What Is A Pilates Reformer
Everyone hits a lull of boredom now and again with their training regimes. That's why switching up your workouts can be just what is needed to give you the much needed motivation to keep breaking a sweat. Though, the more we switch it up, the more accessories we seem to gather. After all, your fleeting love for tennis somehow left you with three different racquets in your tennis bag. Your garage is filled with all the infomercial promises of the '90s. And that Wii Fit in the corner of your living room could really use a good dusting.
As with many other workout trends, the popular exercise Pilates also has us gathering the optional accessories associated with the practice. Forbes lists a few of the more popular ones, including the fitness mat, the mini Pilates ball, the Pilates ring, and the Hugger Mugger Pilates bolster. Technically, you can practice Pilates without all the fancy accessories. Though there is one gadget we can't truly can't call an addition, since it has been here from the beginning.
Pilates reformers are both effective and expensive
Enter the Pilates reformer. According to Studio Pilates, the traditional piece of Pilates equipment was designed by founder Joseph Pilates, and dates back to the 1920s, to the first Pilates studio in New York. Tianna Strateman, a VP of Education for the Club Pilates, says to NBC News that the Pilates reformer can be a great workout for anyone. "Both the equipment and the exercises can be modified and adjusted to any body, which makes it perfect for those looking to tone up, rehab from an injury, train for a particular hobby or sport, or for those looking for low impact, full-body workout," she claims.
The apparatus "consists of a carriage with a sliding platform held back by adjustable springs," explains Anna Clark, trainer and co-owner of Nexa Pilates, to Prevention. Purchasing a Pilates reformer will set you back a few dollars. Most models cost upwards of $1,000. And the most bedazzled versions are priced above $5,000.
So, do you need this traditional piece of equipment to get the most out of your Pilates workouts? That's up to you. It can either be extremely useful. Or be a great apparatus for dust to settle on.