BENEFITS OF THE REFORMER

• Core Strength

Pilates exercises on the Reformer build strength in the muscles of the back, abdomen and hips. It helps enhance flexibility, range of motion and posture in a low-impact manner. The Reformer is particularly effective in helping you target the deepest muscles of your abdomen--the transverse abdominus and internal obliques.

• Better Results

The pulley and spring system offers resistance that cannot be attained with body weight mat Pilates exercises alone. Rebecca Friedlander writes at Gaiam Life that this additional resistance produces visible results sooner. In just 12 sessions, you may see more definition in your abdominals, arms and legs.

• Personal Attention

Mat Pilates classes, common in fitness facilities, are usually well-attended with anywhere from 10 to 50 participants in a class. Because of the more complex nature of the Reformer, classes are smaller in number--usually with a maximum of six or so students per class. This allows you to have more one-on-one time with a qualified instructor.

• Better Form

The Reformer gives you a better sense of where your body should be placed during execution of Pilates exercises. Many Pilates exercises are nuanced, and require you to recruit muscles and imagine the air as thick and offering resistance, notes Erika Quest, Reformer instructor and IDEA Health and Fitness Association expert. The Reformer helps you make this visualization happen, so that all of the exercises become more effective.

References

• IDEA Health and Fitness Association: The Essential Cue: Reformer
• American Council on Exercise: Pilates Primer
• Gaiam Life: Should You Do Pilates on a Mat or a Reformer

About this Author

Andrea Cespedes is a professionally trained chef who has focused studies in nutrition. With more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, she coaches cycling and running and teaches Pilates and yoga. She is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer and has degrees from Princeton and Columbia University.

With the reformer you can fly

Learning to fly with OLE .... from only the best ... with the best buddy gem of a Jade

Intensive Reformer Course (50 hours)

Course Prerequisites:
30 hours of Pilates experience (classes or self-practise).

Practise Hours Required (after course):
10 hours of observation of classes
40 hours of physical review
25 hours of practical teaching

HOW MANY WAYS CAN I LOVE THEE (in 45 minutes)?

MY FOOTWORK

Heels on bar

Lower and lift

BEND AND STRETCH

Legs laterally rotated

LIFT AND LOWER

SIDE TWIST SITTING

FRONT ROWING

Straight forward

Second Position

Offering

Surrender to the LONG BOX

Or the SHORT BOX if you prefer

Glide gracefully like a MERMAID thereafter

Ending the experience with a SINGLE THIGH STRETCH

THE REFORMER

Despite the somewhat medieval name, the Pilates reformer is actually an amazingly elegant machine. The reformer provides finely tuned exercise resistance that allows one to work very precisely to develop good alignment, core strength, and flexibility.
 

There are many styles of reformers. Some reformers are wood and some are metal. There might be leather straps or ropes, and the reformer may be on legs or not. Nevertheless, the basic parts and their functions will be the same.

WHAT IS A REFORMER?  Features a gliding carriage attached to rails set inside a wooden or metal frame. The carriage connects to a system of spring, pulleys and ropes which provide resistance during your workout along with other attachments for a wide variety of exercises. The Reformer enables you to perform resistance exercises while standing, sitting, kneeling or lying The machine offers a versatile, impact-free workout through more than 100 exercises.

BENEFITS OF THE REFORMER ·     Facilitates exercise variations ·    No impact (easy on the joints) ·    Allows for modifications for those with injuries/conditions ·   Allows for three-dimensional movement/conditioning A Reformer workout will add resistance to your routine and can thus correct muscular imbalances better than a basic mat routine