I started my pilates journey after a very serious spinal injury where I used pilates as a part of my own rehab regime. After experiencing the many benefits of pilates first hand, I decided to branch out my physiotherapy career and trained to become a mat pilates instructor. To add to this, I went on to do my reformer Pilates training, to have another tool to help people rehab after injury and maintain and improve their health and wellbeing.
The Pilates reformer training consisted of 3 weekend-long courses which were both challenging and informative. There was a huge practical element to the course, which allowed me to experience the feel of the exercises on the reformer as well as time to teach the exercises to my peers. I found that there were lots of crossovers from my mat Pilates training but also so much new content to absorb. It was very interesting to learn about the rehab and prehab aspects of reformer-based exercise which makes it applicable and accessible to any stage of a patient’s journey.
In practice, the reformer can be used as a useful diagnostic tool for me as a physiotherapist as well as a treatment and rehab method. Compared with mat-work pilates, I think the reformer is more versatile in what it can provide to a client, as it can create challenge by loading up the resistance with springs but also can give lots of helpful physical feedback by using the straps and foot bar etc. I like that the reformer gives you a low impact full body workout whilst allowing you to gradually increase the intensity level as required. This can be very beneficial for building patients back up to sport post injury.
In summary, reformer pilates is an inclusive style of exercise management which focuses on body alignment whilst strengthening, improving flexibility, and correcting postural inefficiencies. It can be used as an extension of mat-work pilates for injury prevention and rehabilitation but can also be a great cross-training method for highly active people too.
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