Why Reformer Pilates Works So Well for ADHD

22 Feb

Written By YUWUN CHEN

A personal note from the owner of Bliss Pilates

I didn’t set out to make Bliss Pilates an “ADHD-friendly” studio.

I built it because I needed it.

I live with ADHD, and for most of my life, exercise felt like another thing I was supposed to be good at but couldn’t stay consistent with. Traditional workouts bored me, overwhelmed me, or left me feeling like I’d failed yet again for not sticking to a routine.

Then I found Reformer Pilates — and everything shifted.

Exercise Was Never the Problem. The Environment Was.

With ADHD, the issue isn’t motivation or discipline.

It’s that our brains are wired differently.

I needed:

Structure without rigidity
Variety without chaos
Movement that engaged my brain, not just my body

Apart from Martial Arts, Reformer Pilates was the first form of exercise that didn’t have me watching the clock wondering if the session would ever end.

Pilates Helps My Brain Switch On (and Calm Down)

What I love about the reformer is that it demands presence — but in a gentle way.

The springs, the breath, the alignment… they keep my mind engaged without feeling frantic. I can’t scroll, zone out, or overthink. I have to be here.

And somehow, in that focus, my nervous system softens.

It’s one of the few times my brain feels organised rather than noisy.

It Trains Skills ADHD Makes Hard

Executive function is something many of us with ADHD struggle with — planning, sequencing, staying with a task.

Every Reformer class quietly practices those skills:

Remembering movement sequences
Adjusting when something feels off
Coordinating breath with control

Over time, that spills into real life.

Not always .But sometimes.

Calm Without Boredom (This Is the Big One)

I don’t want exercise that hypes me up or shuts me down.

I need something that creates flow.

Reformer Pilates does that for me.

No two sessions are the same. There’s always something new to focus on and that keeps my ADHD brain interested instead of restless or bored.

Why Bliss Pilates Feels Different

Bliss isn’t about “fixing” ADHD.

It’s about creating a space where:

You don’t have to mask
You’re not judged for distraction or needing reassurance
Modifications are normal
Everyone belongs

I work with kids on the spectrum. I teach adults with ADHD. I see how powerful it is when someone feels safe enough to show up exactly as they are.

That’s what I wanted to build.

If You’ve Ever Felt Like Exercise Just Wasn’t “For You”

Please know this:

There is nothing wrong with you.

Sometimes you just haven’t found the right environment yet.

For me — and for many of our members — Reformer Pilates has been a way to reconnect with our bodies, calm our minds, and build confidence in a way that actually sticks.

It’s not just a workout.It’s clarity, calm, and confidence — from the inside out.

And at Bliss Pilates, every body belongs.

YUWUN CHEN