Description
A Reformer looks intimidating, but it’s often one of the gentlest ways to move. Springs, not gravity, do the resisting, and you can set them very light. The Balanced Body Metro IQ puts a studio-style Reformer into a home that doesn’t have a spare studio.
It shrinks
The frame telescopes: about 96 inches long when you’re using it, and 61.5 inches when you’re not. With wheelbarrow wheels you can slide it under a bed (you’ll need 9 inches of clearance). With library wheels it stands upright in a closet. It weighs 85 lb.
Setting it up around your body
- A 4-position footbar with 9 inches of adjustment
- A 3-position headrest
- Removable 2-position foam shoulder rests
- A built-in 5.5-inch non-slip standing platform
Five nickel-plated Signature Springs (three red, one blue, one yellow) give up to 46 resistance combinations. That range matters if you’re stiff or easing back in: you can start with very little load and build from there. The carriage uses the same padded foam as Balanced Body’s Studio Reformer and glides on seamless tracks with an 8-wheel system. SoftTouch ropes replace metal clips and D-rings, so it’s quieter.
What it isn’t
Balanced Body is clear that the Metro IQ is a home machine, not a professional one. It isn’t warranted for studios or for use with clients, and you can’t add legs or a Tower. It arrives partly assembled; you fit the springs, footbar, shoulder rests and risers yourself with the instructions and video. It comes in black only, with a 2-year non-commercial warranty, and includes access to free videos on Balanced Body’s streaming platform.
A word if you’re in pain
Pilates can be a kind way back into movement, but it’s still exercise. Check with your doctor or physical therapist before starting if you have a recent injury, surgery or back pain that travels down a leg, and think about a few sessions with a teacher to learn the basics.
Want help choosing where to start? The free Pain Check-Up can guide you, and the wellness, rehab and lifestyle groups are a friendly place to ask.
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