I have a Pilates reformer machine at home, a gift (actually a hand-me-down from my father-in-law to) that has sat in my upstairs workout room for over a year collecting dust. This apparatus would taunt me daily as I ran on my treadmill staring at the idle reformer and feeling guilty about not taking advantage of its known transformative, body shaping potential.
My procrastination, I justified, was the result of being so far behind the learning curve that it seemed self-defeating to even try it. I’ll just stick to what I know–get in, do my workout, and get on with my day. Besides, I told myself, I don’t have the time to fit one more new thing into my schedule. ( I feared sacrificing a challenging workout while learning the basics of the Pilates reformer.)
The day after taking my first private Pilates reformer class at In Balance Yoga and Pilates, my sore muscles have exposed my flawed logic. My instructor, Karen, (perfectly toned and sculpted) is proof positive of the reformer’s body shaping powers. In my first class, Karen showed me basic legwork and abs work on the Pilates reformer. Ten minutes into the class, I was working up a sweat.
For the sake of full disclosure, I am not a complete Pilates novice. I am familiar with the concept because I have taken Pilates mat classes over the years. I understand the Pilates’ principle of precise, controlled movements to strengthen the core, and the degree of body awareness that Pilates requires to produce results. As my instructor Karen says “You don’t power through these exercises mindlessly.” Pilates requires a great deal of concentration. The exercises are meant to flow as you focus on core movements, the area between the lower ribs and the pubic bone- keeping your tummy tight, belly button sucked in, your spine properly aligned, and your breathing synchronized with the movements.
The Pilates reformer challenges your muscles in ways that free weights cannot. The sliding carriage and pulley system provides for an endless range of exercises to hit all areas of the body. Different springs provide varying levels of resistance so as you build strength you can make each exercise more challenging.
My favorite Pilates reformer workout was the standing lunges and squats on the carriage while lifting five-pound free weights. I was able to work my legs and tone by tush while sculpting my biceps, triceps, and shoulders. The moves packed a lot of punch and I feel it today in my bum, quads, inner and outer thighs and arms.
In just one workout on the Pilates reformer, I was surprised to learn that there are so many different ways to work the body on the reformer- exercises can be done lying down, standing, sitting, or kneeling.
In Balance offers a professional, client centered practice and Karen, my instructor, gave me her undivided attention to make sure that I was doing each exercise with the correct form.
In my next class, Karen is going to show me how to get a cardio workout with the Pilates reformer. So, when I workout at home, I’ll be on my Pilates reformer, staring at my idle treadmill feeling smarter for finding a way to combine cardio and toning in one powerful workout that produces lean muscles and a healthy heart.
