Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First, I've taken lessons and worked out on professional reformers. I also read every single review on this site and the other stamina reformers on here as of summer of 2016 as this is such an expensive purchase. Many exercises you'll get the same benefits from on this machine and it is substantially less expensive - but of course not of the same quality as the much more expensive (professional) models. I do not use the bounce attachment - I just use as a Pilates reformer. I also ordered the pullup bar and the box and pole so the total cost was about $700.00. You're still well below $1000.00 less than balanced body or Stott or even way more than $1000.00 below in cost. In hindsight, I'll probably actually buy a professional machine some day because this cured my lower back pain due to DDD and aging, too much sitting, etc., and it was time to switch to Pilates for me (I'm now a Pilates addict!). For now I'll stick with this Stamina machine, though, and it's working great. Three months in and I have no issues with it. I like how Pilates isolates and strengthens the minor as well as major muscles and gives me a better stretch that floor stretches alone. Because of this I also Bought Elle Herman's book on Pilates and take care to understand fully loaded poses on p. 31 of "Pilates Reformer" 3rd edition (AKA how not to cripple and maim yourself on the reformer as one reviewer of that book put it). You want to take some professional lessons (group classes aren't all that expensive if you can find them in your area) and learn how to breathe properly, posture correctly and avoid doing things that can hurt you or your neck / spine / or shoulders on this. Yes, this will all cost you somewhat but when my back pain was cured within a few weeks I decided to keep reading the above books and getting some additional videos, too, such as Stott Essential Reformer and Intermediate reformer videos as well as continue occasional professional lessons. Get the Classical Pilates Technique: The Complete Universal Reformer Series + Archival English & Spanish (2 DVD Set: Introductory Basic; Basic; Intermediate; Advanced; Super Advanced; Archival) video from Amazon for about $20.00. There are also many good videos for free on you tube - but you need to know about proper form to see the good / bad technique. Also, one reviewer mentioned the pull up bar and how he didn't need one - it can not only be used for "pull ups" but allows the carriage to be used for planks, etc., other stretches and so on while operating the other way instead of just from the footbar end. You can do a variety of exercises and the box and pole came with a video and also wall charts which were handy. So, if you are using this as a reformer I would suggest those accessories, too. I read all the other reviews and would affirm most of their positive comments. There are no pinch points; except that you need to take care when attaching/changing cables as you could get pinched there - so I use two hands for that. Since the ropes are braided nylon yes there is some more noise than some other cords but it isn't anything that you can't change out (and even professional reformers sometimes need their ropes resized to be equal). There is no significant odor nor was it difficult to assemble - but some common sense is needed in some spots. Cons: True, the padding on the carriage is lacking so I bought: Yoga Exercise Floor Mat Of Premium Quality 1/2-Inch Extra Thick – Thicker Than Regular Mats – Slip Resistant Surface & Moisture Resistance – Lightweight & Easy To Carry Strap; right on Amazon.com and cut up a piece to fit the reformer. I still have a big piece to spare for work on the floor and I keep one piece on the reformer (and now it's very nicely cushioned). -Other con might be that you don't have springs. The resistance cords do tighten up quickly right away - so my purchase of the red cord was almost unnecessary (I am a strong 170 lb male, 5'8" tall). I do now use 1 red cord and a black cord as my highest resistance or one to two black cords for other exercises, depending. If you do get the red cord, put in on one of the two center slots. Unless you're very strong you may not even want to use anything but the black cords that come with this. Just try the black cords first and only order red cords if you need them (then just put 1 on). Since they tighten up quickly, I had some occasional knee strain when doing exercises in the skater pose (go light on resistance and keep knees bent or you'll have a lot of lateral knee strain as the cords tighten quickly). Otherwise, I feel many exercises such as leg loops, lunges, planks, leg extensions while on the box all feel very similar to the studio reformers I've worked on. If you use way too much resistance you won't be developing the minor muscles but rather switch to the major muscles and might also be tempted to "cheat". Form matters in Pilates. It seems pretty smooth to me, overall. Follow up: 4 years later. I did buy new black cords from Stamina products directly as the elasticity of the cords declines with use. I use this machine daily for my movement and stretches. -Last con, the platform near the footbar is rather narrow and also made of hard plastic - so I do sometimes use it to place a foot on it for lunges, etc., but I just slip on a tennis shoe on the foot I'm placing on the footbar area (otherwise the plastic is painfully hard on the balls of my feet). The tennis shoe gets around that. Likewise, for the platform near the pull up bar. Again, I slip my tennis shoes on for some exercises (esp. planks done from the other (pullup bar) end with one black cord). You may not have that issue on a professional reformer that has a more padded and wider footrest that would allow you to stay barefooted.