REFORMER PILATES: WHAT IS IT? WHO’S IT FOR? AND HOW TO GET STARTED!

You’ve heard your mum, hairdresser and neighbour talk about how much they love their Pilates Classes, but you really don’t know what it is or if it’s right for you!

Well you’re in luck, because today we are about to tell you all the things you ought to know about Reformer Pilates and if it’s the right thing for you and your body.

First things first!

What is a Pilates Reformer?

The Reformer is the name for the piece of equipment pictured below it’s main components are the carriage, springs, straps and the footbar (shown below)

Reformer Components

The Reformer consists of a solid, steady frame (not all are solid timber) and within that frame there are numerous moving parts. Outlined below are some of the individual components that make up a Reformer:

• Carriage – the carriage is what you sit, stand, kneel or lay on. It glides up and down and is where the movement for each of the exercises occurs.

• Footbar – sounds pretty self explanatory right, that’s where you are wrong, it’s not just feet that rest on this, we have exercises where you rest your hands on here and some exercises don’t use the footbar at all (but where do my feet go we hear you ask? Keep scrolling to find out).

• The Springs – these are the resistance (like your weights at the gym) each spring colour corresponds to a different strength. The springs add the resistance to each of your movements!

  Use different combinations of springs to get the desired resistance for your particular exercise, unlike your usual weights however making an exercise heavier doesn’t always make it harder in some cases using a lighter spring will in fact challenge you more and maybe even in a different way.

• Straps – There are two different sized straps attached to a rope and around a pulley. These straps are where your hands or feet go (but never at the same time). Put some springs on and place your hands or feet in the straps and you can add a challenge to the upper body and the lower body.

What Exercises Can You Do on the Pilates Reformer?

You’ll be amazed by the many ways that you can exercise on the Reformer and quite frankly once you start Pilates on a reformer you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life! #pilatesaddict

You’ll be forgiven for thinking that Pilates on the Reformer is a fad, but they have in fact been around for over 100 years and will no doubt be around for hundreds to come.

The reformer can be used in many different ways to allow you to perform a full body workout, and a Reformer Class at Bay City will give you just that. Our Reformer Classes will give you a great mix of Upper body, lower body and core strengthening exercises as well as stretching & mobility.

Check out the videos below for an example of the kinds of exercises you might find yourself doing in a Reformer Class at Bay City Health Group

Who can do a reformer class at bay City Health Group?

The versatility of the Reformer means that virtually anyone can participate in our reformer classes, You don’t have to be super co-ordinated or really flexible to attend a class.  The Reformer exercises are adaptable to each individual and with only a maximum of 5 Reformers in our classes and highly experienced Pilates teachers you’ll always have someone to adjust the exercise to you and your body’s needs.
If you’ve been out of the exercise game for a while and/or never done Pilates before don’t shy away from attending a class, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how great you’ll feel and how easily you pick up the exercises.

What’s the Best way to get Started with Reformer Pilates?

If you don’t have any movement limitations, pain or an injury that impacts your day to day function then you can book yourself straight into a Reformer Pilates Class by downloading our app:

*for Apple users click the button below:

*and for Samsung/Android users click this button:

If you are new to Pilates and brand new to the Reformer then we recommend booking into a Beginner Reformer Class. Once you know your way around the reformer and you are feeling up to a bit more of a challenge then the Intermediate Reformer Classes are your next step!

New to Bay City Health Group? It’s your lucky day! You can get your first class with us for FREE (Yep!! Zilch, nada, nothing). All you have to do is download our app (use the link above), create a profile and then select the ‘free first session’ option.

What should I do if I have pain or an injury and still want to do Pilates?

If you do fall into this category then you CAN absolutely still do Pilates with us, we have a team of Physio’s and Osteo’s who are all trained in Pilates. So, not only can we help assess and treat any injuries or ailments you may have, but we can also get you started with an exercise and Pilates program tailored just to you.

If you do have an injury, pain or movement limitations we’d strongly recommend you attend an initial Assessment with one of our team and you may even benefit from some of our Clinical Pilates/Exercise Rehab Sessions. To find out more about this you can visit our Clinical Pilates Page here:

So Now What….???

So now that you know what a Reformer is, you know some of the exercises that you might do in a class and that it’s really not as scary as it might first seem, there’s really only three things you need to do next….

1. Download our APP and check out our timetable.

2. BOOK in for your FIRST FREE session

3. COME TO A CLASS AND JOIN IN THE FUN!

We can’t wait to see you in the studio soon!

