The Reformer is the most popular and diverse piece of Pilates apparatus.
It was created by the founder of the Pilates method – Joseph Pilates to rehabilitate soldiers from World War I.
It mimics a hospital bed, where the wounded soldiers could exercise by pressing and pulling the movable bed (carriage) back and forth.
The resistance is created by springs and can be adjusted from light to heavy, according to the exercise.
Today we use the reformer machine to build strength, increase range of motion and improve balance, posture and flexibility.
There are more than 300 different exercises that we can perform on the reformer.
The challenge of your reformer workout is only limited by your ability and the instructor’s creativity and knowledge!
The close or open chain exercises work the entire body as one unit, creating a lean, long and beautiful body in the process.
Most of the reformer exercises are compound (opposite to isolated), which incorporate more than one muscle group and multiple joints.
The CORE girdle contracts to tightly pull IN and UP the imaginary corset around the waist (front and the back).
The trunk and pelvic stability ensure a safe ane injury-free workout.
You can kneel, sit, lie down or stand on the intricate machine.
If you are ready to explore Pilates on a DEEPER LEVEL, the reformer is your answer.
In the next article, I will explore the difference between the reformer and the mat Pilates.
