapid growth comes with a downside. The market for Reformer Pilates in Zurich suffers from a lack of regulation, meaning anyone can open a studio – often driven more by business opportunity than by actual expertise. This has led to a landscape where quality and teacher qualifications vary wildly. To help you navigate the hype, I anonymously tested 7 studios and 27 teachers for this honest review. This is your ultimate guide to finding where mindful movement actually meets professional instruction.
The Zurich Reformer Report: 7 Studios Put to the Test
FS8, Bederstrasse 33, 8002 Zürich / ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10)
The first FS8 studio in Switzerland was launched by franchise partners Alexandra Briner and Sebastian Brunal Milanes. Founded in the U.S. in 2020, FS8 has since expanded rapidly and now operates more than 70 studios worldwide. The Zurich location is situated in Kreis 2, one of the city’s most international and upscale districts, home to numerous foreign companies and consulates, as well as the European headquarters of Google’s Research & Development division.
I attended four different classes in October and November 2025. Despite having completed over 50 Pilates sessions at various studios, I found the FS8 format surprisingly difficult to follow. The workout area is large, with 18 reformers, and many classes – especially in the evenings and on weekends – are fully booked. In practice, this means that a single instructor is responsible for supervising up to 18 participants, which inevitably limits individual attention. Across four 50-minute classes, I received only two minor posture corrections.
The sound environment was another challenge. Music played at a consistently high volume, and instructors used microphones throughout the session. I found this distracting, particularly when instructions overlapped with song lyrics, making it hard to clearly understand verbal cues. At times, visibility was also an issue: a large white pillar partially obstructed the view of the instructor from certain reformers.
The screen positioned in front of each reformer is, in principle, a helpful feature and can sometimes make the instructor’s verbal cues almost redundant. In practice, however, it was not always visible – particularly during exercises performed on the knees, in push-up positions, or when lying prone with the head facing down. In addition, a new exercise appears on the screen every 60 seconds. If you are not already familiar with the movement, valuable time is lost trying to understand the setup and execution.
On its website, the studio states: “FS8 offers low-impact full-body workouts in group fitness classes, mixing Pilates, Tone and Yoga.” Based on my experience, however, these were the least effective Pilates Reformer classes I attended during my testing.
Form Studio, Talstrasse 62A, 8001 Zurich / ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10)
Form Studio is a trendy Pilates Reformer studio located just a few minutes from Paradeplatz and Bahnhofstrasse – one of Europe’s most expensive shopping streets. It is the third studio founded by Nina Reitermann and Lara Iten, who opened their first Pilates studio in Geneva in July 2023. The Zurich location reflects a carefully curated aesthetic with pastel tones and a stylish interior, featuring a sleek workout area of around 20 square metres where eight reformers are lined up in a single row. Note: Grip socks are mandatory for all classes, so make sure to bring your own. If you forget them, you will need to purchase a pair at the studio for CHF 25.
The studio’s infrastructure, however, is compact. The changing area is very small, and there is only one toilet with a shower. Lockers with keys are available. I attended two classes at Form Studio in September 2025: Reformer Essentials with Anna Stössel and Reformer Flow with Helen Poxon. Each class lasts 50 minutes. Both instructors were professional and well trained, and both classes were challenging. I would not recommend them to beginners. I personally preferred Anna Stössel, whose instructions were clearer and more precise, and who offered more frequent hands-on corrections.
The rating of 6 out of 10 is not related to the quality of the teachers, but to the studio’s sound environment and the overall quality of the exercise. Despite the small workout space, the music volume was comparable to that of a nightclub. The instructors wore microphones positioned very close to their mouths, while loud techno-dance music with lyrics played continuously in the background. The combination of amplified voice, music, and singing made it difficult to follow all the instructions, which disrupted the focus on breathing, body work, and mental awareness – key elements of Pilates. Even my own breathing became impossible to hear during the more demanding sequences.
While many Pilates experts advocate for silence or soft, ambient sound to enhance concentration, I found the environment at Form Studio quite different. The constant high volume of the music was, in my personal experience, a significant distraction. For me, it detracted from the mindful, focused atmosphere that I typically look for in a Reformer session.
Moreover, there were two elements of the Pilates Reformer I did not like: the box, which was very light and less stable than those I tested elsewhere, and the strap hook, which is positioned very low.
Trunk Pilates, Hallwylstrasse, 8004 Zurich / ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10)
Trunk Pilates is located near Stauffacher and Zurich Selnau, an area bustling with international offices. The studio itself is spacious with high ceilings, though it’s worth noting there is only one small toilet and no shower available. Set on the ground floor of a charming old building, it’s a convenient 15-minute walk from Paradeplatz.
During my test in August 2025, I attended four classes with different instructors. The best was Bruno’s session; his instructions were clear, his hands-on corrections precise, and his humor made the challenging workout truly enjoyable. However, please note that Bruno Karl Stebler has since left the studio. While the other classes varied, I highly appreciated the effective air conditioning, which kept the space comfortable even as outdoor temperatures hit 30°C.