And don’t forget if you have any other questions about our classes or anything at all please do not hesitate to call our lovely receptionists on 03 52293220 or send us an email to: team@baycityhealth.com.au

Reformer Classes On-Hold

Update as of 23/3/2020

We hope everyone is holding up ok during this uncertain time. Right now it seems impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We understand that there is incredible instability regarding people's health, livelihoods, job security and finances.

There is a lot of differing information going about at the moment which is adding to the confusion. Just know that we are in the same boat as many of you, however have been lucky enough to have a couple of strong sources of information guiding us through.

There are a couple of important updates below regarding the operation of certain services.  

Reformer Classes On-Hold

• Due to the current situation regarding group gatherings and numbers we have decided to temporarily cancel all Reformer Group Classes

• We are unsure of how long the classes will be on hold for.

• We will keep everyone updated so that when classes start back up you will know.

• All purchased memberships will be put on hold and class pack expiry dates extended ie. if we are shut for 1 month - packs are extended for 1 month. There is no need to reach out and request an extension during this time.

• Any current bookings will be credited back to your account for future use.

• You will receive an automatic email upon each class cancelation from our booking software WellnessLiving (you will not lose any classes)

**Rehab classes will continue as they are small and will have safe 'social-distancing' spacing of 1 person per 10m2

Allied Health services still OPEN

Osteopathy is not part of the Australian or State Governments stage 1 closure plan. We will be running our Osteo, Rehab and Clinical services for the time being as we've been advised to do so, however that could change at literally any minute.

We have received the following advice from the Minister of Health: "The Australian Minister of Health has today confirmed that all Allied Health businesses can continue working and are encouraged to do so."

For those that don't know, Osteopathy is an Allied Health profession. For more clarity here is a small list of Allied Health professions in Australia:

• Osteopathy

• Exercise Physiology

• Physiotherapy

• Podiatry

• Chiropractic

• Occupational Therapist

• Psychology

• Dietetics

• Speech Pathology

• Radiography / medical imaging / sonography

**For a full comprehensive list go to the Allied Health Professions Australia website at https://ahpa.com.au/

Continuation of New Hygiene Policies
As mentioned in last weeks email update, we have implemented some new policies and procedures based on hygiene on top of the strict hygiene practices already in place at Bay City Health. Here is the list revisited:

• Everyone who enters the clinic will be required to sanitise their hands with hand sanitiser provided at the reception AND/OR wash their hands thoroughly in the bathroom.

• We will be returning to Dettol disinfectant wipes to wipe down each Reformer and Clinical Pilates apparatus after each use.

• We have now provided single use paper cups to drink from (or you can bring your own drink bottle).

• You will be encouraged to wash or sanitise your hands before leaving the clinic – we have more than enough hand wash.

• All ‘frequent touch’ surfaces will be sanitised every morning before any clients arrive.

• There will be less tactile/hands-on cueing in the Pilates Clinic.

• Osteo clients will be required to wear socks in the treatment rooms.

• There will be an option for clients to remain fully clothed during Osteo consultations (as opposed to wear gowns or remove shirts ect.) – this option will be addressed with each client individually at the start of every consult.

Thank you kindly to the ongoing support of everyone. We have been blown away by this awesome Greater Geelong community. We hope and pray for the health and safety of not just our clients, but all people across the state and country (and world for that matter).

Please check our social media platforms and our website to keep up to date. We will endeavour to be as open and informative as possible throughout this difficult time. If at any time we are instructed to completely close the clinic, the length of the closure will depend upon the advice of the relevant government departments. If that were the case, all patients with appointments will be notified via phone and SMS. 

Plan for the worst, hope for the best

Kind regards from Clint, Felicity & the team from Bay City Health Group

Can Males do Pilates?

Yes males can absolutely do Pilates! Where once Pilates had the stigma of being primarily for dancers, it is now incredibly popular amongst all genders & age groups, with a dramatic increase in the amount of men regularly doing Pilates in recent years. Did you know that Pilates was created by a male bodybuilder and amateur boxer? The creator - Joseph Pilates - originally designed his method based on his own physical limitations before expanding it for others, including injured soldiers in World War 1 where he successfully rehabbed many serviceman. Men can get some fantastic benefits out of doing Pilates. Men typically have less joint mobility (flexibility) than women and therefore benefit greatly from the flexibility component of Pilates. However, many men are turning to Pilates now more than ever to help improve sporting performance, assist with work posture, strengthen up their core muscles, help lose weight and rehab from injury. Below are 10 famous males who regularly do Pilates: 

1. Kobe Bryant (NBA Basketball)

2. Sylvester Stallone (Hollywood Actor)

3. Lebron james (NBA Basketball)

4. Gary Ablett Jnr (Australian Rules Football)

5. Andy Murray (Tennis)

6. Joel Selwood (Australian Rules Football)

7. David Beckham (Soccer)

8. Antonio Brown (American Football)

9. Anthony Watmough (Australian Rugby)

10. Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer)

Is Pilates good for athletes?

