How pilates reformer became a fitness trend in Angoulême

Cand strange articulated bed looks like an instrument of torture. However, it would have been made for our well-being. Lying on a mini-mattress that slides as you pull on the springs, you are not there to sleep, but to tame this machine determined to make us sweat. “Reformer” is the new version of pilates, a sport already very popular in gyms for its ability to “strengthen the abdominal core, improve posture and work the deep muscles”. In Angoulême, it has been possible to practice it since September at Barbara Potel’s Espace Tempo, rue de Bordeaux, and in Saint-Yrieix since last week in the Noona Studio. A pretty cocooning room in powdery tones exclusively dedicated to this practice popular in big cities and eagerly awaited in Angoulême.

Barbara Potel’s six courses are almost always full. In Saint-Yrieix, Nina Soun offers between six and seven slots per day, plus three on Saturday morning. Four out of seven courses are already all booked. The room was not yet open, the young woman already had 209 discovery sessions, more than 2000 subscribers on Instagram. “For the past year that I have been working on this project, I have noticed a lot of expectation.†This former advertising buyer, in career change, especially felt the tendency not to let it go. At a cost of €2,500 per machine (she has 9), she invested €100,000 in her studio equipped with a shower and girly changing rooms with everything needed to look beautiful: dry shampoo, cream, deodorant, hair oil…

A very old technique

The 34-year-old young woman manages the place but does not teach the lessons. To do this, she calls on three, soon four, coaches, including Nathalie Lecourt, an independent pilates teacher. “It’s a very old technique,” ​​she assures. Joseph Pilates, the German inventor of the discipline, already treated war wounded on their hospital beds in this way. Already with springs and straps. »

I felt the excitement straight away. People want to try new things.â€

“The benefits are the same as with pilates on the floor on a mat, but it is more comfortable on the bench. The shoulders are locked, the vertebral column has the correct posture. The body is more stressed. The girls will have sore abs tomorrow,” she warns. Maeva Basteyras, 23, wanted to discover something else, was looking for a variation of pilates and more exercises. Anaïs Delomme is all red as she leaves the class “but relaxed”.

Pump up the cardio

Rue de Bordeaux, Barbara Potel chose candy pink machines. “I felt the enthusiasm straight away. This is the strength of networks. People look for novelty and want to try new things. It’s very popular in big cities.” Bordeaux had three studios a year ago. Ten today. “The advantage, according to Barbara Potel, is that we practically offer a private lesson. You can increase your cardio while preserving your joints. We exercise the head, the body and the breathing.”

At 80 years old, and with a prosthesis in each hip, Joëlle Cramailh travels from Aubeterre to treat herself. This former opera dancer is in great shape “thanks to the floor pilates that she already practices. Here, it’s harder, more invigorating and sporty too. I continue so that I can do everyday things, garden, get up from my chair. I am more toned, as if I were 40 years old.” Anne Martinot is really 40 years old. “I build muscle without injuring myself. It’s important. Very complementary to running and gentler than what we do in the gym.” But much more expensive too.