Ever wondered about the greatness of Reformer Pilates? Let me share some compelling reasons that make it truly remarkable!
1. STRENGTH and ENDURANCE. Traditional strength training means you are working hard for 5-10 reps, sometimes we do this when using the reformer and sometimes we work on being able to carry on for longer – building endurance too. The best of both worlds.
2. SUPPORTIVE yet FUNCTIONAL. When using the reformer there are so many ways to do the same sort of movement. If you take a squat for example. You can lie down on the carriage for maximum support or you can stand up holding a strap for the least support. It means we can practice easy functional movements and build up the challenge appropriately so that you can squat and lunge through your daily lives without any issues.
4. CONTROL The reformer is in your control, as are the springs. This means you can choose an appropriate challenge and take control of your own workout – or opt to take the challenge that the instructor suggests to push you further.
5. FULL RANGE OF MOVEMENT. This is such an important one for joint health and general functional mobility. On the reformer we move all the body parts, all directions as much as possible so that we can continue to move freely. Whether you already have full range of movement and want to increase the strength through this range or if you are needing to improve on this – the reformer can help.
6. LOAD . The reformer provides load by using the resistance of the springs. We need load in order to keep our bones healthy and stimulate muscle growth, even more so as we age. The reformer allows us to gradually increase resistance and load as we gain strength.
7. VARIATION. There are so many things you can do on the reformer while working on all of the above principles. I am always surprised to learn there are still more movements that I haven’t done on a reformer. As instructors we don’t just create the weird and wonderful for our entertainment but also to keep you interested and keep your body guessing. We don’t know what life will throw at us and we want our bodies to react well, why not practice this during a reformer class. We need our bodies to be strong, resilient and adaptable.
So, whether you are a seasoned pro on the reformer or just thinking about giving it a go, there’s so many reasons why it is fantastic for each and every body. And let’s be honest – it’s pretty fun too.
