If you haven’t tried reformer Pilates workouts yet, then you are seriously missing out. And if you already have tried them at a Pilates studio and love them, but aren’t sure exactly why, you may want to fully understand some of the many benefits that reformer workouts yield.
1. A killer core. One of the reasons that many people hit the Pilates studio is to develop stronger core and ab muscles. The instability that is created by the rolling carriage with the springs set at different levels of resistance helps us develop serious core strength—and the stronger our core is, the better our posture, balance and overall fitness becomes. In addition, reformer Pilates workouts increases activation of our obliques and transversus abdominus—in other words, it gives our ab muscles a killer workout!
2. Increased range of motion and flexibility. Reformers are large enough to accommodate full-range motion on even the tallest clients. This is excellent for boosting flexibility while simultaneously building strength. Improving range of motion also helps build and sustain the length we mentioned in #1. Having greater flexibility improves our performance in sports and other physical activities while helping to prevent injuries.
3. A long, lean appearance. When you do Pilates on the reformer, you work the stabilizing muscles much more than you would with traditional weight training. In addition, when we resist the force of the reformer, our muscles lengthen and undergo eccentric muscle contractions. These two factors are essential for achieving the long, lean look that Pilates is known for, without the bulk that some strength training can create.
All in all, there are so many benefits to reformer workouts, it’s nearly impossible to list them all. It’s a relaxing yet energizing workout that helps you gain greater control over your body and develop more power—and it doesn’t get better than that.
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