Reformer Pilates classes offer a versatile exercise option that does far more than just help you work up a sweat. People from diverse backgrounds and with very different fitness goals can all find something to love using the reformer.
Because it is adjustable, a reformer can offer assistance or resistance to support you in your vision for your body—whether that is increased strength, more flexibility, or something else.
If you know what you want to achieve with your workouts but have not considered whether a reformer can help get you there, now is a great time to try!
Here are a few ways that Reformer Pilates can help you achieve your fitness goals, no matter what they are.
Builds Strength
Pilates places a lot of focus on building strength, especially by using one’s body weight and the resistance of tools like the reformer. Doing this is a great way to make yourself stronger.
Not only does it work your muscles, but it also encourages your body to become more resilient to pressures from flexion, stretching, and more. In other words, the strength you build through Reformer Pilates doesn’t just come from the muscles.
It comes from a greater resilience in your ligaments and joints, too! This allows you to be strong in more ways than just how much weight your muscles can move.
Benefits Posture
If your goal for working out is to bring your body into better alignment, Reformer Pilates is a great choice. Many of the exercises work the muscles that support your spine, keeping it aligned and stable.
Additionally, by working muscles on both sides of the body equally, Pilates can help participants keep their muscular structure working evenly. This prevents strain on the dominant side of the body and the resulting postural misalignment.
Decreases Injuries
When a person rarely exercises and does not include stretching in their regimen, their ligaments and tendons are not prepared for forces that might cause them to move rapidly or outside their normal range of motion.
Pilates keeps you stretching and moving, which can make your body more resilient to injuries. In addition, Pilates promotes overall strength and stability, which can prevent or lessen injuries.
Studies show that people who do Pilates typically see an improved gait and are, therefore, less likely to fall or trip, and less prone to fall-related injuries.
Boosts Flexibility
Because of the bending, stretching, and twisting performed in Reformer Pilates, people begin to notice they are more flexible. Flexibility is useful—not only does it lower your risk of certain injuries (such as sprains), but it also opens up new possibilities in your daily life.
Have you ever struggled to fix something under the kitchen sink or bent down to pick something up because you weren’t flexible enough? You may not realize just how much of your daily life could be improved with increased flexibility.
Creates Mindfulness
Pilates isn’t just for your physical body- it also focuses on your inner self. We encourage participants to reflect and remain self-aware throughout class. This is useful for a few reasons:
- Proprioception – This lengthy word describes a person’s awareness of where their body is in space. By being mindful about your body during class, you can improve your proprioception, which can make you a better athlete, improve your motor control, and even do simple things like make it easier to navigate a space without bumping into things.
- Stress – Drawing ourselves inward to focus on body sensations and positioning can help to eliminate stress from the mind. Stress reduction correlates to lower cortisol levels. Lower cortisol is associated with a more relaxed body that is not in fight or flight mode all the time, which can improve not only physical well-being but also mental health.
Improves Endurance
Pilates exercises can be tough, and that’s part of the fun. But make no mistake—thanks to the adjustability of the reformer, you’ll always be able to challenge yourself, no matter how good you get at the exercises!
This is a great advantage of the reformer because you’ll be increasing your endurance over time. Heightened endurance can help you stay active for longer and boost your heart health.
Try Reformer Pilates at RTR Pilates
Using a reformer adds variety to Pilates, supports you when you need help, and adds challenge when you have graduated to new heights. However, if you have never used a reformer before, don’t worry!
Our instructors at RTR Pilates always make sure participants understand how the reformer works and what settings to use. Contact RTR Pilates to sign up for a beginner class or just ask questions about reformers and how the whole process works!
