Can the reformer Pilates change your life? My answer is yes.
I’ve been feeling significantly better since I began attending reformer Pilates classes. This positive change has inspired me to share my experience with everyone.
While I used to be a devoted fan of weight training at the gym, and it remains an invaluable exercise, I want to talk about reformer Pilates today.
I understand that trying new activities can be daunting, but eventually, you may get the chance to give them a shot. You might even regret not trying them earlier once you discover how much you enjoy them. But remember, it’s never too late to start something new.
What are the mechanism and measurements?
The foot bar: A perch for the feet or hands as a launchpad to propel the carriage out or in.
The springs: Provide resistance to the reformer and allow you to grade resistance.
The gear system: Allow you to change the distance of the spring bar from the end of the carriage to adjust a person’s height or spring tension.
The reformer carriage: The surface area on which you can lie down or sit to glide the carriage in the frame as you pull the straps or push the foot bar.
What can you get benefits from reformer Pilates?
Full body workout for beginners to a high-intensity level
Lean and tone your muscle
Improve your core strength and posture
Improve body alignment and coordination
Reduce weight-bearing load through your body, so you have a low impact on your bone but high intensity on your muscles, allowing you to exercise more effectively.
Improve muscle strength and flexibility
Increase happy hormone, which is endorphin, and reduce cortisol which is the stress hormone
Boost your happy mood (natural feel-good chemical hormone)
Improve stability and reduce the risk of injury
Boost your energy level and stamina
The bars and cable help you to move a full range of motion that maximises your stretch for your body.
Can you lose fat or weight?
Studies found that they don’t have significant weight loss. Therefore, you need to keep up a particular heart rate zone for more than 15-20 minutes, which can burn your stored fat.
However, you can lose weight if combined with a meal diet plan because it will help improve your metabolism, which will boost your overall energy consumption.
In addition, it’s a simple theory that you will lose weight when you spend more calories than your calorie intake.
How to start it?
Out-fit Preparation:
Form-fitting tanks with leggings
Grippy socks
*Do not need a mat*
Springs:
Each spring represents a different weight
Yellow or white: lightest weight
Blue: Medium weight
Red: heaviest weight
Listen to your instructor:
It’s okay to look at your neighbour, or you may have extra help such as a video screen for the movement
It’s good to try a small group class if you can afford it
It’s okay to stop and rest: It won’t be easy for everyone, and it’s okay to have a rest if you need it.
It will take some time to get used to this machine how to use it. You will be very busy changing the springs whenever you need them.
These are the best things about reformer Pilates:
You will work out your whole body, which you may never used before or don’t use very often.
You will find it harder the more you get better because you are targeting the correct muscle where it needs to be.
Example of Pilates Reformer workout for beginner
Targeting your core muscle
Leg circles on the Pilates reformer
The frog on the Pilates reformer
Round back with a short box
Flat back with a short box
Elephant on the Pilates reformer
Targeting your whole legs (the reformer footwork)
Foot position:
-Bird on a perch: Legs together
-Heels: Legs together
-Heels lower lift
-Pilates V: the feet on the foot bar and heels lift, and your knees are no more than shoulder width.
Tips for the reformer footwork:
-Relax your shoulder and place your arms straight and your palms on the carriage.
-Make sure you feel your whole legs are working
-It helps engage the inner thigh and pelvic floor when you lift your heels during Pilates V.
These are the changes I’ve been experiencing since beginning Reformer Pilates:
I have increased my energy levels.
I find myself smiling more often.
My overall sense of happiness has improved.
I’ve noticed a straighter posture.
Although I anticipated sore muscles in various areas, it’s a positive indicator that I’m on the right track.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate my satisfaction with reformer Pilates as a solid 9.
