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

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

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

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

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

Group Fitness Classes

It seems as though every corner of Melbourne has got a health or fitness studio popping up, offering some form of hyped-up fitness phenomenon. And the pictures all look ‘amazing’ right?! Sweaty bodies, tight active wear, perfect physiques and the golden smile. It’s all part of their pristine marketing campaign to facilitate huge numbers of willing and ambitious people in to their small but busy studios. Why? Perhaps in hopes of achieving the media influenced, socially-accepted ideal body that’s continually pushed down our throats by mainstream marketing. It’s enough to make you reconsider even starting to exercise, and unfortunately Pilates (particularly reformer Pilates) is right in the mix with the best of them…

However, they aren’t all like that. Some of them actually even know what they’re talking about!

Robert Carruthers21 January 2020Clinical Pilates, Reformer Pilates, Movementality, Group ClassesComment