Tower Pilates in Canberra
Feel Better Pilates is the only studio in Canberra offering group Tower Pilates classes - and if you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out on one of the most versatile pieces of equipment in the Pilates world.
What is Tower Pilates?
Joseph Pilates - the man behind the method originally called Contrology - designed multiple pieces of apparatus for strengthening, mobilising and rehabilitating all kinds of bodies. Most people only ever encounter two of them: the mat and the reformer. The tower opens up a lot more.
The tower is a modern solution for recreating around 90% of the exercises from the trapeze table (or "Cadillac" - supposedly named after the best car because it was considered the best of Pilates' machines). The trapeze table is extraordinary but requires roughly the footprint of a single bed plus a metre of clearance on all sides and 3m ceilings. Brilliant fun, wildly impractical for a group setting.
Exquisitely adaptable, fiendishly clever.
This apparatus rewards the curious with movements that feel amazing.
The tower solves this by condensing the attachments to one end and lowering the surface - meaning all the good stuff is accessible without anyone losing their head on the ceiling. At Feel Better, our reformer/tower combo machines mean the full mat, reformer, and tower repertoire can all be performed in the same space - which is how we're able to offer dedicated group tower classes at an accessible price point.
What makes Tower different from mat and reformer?
The reformer uses a moving carriage and springs to add resistance and support. Mat work removes all of that - it's you and your own bodyweight, nowhere to hide.
The tower sits somewhere between the two, but with its own distinct character. Independent arm and leg springs add load and resistance in different planes, whether you're standing, seated, or lying down. Movements might look familiar from your mat or reformer practice, but you'll feel them differently - and the balance and control challenges ramp up quickly.
Tower genuinely shines for:
Mobility and flexibility work - the spring-assisted stretches are, frankly, delicious
Levelling up your reformer practice by building control in different planes
Strength work with a different kind of feedback than the reformer provides
Anyone who wants more variety in their movement practice
Who is Tower Pilates good for?
Anyone. Seriously. Tower classes at Feel Better are open level, which means we teach to the people in the room. If you're newer to Pilates, tower is a great addition once you have a few reformer or mat classes under your belt. If you're an experienced mover, it will challenge you in ways you're probably not expecting.
It's particularly worth trying if you've been doing reformer for a while and want to build your range of movement, or if you love mat work and want to explore what springs can add to familiar exercises.
Book a Tower class
Tower classes run at both our Hawker and Lyneham studios. Check the timetable and book directly through the link below - no experience required, just bring yourself and some curiosity.
This post was first published in October 2022 and was most recently updated in March 2026.