"In 10 sessions you'll feel the difference, in 20 you'll see the
difference and in 30, you'll have a new body."
- Joseph Pilates
The reformer offers all the benefits of Pilates including overall
strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These things, in
turn, lead to daily life improvements like better posture, graceful
and efficient movement, and for many, relief from pain associated with
physical imbalances such as back pain.
The Pilates powerhouse muscles—the muscles of the core—are paramount for
building strength. Flat abs, strong backs, toned buttocks, and firm thighs
are all results of this emphasis. Other equipment and Pilates mat
exercises do that too, but the reformer creates a unique and varied
exercise environment. The reformer is large enough to accommodate
full-range motion, which is wonderful for increasing flexibility while
building strength. It seems to invite the length you want to create in the
body, and it trains the body to sustain that length. Pushing and pulling
with legs or arms against the resistance of the springs, carriage, and
body weight is generally strength building. The exercises provide enough
resistance and movement variety to help build strong bones. And there is a
special feature—eccentric muscle contractions. This is when a muscle
lengthens as it resists a force.
