Are you interested in exploring pilates to improve your strength, flexibility, and overall health? Learn about the benefits of reformer pilates now and how it can revolutionize your exercise routine.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a method of exercise first developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Pilates is used primarily to improve flexibility, posture, and strength. Many people also use pilates as a way to strengthen their back, neck, and abdominal muscles. This helps people that suffer from acute back or neck pain from an injury, or people that suffer from chronic back and neck pain. Pilates can be performed on a mat on the ground, or it can be done through the use of a reformer machine.
What Makes Reformer Pilates Different?
Reformer pilates is a method of pilates performed on a pilates reformer machine. This machine was designed specifically to aid pilates movements. The machine allows your body to move in a greater range of motion and angles, and it also provides resistance to increase strength. Mat pilates is performed on the ground, which restricts your body movement. Mat pilates also primarily focuses on the core, without a lot of strengthening of the arms and legs. Pilates reformer benefits include a greater range of motion to improve flexibility and strength, and the ability to focus exercises on the arms and legs. This allows for a full-body workout that has all of the benefits of mat pilates, with the added benefits of reformer pilates.
Pilates Reformer Exercises
If you are new to reformer pilates, you will greatly benefit from visiting a reformer pilates class. You can expect a variety of exercises that target your core and your limbs. You may start with footwork exercises, which involve you lying on your back and pushing off the foot of the machine. These footwork exercises strengthen your back, abdominal muscles, and legs. You may also start with core work, including lifting and lowering your legs, which strengthen the abdominals. You may also elevate yourself onto a block and raise and lower your back, strengthening back and abdominal muscles.
The distinct difference between mat pilates exercises and reformer pilates exercises, is that the reformer machine allows your whole body to be dynamic. Your whole body moves with all of the exercises – this allows specific areas of the body to be worked while simultaneously strengthening the core.
How Can I Best Utilize Reformer Pilates?
If you are just beginning to explore reformer pilates, odds are you won’t be purchasing your own reformer machine (at least not yet!). Pilates reformer classes allow an instructor to help you maintain ideal body positioning, while also teaching you the basics of using a reformer machine. Reformer machines allow endless opportunity for new movement, whether that be through gentle stretching or intense strengthening. Whether you are looking to improve your health after an injury or are looking for a new, exciting way to exercise, reformer pilates can suit your needs. Our reformer pilates classes are sure to be a great fit for you as a beginner – join us now to revolutionize the way you exercise!