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We started with a big mission in a small garage in Ohio, driven by passion and fueled by ❤️.
From the very beginning, we poured our hearts into building this brand because we believe Pilates should be accessible to everyone. High quality exclusive yoga, pilates, lagree reformers and accessories for zen and meditation. We have free shipping available inside the USA for yoga, pilates, meditation clothes and fitness accessories.
✨ SEPTEMBER IS GOLDEN! ✨
Bring luxury, performance, and timeless style to your Pilates space with the limited-edition PersonalHour Nano Elite Gold Reformer.
For a limited time, save $300 with code:
🌟 GOLDSEPT 🌟
Premium quality. Beautiful gold details. Studio-level performance—designed for your home or professional Pilates studio.
Shop now at PersonalHour.com before this golden offer ends!
🎬 Nikki’s Pilates at Play – Episode 2: Reformer Footwork Series
Join Nikki for a guided Pilates reformer footwork series featuring four essential positions:
🦶 Pilates V
🦶 Arches
🦶 Heels
🦶 Tendon Stretch
Learn how to properly set up your reformer, adjust it for your height, maintain correct alignment, and avoid common mistakes such as locking your knees, arching your back, or flaring your ribs.
Complete 10 controlled repetitions in each position while focusing on smooth movement, breathing, and proper form.
Spring colors and resistance may vary by reformer model. Choose a setting that allows you to move safely and with control.
Explore PersonalHour® reformers and accessories at:
https://personalhour.com
Strengthen, tone, and move with Madison Strong in this full-body Pilates mat flow! 🤎
Using a Pilates mat, yoga blocks, wrist weights, and a Pilates ring, Madison guides you through a dynamic workout designed to engage your entire body, improve stability, and build controlled strength.
Move at your own pace, focus on proper form, and modify the exercises as needed.
Practice with PersonalHour® and discover how intentional movement can make you feel stronger from head to toe.
Nikki’s Pilates at Play – Episode 1
Get to know the Janet Elite Plus Foldable Reformer!
In this episode, Nikki provides a complete overview of the reformer’s main components and demonstrates how to set it up properly. Learn about the carriage, headrest, ropes, risers, springs, gear stoppers, adjustable footbar, foot platform, and included accessories.
She also explains how to attach and use the foot strap, jumpboard, and sitting box.
Whether you’re setting up your Janet Elite Plus for the first time or simply want to understand its features better, this guide will help you get started safely and confidently.
▶️ Watch Episode 1 now!
✨ Unboxing & Exploring the PersonalHour® Compact Pilates Chair
Join Vanessa as she unboxes and takes a closer look at the PersonalHour® Compact Pilates Chair!
Designed for those who want a versatile Pilates experience without taking up too much space, this compact chair can be used for exercises focused on strength, balance, stability, mobility, and controlled movement.
In this video, Vanessa explores:
• Unboxing and setup
• Design and key features
• First impressions
• Ways to incorporate the chair into a Pilates routine
Whether you're practicing Pilates at home or adding another piece of equipment to your studio, discover what you can do with a compact Pilates chair.
💬 Pilates lovers: What’s your favorite exercise to do on the chair?
Watch the PersonalHour Story, Hosted by Shark Tank Investor Daymond John on Next Level CEO
From building the first Pilates reformer by hand in an Ohio garage to growing PersonalHour into one of America’s fast-growing Pilates and wellness brands.
PersonalHour Founder & CEO Nadia Yacoub joins Shark Tank investor and FUBU founder Daymond John on Next Level CEO to share the journey, challenges, lessons, and vision behind PersonalHour.
⚠️ 3 Common Mistakes We Make on a Pilates Reformer
1️⃣ Looking up during ab work
Keep your gaze toward your thighs instead of the ceiling. Looking up may strain your neck and take the focus away from your core. Think about curling forward from your upper rib cage.
2️⃣ Pulling the ropes
When reaching for the straps, grab only the handles—not the ropes. Pulling the ropes can make them uneven and affect your movement.
