Restart Reformer Pilates grows from Cheetham Hill to four Manchester studios

Reformer Pilates has become one of Manchester's most popular ways to keep fit, and Restart Reformer Pilates is one of the local studios that has grown with it. What began as a single studio in Cheetham Hill in April 2022 now runs four studios across central Manchester and Salford.

The business was founded by Min Hou, who is the first Chinese reformer Pilates studio owner in England. Her original studio is at 53 Derby Street in Cheetham Hill. It has since been joined by studios at Circle Square on Oxford Road, at Hollins Chambers on Bridge Street off Deansgate, and at Colliers Yard in Bankside, Salford, its fourth and newest site.

One of the things that sets Restart apart is that classes run in both Mandarin and English. Proudly female and Asian owned, the studio has a multicultural team, which makes it a welcoming option for Manchester's Chinese community and for the many international students living near Oxford Road, as well as for anyone else who wants to give reformer Pilates a try.

Classes are aimed at all levels of experience. The timetable includes Restart Beginner for newcomers, Tone Up, which works every muscle in the body, Restart Burn, an advanced session with weights and props for those who have done at least five Tone classes, Bounce, which brings in cardio using the jump board, and Stretch and Relax, a slower full-body class focused on flexibility and alignment.

Restart also trains new instructors. Min Hou holds a YMCA teacher training qualification, and the studio's own instructor academy runs an advanced reformer course with theory study, eight in-person course days and a practical exam, leading to a CPD certificate.

The studio offers one-hour private reformer classes for groups, which suits team-building days or celebrations, and it runs occasional events away from the studio. Its next is a heated rooftop Pilates and wellness brunch at Chotto Matte Manchester on Sunday 1 November.

With darker evenings drawing in, an indoor class is a good way to keep moving through the autumn and winter. The beginner sessions are a sensible place to start for anyone new to the reformer, and grip socks are required.

Prices and offers change, so it is best to check the studio's current timetable and membership options before booking a first class at any of the four studios.