Power of Reformer Pilates
Reformer Pilates
What Is A Pilates Reformer Machine, And What Are The Benefits?
Pilates is an effective workout regimen for strengthening and toning the body that has been around for almost 100 years. It has become a popular low-impact set of exercises that combine strength, flexibility, core stabilisation, balance and achieving proper alignment with other well-being concepts such as mindfulness, breathing, and fluidity of movement.
If you’ve attended a Delamere, Knutsford, or Nantwich Pilates class, you may already be familiar with Mat Pilates classes, but what do you know about the Pilates Reformer machines you will have seen in the fitness studio?
The Reformer is a unique piece of equipment that can provide a wide range of variety for an amazing full-body workout. We wanted to take a closer look at the Pilates Reformer, how it works, the benefits, and everything you need to know!
What is a Pilates Reformer?
The Reformer is a large piece of equipment that that can look intimidating to newcomers, but with the right guidance can do wonders for your core strength and flexibility. It has a padded table or platform, springs and pulleys, rope, and a sliding carriage, and can be made of steel, aluminium, or other materials.
The Reformer works by providing resistance to movement. The springs are attached to the sliding carriage, which is pushed by the arms or legs, providing a full-body, strength-building workout. As you push against the tension of the springs and the pulley system, the Reformer helps put your body into better alignment, helping to reset and redefine default movements.
Who is Reformer Pilates for?
Reformer Pilates is suitable for just about everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or injuries. The exercises can be adjusted and modified to suit every kind of body, and it’s ideal for beginners right through to advanced practitioners.
It’s used by athletes and dancers to aid them professionally, but also just as suitable for office workers looking to fix their posture after hunching over a desk all day, or the aches and pains that can come with age.
If you’re getting jaded with your usual workouts and routines at the gym or home, then Reformer Pilates could be what you’re looking for to help switch things up. The variety and options for exercises and workouts are endless, and no two classes are ever the same!
How do you use a Pilate Reformer?
If you have never used a Reformer before, then you should seek out an accredited Pilates instructor for a beginner class to be guided through how the Reformer works and how to use it safely, as you would with any exercise equipment you have not used before.
There are many moving parts to the Reformer, and it could be possible to hurt yourself if you are not aware of how to use it properly and how to make all the necessary adjustments needed for each exercise. A trained instructor will also keep an eye on your form and provide hands-on adjustments.
To understand the Reformer, there are components that it would be wise to become familiar with:
Moving carriage - A cushioned, flat platform that can move backwards and forwards. Some variations may include shoulder blocks to provide comfort and stability.
Front platform - The fixed front platform typically houses the springs and can be used as a platform for exercises. Some machines also include an adjustable bar to increase the number of Pilates exercise variations.
Back Platform - The back platform is another flat, stable area to house the shorter straps, and has handles and adjustable bars.
Springs - The spring are the mechanism that provides the adjustable resistance on the machine for a variety of exercises. The springs are typically colour coded to note their ‘strength’, but it is worth noting that a ‘lighter’ spring does not always equate to ‘easier’, as increased core stability will be required.
Straps - Longer straps located near the carriage are to assist balance and stability exercises, while the shorter straps are used during more tension-driven exercises.
Some Reformers can also include other special components such as jump boards, boxes, and more, to help provide more variety in the Pilates exercises that can be performed.
What are the benefits of Reformer Pilates?
There is a wide range of potential benefits to taking up Reformer Pilates:
Tone muscles - Receive a full-body workout that can help develop a strong core and help tone a wide variety of major muscle groups.
Build strength - The springs help provide resistance to certain movements on the Reformer, and they can be adjusted to increase the exercise resistance and intensity to help build strength.
Increase flexibility - Not only can you improve your muscle strength with Reformer Pilates but also improve your flexibility and joint mobility. The majority of exercises on the Reformer incorporate dynamic stretching.
Prevent injury - Pilates has focus on posture, form, and fixing imbalances in the muscles, which can help improve balance and efficiency to help prevent injuries.
The benefits go further than purely physical too, as Reformer Pilates practitioners reconnect spiritually and mentally with their bodies through breathing and movement, developing new neural pathways that strengthen the muscles. Reformer Pilates can also be fun as you find your flow on the machine and develop an ability for a huge variation of movement.
How long does it take to see results with Reformer Pilates?
To really see results, then you should be participating in Reformer Pilates around three times a week, but even if you can only do one class a week, you will quickly feel the difference. The low-impact nature of Reformer Pilates means you can take classes up to five times a week if you wish.
However, to see and feel the long-term results, then the key is consistency. Learn the language and movements of Reformer Pilates, gain confidence on the machine, and you’ll be a pro in no time. It will only take around a month of consistent classes to understand the flow and the movement of the machine.
Which is better? Mat or Reformer Pilates?
Both Mat and Reformer Pilates can provide a great workout, and it ultimately boils down to personal choice. Mat Pilates can be done anywhere, with minimal equipment, while Reformer Pilates requires specialist equipment and a studio.
The Reformer provides more assistance than that of the mat, as the structure of the machine and its component parts can help assist your body find the correct form. Mat exercises can be very challenging to do correctly, and the Reformer can help condition the body in preparation for the mat.
The best type of Pilates is the one in which you feel most comfortable.
Tips for starting Reformer Pilates
For beginners, Reformer Pilates may feel a little unnatural and a bit weird at first, but over time it will feel more comfortable. The Reformer may seem a little daunting but with a good instructor and a beginners’ class, you’ll soon feel familiar and confident.
Why not try booking a private class first before starting a group Reformer Pilates class, if you feel you may be a little intimidated? Move slowly and mindfully through all the movements, remember that Pilates focuses on quality rather than quantity, and remember to breathe and embrace the slow and controlled way of exercising.
If you’re looking for group or private Reformer Pilates classes with an experienced, accredited and trained instructor in Delamere, Kingsley , Knutsford, Nantwich, Tarporley or Tarvin then get in touch today.