Pilates with Dorita

What is the Reformer?

The Reformer — the name given to the entire platform and frame — is the most famous piece of Pilates equipment. A frame, called the ‘carriage’, moves around on wheels and is attached to one end by a set of springs, which provides resistance as the platform is moved. There’s also a footbar and long straps, which can be used by the legs and arms, and shoulder rests for stopping the practitioner falling off when working out. The reformer can be used in a huge range of ways to benefit strength, flexibility and balance; the majority involving pushing or pulling the platform against the spring resistance and controlling the movement back, or holding it in place, though this can be done standing, sitting, upside down and using all the different elements of the Reformer.

Why Reformer Pilates?

1. It Challenges Your Entire Body

Using a Reformer to perform specific, individualised movements will give you a balanced, full body workout. The subtly of the springs on a Reformer, globally strengthens the whole body to not just target the large muscle movers, but also activate the smaller stabilisers. Where there is uneven weakness, you are also able to work unilaterally to focus in and correct imbalances.

2. It Works Your Muscles Multiple Ways

Reformer pilates allows you to move through full range while working on strengthening muscles. This dynamic form of exercise, cleverly uses the machine’s springs and levers to create resistance and allow for equal focus on the concentric and eccentric contractions to create long, lean, toned muscles. It not only targets major muscle groups, but also the small stabilising muscles are called to action when working on a reformer machine.

3. It’s Gentle on Your Joints

Reformer Pilates is ideal, under professional guidance, for anyone suffering and recovering from an injury. The springs and ropes are specifically designed to enable you to work in the horizontal plane rather than weight bearing, reducing the load through your body. The low impact allows for repetitive movements to occur which in turn tones and strengthens the injured areas to speed recovery.

4. Improves Core and Posture

Many of the exercises performed on a Reformer machine target the core whilst working the peripheral postural muscles at the same time. A stronger core is essential for ideal posture which leads to minimum musculoskeletal pains.

Reformer Pilates - Onsite studio training