Pilates DO’S & DONT’S By Pilates Teacher, Karen Vansveld

The word reformer comes from the verb to improve by alteration, correct an error, remove a defect or to put in better form. Joseph Pilates created a series of ‘apparatus’ as he called them with the mission of transforming the human body. The centrepiece of these inventions was the Reformer. Joe said of course you can exercise without a machine but it’s not as efficient. New movement patterns become habitual faster when performed under load and the resistance encourages quicker adaption in the neuromuscular system.

One of the many benefits of the reformer is that it provides tactile feedback much like a teachers hand. As Benjamin Degenhardt (contemporary Pilates guru) explains: to sum it up in nerd language, the reformer gives the body a clear trajectory in which to move – a closed kinetic chain for improved proprioceptive feedback and added load for accelerated neural adaptation. In non-nerd language – it makes you move better as it organically moves with you. It corrects your body by removing erroneous movement patterns by putting you

In a better position and resisting you along the way. The spring can act either like your spine or your lungs.