I Don’t Usually Do Pilates, But This Class Made Me Rethink It

A hybrid reformer Pilates class in Commack combines strength training and cardio, giving a full-body workout that’s challenging and fun.

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You Don’t Have to Be a “Pilates Girl” to Take a Pilates Class Anymore

I’ve never considered myself a Pilates person. I’ve done mat classes and liked them, but I typically prioritize weight lifting and straightforward cardio like running or walking. Pilates on a reformer has always been something I’ve been curious about, but never fully worked into my routine because I thought I had to choose between the two workout styles.

When I walked into STRONG Pilates in Commack for my first reformer class, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew the basics—slow, controlled movement, a focus on core and alignment—but beyond that, it was new territory.

The reality was very different. The class blends reformer Pilates with rowing or spinning and strength training, which means you’re not just moving through slow, controlled exercises. You’re constantly rotating between the reformer, a rower or bike, and weighted strength work in a way that keeps your heart rate up. It feels less like a traditional class and more like a circuit—without losing the structure and precision Pilates is known for. According to co-owner Beverly Bono, that hybrid format is exactly the point. “People tend to put themselves into one category or the other,” she says. “We see clients who are loyal to Pilates but feel like they need something more, and others who are used to high-intensity workouts but have never really explored Pilates.”

I fall squarely into that second group. But what surprised me here wasn’t just the intensity. It was how seamlessly the class moves between different types of training. Just as your muscles start to fatigue on the reformer, you’re transitioning to the rower for a burst of cardio, then picking up weights before cycling back again. There’s a rhythm to it that keeps you engaged, and more importantly, it never feels repetitive. Bono says that balance is intentional: “We wanted to create a space where you don’t have to choose between those styles of training. You can build strength, improve endurance and still focus on control and form all in one workout.”

That combination ends up feeling more efficient than doing each modality separately. Instead of compartmentalizing your workouts—one day for strength, one for cardio, one for Pilates—you’re layering them together in a single class. “It creates a more efficient and balanced workout,” Bono explains. “You’re moving between modalities in a way that keeps your heart rate up while still prioritizing form and control,” she says. “The reformer challenges stability, the rowing adds low-impact cardio, and the strength work builds muscle.” The result is something that feels cohesive rather than chaotic, even though you’re constantly switching stations.

At the same time, this isn’t positioned as a replacement for traditional Pilates, which is part of what makes the concept feel approachable rather than intimidating. “It’s definitely complementary,” Bono says. “Traditional Pilates has incredible benefits and we still offer Pilates-only classes for that reason. The hybrid format builds on that foundation.” That flexibility shows up in how people actually use the studio. Rather than committing to one style of class, most clients move between both depending on what they need that week. “Most clients end up mixing,” she says. “Some come in thinking they’ll prefer one, but once they experience both, they see how well they work together.”

In practice, that might look like a few hybrid classes during the week for a more intense, full-body workout, and a Pilates-only session focused on recovery, mobility, and core work. “It’s a balanced approach that keeps people consistent without burning out,” Bono adds. And that idea—consistency without burnout—feels especially relevant right now, when so many peostrongpilates.com/location/commackple are trying to find a routine they can actually stick to.

What makes this stand out isn’t just the workout itself, but the way it challenges the idea that you have to define yourself by one type of training. You don’t have to suddenly become a Pilates person to walk through the door, and you don’t have to give up strength or cardio to make it part of your routine. I’m still going to lift weights, but now Pilates feels like something I’d actually work into the mix.

Check out the highlights of my STRONG Loaded workout here, and find more information and a class schedule at strongpilates.com/location/commack.