Reformer Pilates - what level should I do?

It’s often a tad confusing when you first start attending group Reformer Pilates classes, when it’s time to move up to the next level. There’s often differences between practitioners' styles, modifications for clients within each session, and the same level class but at different times of the day. You may even attend the same class, with the same practitioner at the same time for a few weeks, and have a completely different experience each session! These are all common bits of feedback we get from our clients who attend regularly, and is also a common thread across most studios’ I’ve ever visited or worked at. So what do you do?

PilatesRobert Carruthers5 September 2023Reformer Pilates, pilates, Group ClassesComment

Transform how you teach

Movement specialist and owner of Movementality in Melbourne, Ashleigh Berry explains to us how we get our clients to move is just as important as what we ask them to do.

Pilates Journal talks to Ashleigh Berry

When was the last time you explained something in detail to a client and they looked more perplexed than before you started explaining? We’ve all been there. In this moment did you make the assumption that they didn’t get it, and that they were missing something? It may sound harsh, but if the client is confused, it’s more likely a reflection on how you’ve demonstrated or explained it, rather than something they’ve done wrong. Perhaps you said too much or overcomplicated the answer. Maybe it’s time to take a breath, revise your approach and try something different.

PilatesRobert Carruthers1 May 2023pilates, psychologyComment

Reciprocal Inhibition - and why I don't cue rectus abdominals (6 pack muscle) in a curl up/chest lift

Reciprocal Inhibition is a term used to describe how muscles “talk to one another”. Muscles work together to move joints, usually with an agonist (the driver), an antagonist (the passenger) and sometimes some synergists (backseat drivers) helping out. When the agonist (let’s say the hamstrings) contracts to bend your knee, this sends neurological messages to the antagonist (the quadriceps) to eccentrically lengthen (we often sloppily say “let go” or “switch off” but it’s more complex than that). This is how muscles communicate to one another to move joints in a coordinated way. It’s important to note that a muscle is never switched off, or deactivated - think instead of it like a coordinated tug-of-war where when one muscle starts winning, the other has to choose to let go, and vice versa.

Pilates, SomaticsRobert Carruthers17 March 2023pilatesComment

Reformer Pilates for Beginners

My first Reformer Pilates experience was as a graphic designer in South Korea. Every night after work I would pass by a Pilates studio and notice the clients pushing and pulling and jumping on a weird looking machine. My first impression of this imposing machine device (that I would later find out to be a Reformer) was that I would never be able to use it to better my posture/fitness as it seemed so difficult and intimidating to use. But with constant back complaints and sitting at a desk all day, I decided to give it a go anyway.

Pilates, healthy livingGuest User21 October 2021pilates, Group Classes, beginners, Reformer PilatesComment

Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (porous bones) is a topic close to my heart as my previously fit and healthy 72 year old mother was diagnosed with it. What I’ve seen in her, is that she has progressively become more bent over, and experiencing significant changes and disabilities to her lifestyle as her spine crumbles. This led me at age 44, to get my own bone density tested, which isn’t normally recommended until age 60 onwards unless having suffered from specific medical conditions that can impact bone health. And at the youthful age of 44, I have been diagnosed with Osteopenia (low bone density), which is the precursor to osteoporosis. And as someone who considers themselves healthy and active, and was still diagnosed, I thought I’d put together a bit of information and a few tips for optimising bone health for the thousands of people who get diagnosed Osteoporotic/peanic every year.

healthy living, PilatesRobert Carruthers9 August 2021osteoporosis, osteopenia, Clinical Pilates, physiotherapyComment

Moving to feel good

Having the mentality to move because I wanted to feel good, is what finally got me to become regular with exercise and turn it into a habit. This is something a lot of people struggle with, often treating exercise as a way of being able to maintain or adjust their weight, their figure, maybe a necessity for long-term health, or as a means to an end for other goals. As a practitioner, it isn’t as often as I’d like that we get clients who come to see us because they have already connected the dot’s that regular exercise actually makes them feel good. And it can sometimes be a bit of a journey to find a place with experienced instructors that offer the style of classes you like, at a time and price point that works for them. But once you find it, it makes a huge difference to your willingness to exercise.