3️⃣ Setting up the jump board incorrectly
Loosen the k***s completely, slide the jump board securely into the inserts, and tighten both k***s. Finally, raise the footbar to support and secure the jump board.
Safe setup and proper form make every workout more effective. Which of these mistakes have you made before?
🏡 Bring the Studio Pilates Experience Home!
Why drive to the studio when you can bring the complete reformer experience home? ✨
With PersonalHour®, you get:
🚚 Fast shipping available
🛠️ Semi-assembled for easy setup
🛡️ Full warranty included
💬 Customer support 7 days a week
💳 FSA & HSA approved
📱 Access to the PersonalHour Pilates app
✨ Reformers + accessories—all in one place
Your home. Your schedule. Your Pilates studio.
Start your Pilates journey with PersonalHour today. 💪
08/16/2026
15 Common Pilates Reformer Mistakes — How Many Have You Made?
I’ve noticed that a lot of reformer mistakes aren’t necessarily about doing an exercise completely “wrong.” Sometimes it’s a small setup or movement habit that changes the entire exercise.
Here are some of the most common ones:
1- Using too much spring resistance — Heavier isn’t always better. Too much resistance can reduce control and change the intention of the exercise.
2- Using too little resistance — Especially with standing exercises, too little resistance can make the carriage harder to control.
3- Letting the carriage slam home — The return is part of the exercise. Ideally, you should control the carriage in both directions.
4- Incorrect footbar position — The wrong height/position can affect your alignment, and it's always important to make sure the footbar is properly secured.
5- Incorrect jumpboard setup — Always make sure the jumpboard is properly positioned and secured before using it.
6- Overarching the lower back — I see this often with bridges and feet-in-straps exercises, especially when trying to increase range of motion.
7- Shoulders creeping toward your ears — Very common during pulling straps, rowing, and arm exercises.
8- Moving too quickly — Sometimes slowing an exercise down makes it much harder because you can no longer rely on momentum.
9- Locking the knees — Especially during footwork and standing movements.
10- Losing control of the pelvis/spine — The carriage moves, and suddenly the pelvis starts moving with it when it wasn't supposed to.
11- Using the neck instead of the core — Particularly during abdominal exercises.
12- Starting with the wrong strap/rope length — A small setup issue that can completely change your starting position.
13- One side doing more work than the other — It's surprisingly easy to push harder with one leg or pull more with one arm without realizing it.
14- Looking down at the carriage during standing work — Understandable when you're trying to feel safe, but constantly looking down can affect posture and alignment.
15- Getting on or off before stabilizing the carriage — Especially important for beginners. Make sure the carriage is controlled before transitioning.
One thing I’ve learned is that more resistance, more range, and more speed don't automatically mean a better Pilates workout. Control and intention matter.
What would you add to this list? What’s the reformer mistake you see most often?
Does your lower back hurt during glute bridges? 👇
One of the most common Pilates mistakes is trying to lift the hips as high as possible. When the hips stop extending but you keep pushing upward, the extra movement may start coming from the lower back instead.
Try this instead:
✨ Think “long,” not “high”
✨ Keep a long line from your shoulders toward your knees
✨ Let your glutes drive the movement
✨ Keep your ribs gently controlled
✨ Stop at the range you can maintain comfortably
The goal of a bridge isn’t to create the highest position possible. It’s to build strength, control, and better coordination between your hips, pelvis, core, and legs.
In the full article, we go deeper into:
• Why your lower back may take over during bridges
• What science says about glute and core activation
• Common Pilates bridge mistakes
• Foot position and pelvic alignment
• How high you should actually lift
• When back pain is a sign to stop and get professional guidance
📖 Read more here:
https://personalhour.com/blogs/pilates-faq/pilates-mistakes-why-does-my-lower-back-hurt-during-glute-bridges
Have you ever felt your lower back working more than your glutes during bridges? Let me know in the comments. 💙
The demonstration video featured in this article was created by Vanessa and is used with full credit to .
All rights to the original video content remain with the creator. The video is shared for educational purposes to help explain proper Pilates bridge technique and common movement mistakes
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