If your social media has recently been flooded with pastel workout sets, slick-back buns, and enough reformer content to make you consider trading your running shoes for grippy socks, you’re not alone. The ‘pilates princess’ era is in full swing – and Jersey just got its crown jewel.
ReformHER is the island’s newest reformer pilates studio. Founded by lawyer-turned-fitness-entrepreneur Sophia Moustras, and backed by a powerhouse team of movement-loving women, the Seale Street-based studio is set to open this week.
Express caught up with Sophia ahead of the launch to talk balance, business, and building a studio that feels as empowering as it looks…
Improving the accessibility of reformer pilates
Sophia, who works as a lawyer specialising in dispute resolution, explained that she found a sense of “balance” between work and personal life through reformer pilates.
She explained: “Whilst it can be a challenging workout, you’re forced to be present and focus on your alignment, balance and coordination to get the most out of your practice.
“Suddenly, the class is finished and you haven’t even noticed the time pass!”
Sophia said she first found inspiration for the studio during a return trip to her hometown in Cyprus.
“I found reformer to be accessible whilst in Cyprus, but upon my return to Jersey, it was difficult to maintain reformer practice with the limited offerings over here,” she said.
“Rather than waiting for the landscape to change, I decided to create something myself – a studio that offered high-quality, accessible classes with affordable pricing to allow reformer to become part of people’s weekly routine, rather than a one-off luxury!”
“We are run by women and for women”
Sophia explained that women are are the “forefront” of ReformHER’s values.
“We are run by women and for women,” she said.
However, there will also be classes for men too – ‘ReformHIM’ classes set to become available “in the near future”.
Sophia said: “Whilst we’re proudly female-focused, we have to admit, this studio wouldn’t exist without the help of a few very capable men along the way!
“As a token of our gratitude to the men who undertook the tasks we women did not wish to, our first ReformHIM class is on us!”
“Nothing about this process has been easy”
Looking ahead to the opening, Sophia explained that it has taken six months to get to this point.
“I used to think, ‘How hard can it be to set up a Reformer studio?’ Turns out, very,” she said.
“Nothing about this process has been easy. It’s genuinely taken a village to get us here.
“At one point I was told a crane might be needed to deliver the equipment – cue sleepless nights wondering how on earth you get a crane onto a one-way road like Seale Street, or where one is even meant to locate a crane!.
“Every step has come with its own set of challenges.”
She noted that one of the “more persistent hurdles” has been setting up our booking system.
“Jersey has limited options when it comes to payment processors, and the ones that do work require a lot of custom integration,” explained Sophia.
“Thankfully, Vantifai, a local CRM agency, stepped in and has been instrumental in building a temporary solution and supporting us with the backend setup.”
But despite the challenges, the ReformHER owner said that seeing the studio finally come together is an “incredible feeling”.
“Seeing how excited the Jersey community is has made every stressful moment completely worth it,” she added.
“Some exciting ideas in the pipeline”
The studio will initially offer ‘BeginHER’ class to “give everyone the chance to build confidence and learn the foundations”.
Sophia said: “Don’t be fooled by the name – just because it’s a beginner class doesn’t mean it’s easy!
“Modifications and variations are provided to meet people where they are at with their practice.”
Soon afterwards, the team will be introducing ‘SignatuHER’ classes which are intermediate level.
There will also be a muscle-focussed class called ‘StrongHER’, and circuit-style class ‘PowerHER’.
Sophia added: “We will be integrating a jumpboard class – which is basically an acceptable way for an adult to trampoline under the guise of pilates – which is high-energy and very fun.
“We are yet to formulate a name for that one.
“JumpHER did not make the cut – but we are open to suggestions!”
She added: “We’ve also got some exciting ideas in the pipeline – but we’re keeping those under the carriage for now.
“Follow us on Instagram @reformher.je to stay in the loop!”