healthy living, PilatesGuest User9 August 2021healthy lifestyle, Reformer PilatesComment

Pilates for Posture

Before we can pull apart what makes Pilates good for posture, we first need to understand what posture is. Generally whensomeone talks about their posture, they mean how upright their body is, usually from sitting or standing. The idea that we must stand up straight (and that slouching is bad for us) is drilled in to us from a very young age, and there is some scientific evidence that leans towards supporting this claim. For instance; Evidence of how much heavier our head becomes the further forward it sits of our midline (1) and how it can, in turn, impact blood flow and muscular function of the connected tissues. Yes, this is true, however the reality is that our posture is dynamic, and we aren’t designed to hold any one particular position for a long period of time. And although we have hundreds of muscles that support our bones to keep us upright, the majority of these fatigue within a few minutes if they are held under constant full contraction for a few minutes. So this idea of holding an upright, vertical posture can be very tricky, and also very fatiguing!

Pilates, healthy livingRobert Carruthers21 July 2021pilates, Functional NeurologyComment

Pilates and your Pelvic Floor Muscles

Having been in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years now, one of the most commons questions I get from a client is either A) what are my pelvic floor muscles, and B) am I meant to be using my pelvic floor muscles now?! And this stems from the fact that about 20 years or so ago, when Pilates was still in its infancy in Melbourne, it became synonymous with physiotherapy in particular, as a support tool for rehabilitating injuries - mainly those of the spine. So it got drilled into not only the practitioners, but anyone who did Pilates that they had to squeeze their pelvic floor to do Pilates! In reality, this is far from the case, and has actually become quite problematic for a lot of people, creating dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles, as well as stiff and tight backs.

Pilates, healthy livingRobert Carruthers11 May 2021pilates, Clinical Pilates, pain scienceComment

Reformer Pilates

I’m sure you’ve heard it before - it’s been in all the fashion magazines - Reformer Pilates is one of the go-to exercise options for those who want a full body exercise session that tones and lengthens the physique, without the hard bouncing and landing on your joints that traditional gym exercises have. Many people, including a huge number of celebrities and sport stars have regular sessions to maintain their physical shape and strength, or have their own reformer at home so they can have 24/7 access to the joys of reformer Pilates. But if you haven’t actually done a session before - what the heck is it?! Firstly, let’s break down the name to help see where it all comes from.

PilatesRobert Carruthers13 April 2021Reformer Pilates, richmond pilates, melbourne pilates, pilatesComment

The Brain and Trauma - A Top Down VS. Bottom Up Approach

Having spent the last 2 years completing my Somatic Movement Therapy training, I have had the opportunity to work with some incredible clients as they bravely unpack the chronic pain or dysfunction they experience. Not all, but many of these journeys have ultimately boiled down to unresolved trauma held within their bodies. Being able to observe and hear real time feedback from these clients about what they feel, sense, imagine and kinesthetically experience, has fueled a passion in me to try and better understand what constitutes trauma. I am especially interested in how it manifests in the body and how to best guide someone through that experience so they can regain their power and confidence.

Pilates for runners

Running at its most basic is a fundamental skill we all develop as kids and generally maintain through most of our life span, if we want to. It has long been seen as an incredibly effective means of exercise for the masses, or a vital tool for many to complete their hobbies. It’s so effective, that entire industries have been built around helping us run better. We’ve got billion dollar sporting goods stored pumping out runners that are regularly refined (or perhaps just redecorated) in order to provide a more comfortable and sustainable run. And that’s just the shoes - let’s not forget about the clothing that helps hold everything in place, or the technology being developed to help provide more details analysis of your specific running regime.

Running, Pilates, healthy livingRobert Carruthers1 December 2020pilates, Clinical Pilates, Reformer Pilates, runningComment

Pilates and self-discovery

Learning is most effective when you are able to discover the learning through your own senses, rather than be told what to do. This type of learning is called implicit learning and although it can be harder to grasp initially, it’s usually the type of learning that ends with the “A-ha!” moment. The A-ha moment is one of the greatest moments for both the teacher and the student in their journey. It is the moment where all the information comes together and finally makes sense. It cannot be taught - the A-ha moment has to be experienced!

PilatesRobert Carruthers19 August 2019pilates, psychologyComment