Reformer Pilates is a Gimmick
As Pilates has gained popularity and traction (excuse the pun) over the years, so has the hype for Reformer-based classes. With a dramatic rise in popularity, due mostly to social media, Pilates is finally seeing its moment after years on the fringes. On the one hand, more people are hearing about Pilates’ benefits; on the other hand, it has been co-opted into something unrecognizable. Programs advertised as “Reformer Pilates” have coined the term as a marketing strategy to appeal to a broader audience who may not know, for example, that it is part of a broader system that includes Matwork and other equipment. Take out the Matwork and other equipment, and you have, well, not Pilates. Even so, vetted Pilates teachers would agree, “Reformer Pilates” is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Many exercises must be heavily modified or left out simply because of the liability issue and the logistical constraints of teaching a room of 20 people who have their feet strapped or are trying to balance on a moving carriage.
The benefits of resistance training for both men and women that are possible from Pilates are real. Yet, many people have come to know Pilates as something that is only on the Reformer. Indeed, I used to get requests for Pilates on the Reformer-only. Some students are introduced to Pilates on the Reformer first, without prior conditioning or ability to connect to their abdominals, organize their arms and shoulders, pelvis or glutes. Often bedazzled by the distractions of the setup itself, including springs, carriage and footbar, new students will find themselves in positions that feel awkward, challenging comfort levels and flexibility. Many exercises must be heavily modified or left out simply because of liability and the logistical constraints of a room with 20 people of varying abilities who willingly have their feet strapped or are trying to balance on a moving carriage. From a business standpoint, relying on low-hanging fruit works so long as people continue to seek out novelty.
Repetition, concentration and focus are central to this work, and they are largely gone when you pay a teacher to lead you through a Pilates class with 8-20 others following the same instructions, step by step by step…
Pilates equipment undoubtedly has a certain nuance of BDSM/kink. The names of some of the equipment, including the Guillotine, the Electric Chair, and the Neck Puller, are right out of a femdom’s den. Even the Reformer sounds, well, bad-ass. Notwithstanding the kinky names, the use of tools or equipment offers a temporary novel experience for a new student that, say, a mat simply does not. Fortunately, Classical Pilates is not nuanced. Using the Reformer to perform tricks or mimic the latest social media post not only creates a safety issue, but it also misses one of the most incredible benefits of this work: the mind-body connection. We live in a world that focuses on technology and quick fixes rather than presence and attunement. It is important to note that this method, which dates back to the 1930’s, was centred on repetition and control. Repetition and control strengthen neural pathways and enhance neural plasticity. It works by stimulating various parts of the brain, particularly the hippocampus (which helps form new memories) and the neocortex (for long-term storage). When you practice attentional control, you rewire your brain to self-regulate, reducing rumination and improving cognitive function. Repetition, concentration and focus are inherent to Pilates, and largely missed in large group formats.
Shifts in technology are important, and Joe’s inventions, also called apparatus, were tools used to increase physical and intellectual capabilities, connect the body and mind, and encourage mobility and promote physical health.
Working at a desk all day is debilitating, and Joe Pilates knew this when he invented an uncanny prescription to address it. His vision was clear in his book, Return to Life Through Contrology, and included 34 Mat exercises that train the body and mind. These exercises are the foundational building blocks inherent in dynamic movement. His vision also included specific tools, yes, like the Reformer. Shifts in technology were important then, and Joe’s inventions, also called apparatus, were tools used to increase physical and intellectual capabilities, connect the body and mind, and encourage mobility and promote physical health.
More often than not, “Reformer Pilates” falls short as an experience, skipping the detail-oriented aspects necessary for satisfying results.
Pilates is inherently a system of exercises done on the Mat and the Reformer and the Trapeze Table and the Wunda Chair and…more. It requires focus, presence and progressions. The features of Pilates are antithetical to “Reformer Pilates,” which has become synonymous with performance-driven clickbait that feeds into an obsession with body image and fitness tropes. More often than not, “Reformer Pilates” falls short as an experience, skipping the detail-oriented aspects necessary for satisfying results. Health and wellness require attention, time and effort to achieve. Pilates exists to remind us of the complexity and quality of movement that the Pilates system and, in turn, our bodies and minds demand.
