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, mostly due to social media, Pilates is having its moment after being 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 tools. If you remove the Matwork et al, you have essentially removed, well, 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 baseline and resistance training for both men and women achievable in 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, or even locate their pelvis or glutes (this happens). Often bedazzled or distracted by the modality itself, which includes a framed set of springs, a moving carriage and straps, new students will find themselves in positions that can 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, with their feet strapped or trying to balance on a moving carriage. From a business standpoint, relying on the low-hanging fruit of novelty works so long as people continue to seek out exciting trends.
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 novelty for a new student that, say, a mat does not. 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. Pilates, which dates back to the 1930’s, was centred on repetition and control. Repetition strengthens neural pathways and enhances neural plasticity. This 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 central to this work, and 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… When you do not have the space to think, practice memory recall or tune into your body, it makes it difficult to develop trust in yourself or the physical work you are doing.
Joe’s inventions, also called apparatus, are tools that increased physical and intellectual capabilities, connected the body and mind, and required mobility and strength.
Working at a desk all day is physically debilitating, and Joe Pilates knew this when he invented an uncanny prescription to address it. His vision was clear in his manifesto, Return to Life Through Contrology, and included 34 Mat exercises that depict the foundational building blocks of Pilates. His vision also included specific tools and equipment like the Reformer. Joe’s inventions, also known as apparatus, are tools that increased physical awareness, connected the body and mind and supported overall mobility strength. Classical Pilates studios use this apparatus to this day.
More often than not, “Reformer Pilates” appeals to a broader trend of a cultivated experience.
Pilates is inherently a system of exercises done on the Mat and the Reformer and the Trapeze Table and the Wunda Chair and…more! The features of this system 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” appeals to a broader trend of a cultivated experience. Its broader appeal centres on skipping or ignoring time-tested, detail-oriented, and repetitive aspects of athletic training, which are found in the original Pilates exercises and produce long-term, satisfying results. Fitness gains require time and effort. Classical Pilates exists to remind us of the quality of movement that Pilates as a system and, in turn, our bodies and minds demand.
