Pilates has become really popular over the last decade. Invented by Joseph Pilates, it focuses on core strength with great focus on flexibility, stability and balance. With out doubt the most requested piece of pilates equipment is the pilates reformer. You will find that a reformer helps you perform the pilates exercises by giving you a greatly increased range of motion and support at the same time helping you to work through some of the more challenging exercises.
A pilates reformer is a very elegant piece of exercise equipment. It provides finely balanced resistance that allows you to work very precisely with core strength and alignment, and at the same time offering support during the exercise. For the majority of pilates enthusiasts, the reformer is the equipment they enjoy most of all. Today many spas, gyms and every pilates studio offer the use of reformers. There are quite a few different types and designs of reformers. Some can be made of wood and some of alloy. There will often be leather ropes or straps and the reformer may be mounted on legs or not. It is a good idea to understand the basic parts of this equipment and their functions before using a reformer.
The Reformer Carriage.
Many reformer exercises can be done lying down, kneeling, sitting or standing. The sliding carriage of the reformer is moved by pushing against a foot bar, or by pulling the straps or ropes at the other end. The carriage glides back and forth along the inside of the frame, depending on the pressure you exert and the amount of resistance created by the springs.
Springs, foot bars and the gear system.
The elevation of the foot bar is altered with the gear system. The notches on the inside of the frame mean you can change the level of the foot bar. The springs provide resistance and are clipped onto the spring bar on the reformer. These can be switched on and off to change the resistance. Reformer springs are colour coded. Starting with yellow, which is the weakest and then blue, red and finally the most resistance is from the green spring. Different levels of resistance are achieved through varying combinations of the springs.
Headrest and shoulder blocks.
Some of the pilates exercises are performed lying down with the head on the headrest. The headrest can be laid flat or tilted up a bit depending on your preference and the comfort level of your neck. The shoulder blocks are to keep you stable when you push or pull the carriage. For many exercises, the shoulder blocks are used as props for the feet, knees and sometimes your hands.
Straps or ropes.
At the far end of the reformer, the straps are connected to pulleys. These straps can have handles that help you to move the carriage. As you are working out with the pilates reformer, it will be supporting you and making sure that you are working the correct groups of muscles every time.
A pilates reformer grows with you.
Within a very short time, the pilates workout you are doing will have really increased your core strength, strengthened and lengthened your muscles and realigned your posture. Because of it’s design a pilates reformer is completely adjustable, you can never out grow one. As you grow leaner and stronger the reformer can be set to bear more resistance against your exercises. All the time it will be supporting you in your pilates workout.
