FAQ’s
Can Beginners Do Reformer Pilates?
Absolutely. There’s no need to start with Mat Pilates. The Pilates Reformer is one of the most effective and adaptable pieces of exercise equipment available anywhere, which means it can be set up to meet the specific needs of a wide group of clients – anyone from an absolute beginner who’s new to Pilates and/or exercise, to the most advanced hardcore Pilates practitioner.
How Easy Is It To Learn Reformer Pilates?
While the Pilates Reformer can look intimidating, it’s actually a simple and easy-to-use piece of exercise equipment. Similarly, Pilates moves are not complicated in themselves, but they do need to be performed properly, with the correct technique, focus and precision. The best way to learn Reformer Pilates is to attend classes or 1-1 sessions with a qualified Reformer Pilates instructor. They will help you understand how the Reformer works, help you master the basic techniques and exercises that underpin all Pilates practice, and guide and support you as you progress.
Why Come?
If you’re new to Pilates or haven’t exercised for a while, we have the class for you. While it’s still a workout, our personal training classes also focus on getting you familiar with the Reformer and on practising the techniques you’ll need to isolate muscle groups and activate them correctly.
If it’s your first class, you should make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes early. This is to allow you enough time to complete our registration form and meet the Trainer. Please be aware that if you have not done this before the class starts, you may not be able to train.
Is Reformer Or Mat Pilates Right For Me?
Reformer Pilates helps to tone our muscles and feel stronger in a short period as compared to mat Pilates. But the two forms of training cannot be compared as mat training is the foundation for learning to control the muscles while reformer training is for resistance to improve strength. A basic level of fitness is helpful, but not essential. Beginners’ classes are open to everyone. Both types of pilates focus on breathing, meditation and mindfulness. Reformer enthusiasts swear by their pilates apparatus and tension techniques. Both improve your fitness level and help with your mind-body connection with a great workout.
What will it be like?
You’ll be introduced to the equipment, techniques and some of the basic exercises that underpin our classes. The focus is on understanding how the core muscles work, learning to activate them correctly, and beginning to improve your general strength, flexibility and posture.
Whilst these are introductory classes, and less intense than some of our other classes, we’ll still make sure you challenge your muscles and get those all-important endorphins flowing.
You will get hot, so wear clothes that allow you to move easily and stay cool. You won’t need shoes – but you will need to wear Pilates socks (if you don’t have any, don’t worry – they’re available to buy at Reception).
What Is a Pilates Reformer?
The reformer was invented by Pilates founder Joseph Pilates. It is a bed-like frame with a flat platform on it, called the carriage, which rolls back and forth on wheels within the frame. The carriage is attached to one end of the reformer by a set of springs.
Springs provide choices of differing levels of resistance as the carriage is pushed or pulled along the frame.
The carriage has shoulder blocks on it that keep practitioners from sliding off the end of the reformer as they push or pull the carriage.
At the spring end of the reformer, there is an adjustable bar called a footbar. The footbar can be used by the feet or hands as a practitioner moves the carriage. The reformer also has long straps with handles on them that are attached to the top end of the frame.
They can be pulled with legs or arms to move the carriage as well. Body weight and resistance of the springs are what make the carriage more or less difficult to move. Reformers’ parts are adjustable for differing body sizes and different levels of skill.
There is probably no piece of Pilates equipment more famous than the Pilates reformer—and for good reasons. The reformer makes a dramatic impression when you first see one, and an even more dramatic change in your body when you use it.
You will see reformers lined up in Pilates studios as reformer classes are usually one of the main choices offered. Portable reformers are also popular as home exercise equipment. What makes the reformer so special? First, take a look at what a reformer is and how it works, then explore the benefits a reformer might have for your body.
How a Reformer Is Used?
A wide variety of exercises are done on the reformer to promote length, strength, flexibility, and balance.1 Most Pilates reformer exercises have to do with pushing or pulling the carriage or holding the carriage steady during an exercise as it is pulled on by the springs.
One of the best things about the reformer is its versatility. Exercises can be done lying down, sitting, standing, pulling the straps, pushing the footbar, perched on the footbar, perched on the shoulder blocks, with additional equipment, upside down, sideways, and all kinds of variations.
The reformer can train many parts and dynamics of the body in many different ways with just one relatively sleek piece of equipment.
There are many, many reformer exercises, including those for beginners and those that challenge the most advanced practitioners. For example, there are beginner Pilates reformer workouts and intermediate Pilates reformer rowing exercise workouts.
