The exercises may be easy, basic to advanced, very difficult to acrobatic. It depends on the pilates trainer’s education, experience and “fantasy” to work on variations and modifications. It is the most popular pilates apparatus. It improves general strength, alignment, balance, coordination, proprioception and core strength. They all promote a better daily life or in other words quality of life. Specifically, there are benefits on body posture and body efficiency. Pains associated with muscular/physical imbalances are relieved. There is also the advantage of full range of motion while executing exercises. The result is the improvement of flexibility while building strength and “strong bones”.

We must notice that eccentric muscle contractions that take place when training on the reformer. Muscles lengthen as they resist a force. This is WHY PILATES IS SO UNIQUE…long muscles, slim body without bulk.

Using less of the body on the carriage, we can make the exercise more difficult. On the other hand, the less springs we use, the more we have to involve the core for controlling the movement.

There are a lot of types/styles and reformer manufacturers. Some of them are made of wood and others of metal. Some have legs and others rest near to the floor. Classical reformers have leather straps and new/modern ones have ropes and risers.

The repertoire includes: Footwork, Hundred, Leg circles, Frog, Stomach Massage, Short Box Series, Elephant, Knee Stretches, Running, Pelvic Lift, Arms Supine Series, Arms Rowing Series, Seated Long Box Series & Roll Down Series. There are 32 exercises and more than 50 variations.