Studio Move, Birchstrasse 652, 8052 Zürich / ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10)
I attended two classes at Studio Move in Seebach in July and August 2025. The studio, located on the ground floor of a modern building in Seebach, is equipped with a small kitchen and a spacious bathroom with a toilet and shower. The workout area itself is small, with just four reformers – two aligned vertically and two horizontally. Like most Pilates studios in Zurich, the space appears larger and brighter in the photos on the website than it does in reality.
The first was Align & Form in Spanish with Michelle, an instructor from Colombia. She was one of the three most welcoming teachers I encountered in Zurich and made me feel at ease from the very first moment. Despite not knowing the three other participants — all Latin American as well — the atmosphere immediately felt friendly and familiar, almost like a group of colleagues. The session was a beginners’ class with a few challenging exercises, plenty of laughter, and an overall light, joyful energy.
The second class, Flow & Tone, was more challenging and taught by Martina, a highly experienced instructor whose expertise was evident. Her instructions were clear, and she guided the group safely through demanding sequences.
However, the studio’s infrastructure presented some drawbacks. The space is very small and lacks a wardrobe or shoe cabinet, meaning bags, shoes, and jackets end up on the kitchen floor. This creates a cluttered look and, frankly, didn’t feel very hygienic to me. With only four reformers, classes also fill up fast. Lastly, the location is primarily practical if you live in Seebach or drive; traveling by public transport took me 50 minutes each way.
Note: Move Studio expanded its reach by opening a second location in Dübendorf in January 2026.
Faye Studio, Ostring 8, 8105 Regensdorf / ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)
Faye Studio in Regensdorf is located just a short walk from the Regensdorf-Watt train station. It is a bright, modern space spread across two floors and equipped with 10 reformers. The studio offers Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, and Yoga classes, and it also hosts the Reformer Academy.
Classes are taught in German or English by a team of seven, and I attended sessions with every instructor. Apart from Evangelos (see rating below) the ‘joker’ of this studio is Pauline Amand. A French Reformer instructor, Pauline excels at challenging her students by varying the focus of every lesson. She skillfully layers her exercises, increasing the difficulty step-by-step to push your limits. She is the perfect choice for those who already have some Reformer experience and are looking to effectively shape and tone their body. While I rate the studio itself an 8/10, Pauline’s classes earn a perfect 10/10 rating from me.
The major downside to this studio is its scheduling practice. They list an impressive number of weekly classes, only to cancel up to 40% of them just two hours before start time if fewer than two people sign up. This can be quite inconvenient for clients, and it also affects the instructors, who don’t get paid when a class is cancelled two hours prior.
Motus, Bodmerstrasse 14, 8002 Zürich / ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10)
Located in a residential building in Zürich Enge, Studio Motus is a boutique movement space offering thoughtfully small-group and private Pilates training in a bright, spacious environment. The studio was founded by Thomas Kendall, a former professional dancer with over two decades of experience performing with world-renowned companies like Ballett Zürich and the Scottish Ballet, following his classical training at the San Francisco Ballet School and the Royal Ballet School.
A standout instructor at the studio is Patricia Bently, whose intensive Reformer Jump class is as physically challenging as it is fun. Her cues are remarkably clear, she provides frequent and helpful corrections, and she makes everyone feel welcome by addressing clients by name. With a background in performing arts and classical ballet, Patricia holds a Master’s degree in Education and brings over twenty years of teaching experience. This pedagogical expertise shines through in her passion for helping students unlock their individual potential.
Faye Studio, Dora-Staudinger-Strasse 8, 8046 Zürich / ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10)
Located just a short walk from Affoltern train station, Faye Studio, named after its owner Faye Gaidatzis, is a bright, modern space equipped with six high-quality reformers. As a special bonus for mothers, morning Pilates sessions allow for bringing children along, with a dedicated kids’ room filled with toys available on-site. The facilities are spotless, featuring two toilets, a shower, a changing table, and a cozy lounge area with a kitchen and cloakroom.
Classes are generally taught in German (English upon request) by a team of seven. I attended sessions with every instructor, but the true “joker” of this studio is Evangelos Ntakis.
Out of the 26 Pilates instructors I tested across Zurich, Evangelos is the undisputed number one. Nobody else even comes close to his level of expertise. Holding a Master’s degree in Sports Science with specialized training in injury recovery and a background as a Pilates educator, his depth of knowledge is vastly superior to the peer average. His pedagogical background (having taught children for 12 years and worked with Parkinson’s and MS patients) provides substantial added value. He provides constant, precise corrections for beginners to ensure the correct form is learned from day one. This level of dedication is rare; in my experience, nearly 40% of the instructors I tested never corrected my posture once.
The major downside to this studio is its scheduling practice. They list 31 weekly classes, only to cancel up to 40% of them just two hours before start time if fewer than two people sign up. During the week of June 15 to 21, 2026, for instance, only 13 of those scheduled classes actually took place. This can be quite inconvenient for clients, and it also affects the instructors, who don’t get paid when a class is cancelled two hours prior.
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