I tried reformer Pilates — here's what I learned about my body

With the rise of Reformer Pilates and my constant encouragement for clients to explore yoga and Pilates, it's surprising that I hadn't dived into reformer sessions earlier. Fuelled by curiosity, I embarked on my inaugural reformer Pilates experience, and the results were enlightening.

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I signed up with the fabulous team at Pilates In The Clouds for an intense 50-minute session that promised to target my abs, arms, and glutes. While the reformer might resemble medieval torture devices, trust me, the rewards of this workout far exceed the post-class muscle shake.

This equipment is fantastic for fortifying your core strength and enhancing muscle conditioning in your hips, quads, glutes, and shoulders. It’s a comprehensive low-impact workout that improves flexibility, balance, and posture, and it can even help boost the quality of other workouts like strength training.

With that in mind, I soared into my first reformer Pilates experience. Here’s a glimpse of what transpired.

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Understanding Reformer Pilates

Differing from mat Pilates, reformer Pilates utilizes a substantial frame with a sliding bed known as a 'carriage.' This setup allows you to lie or stand on it, while various coiled springs connect, providing resistance to your exercises, further supplemented by pulleys and handles to work your muscles holistically.

This flexible apparatus targets almost all muscle groups, and aerial Pilates takes it up a notch by enabling you to suspend from the carriage, testing your balance and strength. If you lean towards traditional mat Pilates, I recommend attempting this bodyweight Pilates ab workout for an intense challenge.

Advantages of Reformer Pilates

Engaging in Pilates classes enhances your control and movement quality by pushing your joints and muscles through their full range of motion, thus improving stability, strength, and posture.

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Having dabbled in mat Pilates previously, reformer Pilates has finally sparked my interest.

In a reformer Pilates class, there's no escape. Your muscles work tirelessly against continuous resistance, both through the shortening (concentric contraction) and lengthening (eccentric contraction) phases of each movement.

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Using the reformer for exercises like horizontal squats (think lying hack squats) will reveal just how challenging it can be, as resistance meets you while driving your legs into extension and then as you carefully bend your knees back.

Though weight management with Pilates can be nuanced, ongoing research attests to its benefits in muscle building, strength enhancement, and flexibility improvements.

My Reformer Pilates Experience — What I Discovered

So, what did I learn after exploring reformer Pilates?

1. I’m Now a Pilates Enthusiast

Though I've tried mat Pilates in the past, it never resonated with me until reformer sessions came along. The addition of customizable resistance and intensity activates my muscles and enhances my movement control.

Initially, it felt overwhelming, and the workout constantly challenged my balance and coordination. Interestingly, you don’t need all the springs attached to feel the burn—as I discovered within the first few minutes. Most importantly, it was an enjoyable experience, unlike anything I had tried before, like practicing double-footed mountain climbers while sliding the carriage with my feet.

2. It’s Not "Just Stretching"

A common misconception I encounter is the idea that yoga or Pilates merely involves stretching. This could not be further from the truth. Yes, there's a stretching component, but reformer Pilates involves much more—it's not simply low-impact; it's challenging.

Reformer forces a slower pace, making you concentrate on movement quality and control, mastering high repetitions for extended durations, also known as endurance training. After the class, I felt the familiar ache of shaky legs reminiscent of post-heavy squats in CrossFit—it trains your muscles differently.

Research underscores that Pilates can effectively alleviate lower back pain and enhance mobility, proving its worth.

3. My Core Was on Fire

While I often design core routines, the reformer Pilates experience has taken core engagement to another level.

Exercises like leg raises with feet in stirrups and extending my legs from a deadbug position left my core muscles, including lower abs and obliques, thoroughly taxed.

Final Thoughts

I must confess—I had visions of twisting and turning in midair during "Pilates in the clouds," thinking I’d be upside down in an advanced aerial class. Thankfully, it merely refers to the studio name. Looking back, I am grateful that I started with a beginner session.

The basics help in grasping how to utilize the Pilates reformer effectively while developing essential techniques from the ground up. I was able to identify the resistances that suit me and enjoy a range of exercises within a smaller group, making me feel more confident for my next session and my future aerial Pilates pursuit.

Next Steps: Our fitness editor took a deep dive into daily Pilates for a month, presenting the 8 best Pilates exercises to strengthen your core.

For anyone seeking further insights, I recommend checking out the best pilates reformer machine.