OBSERVATIONS & OTHER ACCIDENTS

Lisbon is a city that never stops moving, but sometimes the best discoveries happen when we slow down. Last week, I had the chance to step off the usual rhythm and explore a space that promises more than exercise — a place where movement, wellness, and beauty coexist seamlessly. That place is The Reformer Lab, where I had the opportunity to speak with the founder, Isabella Solal-Céligny, and discover the vision behind this holistic approach.

I was intrigued when I received the invitation to visit The Reformer Lab. The original plan was to attend the opening of the new Estoril studio — the event promised much, but unfortunately, I couldn’t make it. Still, I intended to see the space eventually, whether that be this studio or one of the Lisbon locations in Amoreiras or Santos — more convenient for me.

I’m not the type of person who says yes to everything. I am selective — not out of arrogance, but because I like to dive deep into what truly interests me, particularly in areas that occupy a large part of my life.

I have always practised physical exercise in its broadest sense. Ballet at six — who hasn’t? — followed by competitive gymnastics until adolescence, and later, Yoga, which I maintained for over two decades. More recently, I returned to classical ballet and its derivatives — floor barre, ballet fit — which I practise religiously, day in, day out.

“Healthy mind, healthy body” has always been a maxim I uphold. For a simple reason: my mind, naturally restless, would be chaotic without the physical component. I dislike extremes and have always been consistent in treating the body as a key ally of the mind. This awareness inevitably influences how I view outer beauty. I find the obsession with aesthetics around us unhealthy. I don’t believe in miracles — nor do I find them particularly appealing — but I do believe in consistency, in the habits that inevitably shape everything.

It was partly for this reason that I wanted to visit The Reformer Lab — for its holistic approach. After all, there are many studios, popping up all over Lisbon. But also, by a near-ironic coincidence, I am currently in Porto (living) completing a Pilates teacher training — something I didn’t seek, but that found me at a time when I repeatedly question possible Plan Bs for my life as a writer.

For all these reasons, on Tuesday, 1 April, I finally visited the space.

I was warmly welcomed by Thaís (I’m fairly certain that was her name), whose friendly and uncomplicated manner immediately put me at ease. She showed me to the classroom, asked if I had non-slip socks — I didn’t — and offered me a pair. Naturally, I chose black. We climbed the stairs, and I entered a room where a perfectly aligned row of Reformers promised a disciplined session. Two students were already there, along with an instructor who looked simultaneously professional and calm.

The class was challenging, just enough. My ongoing training helped me keep up — without it, it would have been a much more abrupt immersion. An hour later, I left more tired, but also more aware of my body, more aligned.

Next came the Infrared Sauna. I was familiar with saunas, but never this version. Here, the heat doesn’t just warm the air — it penetrates directly into the tissues, promoting more intense and effective perspiration. The effect is most noticeable on the skin: cleaner, brighter, with a genuine sense of purification. After half an hour, it felt as if my body had shed an invisible weight.

As if that weren’t enough, I also tried the LED facial mask. This treatment uses different wavelengths of light to stimulate skin regeneration, improve texture, and help reduce signs of ageing. The effect isn’t miraculous — nor is it meant to be — but there is a subtle luminosity, a glow that reveals consistent care.

I know it’s not these isolated moments that transform a face or a body. Neither the sauna nor a single Pilates class. But when integrated into a consistent routine — as I believe everything in life should be — the results are inevitable.

It was precisely this philosophy that I found reflected in the words of Isabella Solal-Céligny, the founder.

With a background in communications, having worked for brands such as Levi’s and Converse in Paris, she brought a broader vision of wellness to Lisbon.

As Isabella Solal-Céligny explains, “I never wanted it to be just a place to do Pilates. We are so much more than that — it is a concept of beauty and welcome.”

From the very beginning, the goal was clear: to introduce something distinct to the city. “We were among the first to bring this type of approach,” she notes. Yet more than expansion, the focus remains on the experience: “It’s a place where you don’t just come to train — you learn a way of life.”

At the core is a method she describes as “different and challenging”. An approach that requires adaptation, especially for newcomers. “At first, it can be confusing. I myself thought: ‘how does this even work?’” she admits. “But after five minutes on the machine, the body begins to understand. We eventually find our rhythm.”

Isabella

“It’s a place where you don’t just come to train — you learn a way of life.”

That balance between discomfort and discovery is part of the process. “There are things that don’t always make sense at the time, but the body eventually gets it.” Perhaps that is precisely the difference: a practice that is felt as much as it is executed.

Beyond movement, The Reformer Lab offers an integrated approach. “We want to work on wellness in a complete way,” she explains, referring to the complementary therapies available. “To care for the body, but also for what’s behind it — from the inside out.”

And it is precisely that promise — quiet, yet consistent — that lingers long after leaving.

On that same day, my boyfriend said to me: “You look radiant, glowing” — curious, considering I hadn’t slept quite as well the night before. We both laugh.