TikTok is my happy place. I love scrolling through videos like fortune telling and cucumber recipes and the latest celeb feuds I’m obsessed with. In recent months, I haven’t been able to scroll through without seeing someone gushing about it. Abdominal plateThe is also known as the “at-home Pilates reformer” because it mimics the same functions as a reformer machine. After watching about 30 TikToks from creators claiming that the machine helped them cancel their Pilates subscriptions or get six-pack abs, I was intrigued and had to try it for myself. Building a strong core can be a challenge when a Pilates class costs as much as a down payment on a small house (who wants a gym membership in this economy?!).
If this device can give you a great workout in the comfort of your own home for under $100, I’m all for it. So, like any good wellness editor would, I tried it out for myself and did the research to get to the bottom of all the TikTok fuss so I could finally decide if it’s worth my time and money (not all heroes wear capes; some wear Lululemon). Read on to find out more about the much-talked-about Umay Ab Board, its benefits, and my honest review.
What is Umay Multifunctional Abdominal Exercise Board?
Lightweight, compact, and easy to use, the Umay Ab Board’s versatile design supports a variety of Pilates exercises typically performed on a reformer (lunges, planks, pikes, arm extensions, mountain climbers, and more) without the expensive expense. The two non-slip sliders (and foldable handle) can be used together or separately, and accessories like hand grips, an included timer, and built-in resistance let you customize and vary your Pilates workout.
What are the benefits?
It works on the whole body
Thanks to its versatility, you can use the Umay Pilates Abdominal Machine to work all the muscles of your body: core muscles, back, arms, buttocks, legs, etc. Because you need to actively press on the slider when doing lunges and planks (otherwise it will quickly go back to the original position), you need to work and control several muscles at the same time.
Little impact
Because you’re moving in a horizontal plane instead of supporting your body weight like with heavy lunges, there’s less stress on your body and your joints, making this exercise method extremely effective for injury prevention and recovery.
Compact
When you’re done, just fold the thin board in half and stow it under your bed or couch. It’s easy to carry with one hand, so you can easily switch scenery from your living room to your hotel room. Use it as a portable “gym” at home or when traveling.
Wellness Editor’s Review
I’ve always prioritized strength training because building muscle is important for a variety of functions, from hormonal health to metabolic health, and I prefer to strength train with slow, low-impact movements. Megaformer The Reformer is my favorite because I feel like I can work my deep muscles with less stress on my joints than traditional dumbbell exercises (I have constant knee and hip pain). Let me start by saying that the Reformer is my favorite way to exercise and I’ve probably spent thousands of dollars over the years investing in studio classes. That’s where the Umay Ab Machine comes in.
The setup was super easy (less than 10 seconds, which is super easy for me as a girl who can’t order from IKEA because I can’t follow instructions). Learning how to use it was pretty easy (especially if you’re used to using a reformer or ab roller). The handles were a little sticky at first but loosened up quickly. I watched a few TikTok videos of different exercises and tried to do similar movements that I often do on the reformer ( From boards to spears, Trucksand catfish). Within just a few minutes, my abs were extremely sore — a deep level of pain that seemed to work every tiny pocket of my abs.
The range of motion allows you to work everything from your upper to lower abs with ease, and it feels like you’re working the deepest layers of your core without putting too much strain on your body. I did maybe 10 minutes total (with lots of breaks in between) and my abs were sore the next day (like they hurt when you laugh or cough). What I like most about this machine is that other sit-ups hurt other parts of your body. Sit-ups hurt your neck, planks hurt your shoulders, leg raises work your hip flexors. The design of this machine made every exercise feel purely core-focused, meaning I could keep working until I’d fully engaged my core, instead of giving up because my neck/arms/hip flexors hurt like with other sit-ups.
It’s really versatile. I’ll probably use it primarily as an ab board for core training, but there are thousands of exercise videos on TikTok where you can use the same board to work every part of your body from your butt to your biceps, especially with the extra features like resistance bands. An added benefit of this at-home reformer is that the board has a timer so you can do timed workouts or one-minute planks (which is handy since I’m used to relying on my Pilates instructor to count down painfully slowly). It’s also incredibly easy to store. It’s lightweight, folds up easily, and is pretty slim so you can store it under your bed, behind your desk, on a shelf, or in a closet.
The only downside is that the handles remain a bit sticky even after a few weeks of use, so it’s not as smooth as a real reformer machine, but in my opinion, this doesn’t negatively impact the workout. Another thing that’s different from a real reformer machine is that you can’t change the resistance. However, you can easily do resistance training in other ways, such as attaching ankle or wrist weights or adding resistance bands. The board alone gives you a very good workout, so not adding resistance is totally fine.
In summary, this $95 board gave me the best ab workout of my life in under 10 minutes, all in the comfort of my own home. Summer House Reruns. While this isn’t your only way to exercise (walking, cardio, and heavy weight training are important too!), use this board regularly to incorporate into your at-home workouts or to get some extra exercise during commercial breaks. Your abs will be even better.
About the Author
By Josie Santi, Senior Wellness Editor and Podcast Host
Josie has been an editor and writer for The Everygirl since 2017 and became a certified Holistic Health Coach in 2020. Listen to Josie Everygirl Podcastwhere he interviews guests and hosts episodes on a variety of educational, inspirational and entertaining topics.
