A synchronous reluctance machine, comprising: a rotor comprising: a first plate and a second plate; a first set of rotor poles, wherein each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a first plurality of laminations axially stacked between the first plate and the second plate, and each lamination of the first plurality of laminations comprises first channels configured to carry magnetic flux and a first plurality of passages spaced between the first channels and separating said channels; and a first set of axial stiffeners, wherein each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners is disposed within a respective passage of the first plurality of passages, a first end of each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners being coupled to the first plate, and a second end of each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners being coupled to the second plate; wherein each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a first axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners disposed within a first passage of the first plurality of passages, and each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a second axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners disposed within a second passage of the first plurality of passages; and wherein the first passage of the first plurality of passages is disposed radially outside the second passage of the first plurality of passages, and the first axial stiffener comprises a hollow member. a rotor comprising: a first plate and a second plate; a first set of rotor poles, wherein each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a first plurality of laminations axially stacked between the first plate and the second plate, and each lamination of the first plurality of laminations comprises first channels configured to carry magnetic flux and a first plurality of passages spaced between the first channels and separating said channels; and a first set of axial stiffeners, wherein each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners is disposed within a respective passage of the first plurality of passages, a first end of each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners being coupled to the first plate, and a second end of each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners being coupled to the second plate; a first plate and a second plate; a first set of rotor poles, wherein each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a first plurality of laminations axially stacked between the first plate and the second plate, and each lamination of the first plurality of laminations comprises first channels configured to carry magnetic flux and a first plurality of passages spaced between the first channels and separating said channels; and a first set of axial stiffeners, wherein each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners is disposed within a respective passage of the first plurality of passages, a first end of each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners being coupled to the first plate, and a second end of each axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners being coupled to the second plate; wherein each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a first axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners disposed within a first passage of the first plurality of passages, and each rotor pole of the first set of rotor poles comprises a second axial stiffener of the first set of axial stiffeners disposed within a second passage of the first plurality of passages; and wherein the first passage of the first plurality of passages is disposed radially outside the second passage of the first plurality of passages, and the first axial stiffener comprises a hollow member.