Pilates is very popular among athletes of virtually any sport. Although it’s no substitute for repetition of the movements within your given sport, Pilates is a great addition. It challenges muscles in a way that is hard to reproduce elsewhere. Complicated, whole body movements on the Pilates apparatus can improves aspects of performance like balance, hip and core strength, power, proprioception and coordination, and when added to an existing skill set, can help improve overall performance. Most Professional athletes all over the world do Pilates, and most professional sporting clubs will either have Pilates equipment within their training facilities or outsource to local Pilates instructors. Some notable Athletes that do Pilates include:

• NBA superstar Lebron James

• Football legend Gary Ablett

• Soccer goal scoring machine Cristiano Ronaldo

• Tennis champion Serena Williams

• Pro surfer Sally Fitzgibbons

• World champion swimmer Emily Seebohm

If you want to try Pilates to help improve your sports performance, give the team at Bay City Health Group a call on 03 5229 3220 or book an appointment online with one of our professional instructors.

Are Reformer classes expensive?

Reformer classes are relatively inexpensive. A Reformer class usually costs between $25-$35 per class, which isn’t too bad when you consider a coffee costs around $5, a pint of beer roughly $10 and a Yoga class is around $10-$20. This takes into account the average commercial grade Reformer costs anywhere between $5,000-$8,000 - whereas the Mat used in Yoga and Pilates Mat classes will cost maximum $50! Considering the benefits you get with a Reformer class, the quality of equipment and the specialised training instructors must go through to be able to use and teach on a Reformer– it’s not a bad deal at all. One thing to keep in mind, most studios offer bulk session discount purchases which can reduce the price per class to as low as $20 per session in some instances.

Is Pilates a good workout?

Pilates is a great workout. There are different forms and levels of Pilates to cater for a wide variety of people, but if your intention is to get a workout then Mat classes & Reformer classes will suit you. Usually there a different levels of group classes, so depending on your fitness level and Pilates capabilities, there will be a class that will provide you with the right workout at the right intensity. In Mat Pilates, the class is predominantly body-weight which is traditionally a tough workout designed to get a sweat and build strength. On the reformers however, the use of springs can either increase resistance and hence the challenge making it an extremely hard workout, or provide assistance when needed to help participants perform correct movements they couldn’t have achieved otherwise.

Is Pilates safe?

Pilates is very safe. With any form of exercise there are certain risks, but due to the variety of apparatus and exercises available, Pilates can cater for almost anyone. For people with injuries or medical conditions – they will be better suited seeing a professional health practitioner (such as a Physio, EP or Osteo) for their Pilates, however non-clinical people will find that most Pilates instructors have been through good quality training and can safely meet your needs. There are some more complex and possibly dangerous exercises and manoeuvres that can be performed on the Pilates machines/equipment (which can look quite amazing), however they are usually reserved for clients with an extensive background in Pilates and are deemed capable by their instructor.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a form of exercise that is predominantly focused around using / integrating the core muscles and breathing into whole body movement. There are many focus points whin Pilates including good posture, spine stability, core strength, flexibility, balance and coordination to name a few. Pilates has a few different forms that all still stick to the same principles and focus points as listed above, including Mat Pilates which is based around body weight movements which can be very challenging; Clinical Pilates which is performed on different types of machines - these are mainly spring based machines providing either resistence or assistance to a movement resulting in a huge range of exercises and movements catering for any body type; Reformer classes which are group based of between 3-10 participants all using a Reformer each; and Rehab Pilates which is aimed at taking people with movement dysfunction through the multiple stages of rehab.

What are reformer classes?

Reformer classes are group based exercise/movement sessions performed on the most popular piece ofPilates apparatus - the Reformer. In Reformer Classes, everyone performs the same exercise or variations of that exercise (to cater for everyone in the class). Each movement and exercise has multiple variations which can be used to suit each person. Class numbers can vary from 3 per class to 12+ per class. It is recommended that classes are limited to no more than 10 reformers/clients per class, due to the complexity of movements available on the Reformer and the (likely) inability of the instructor to correct every persons form. Reformer classes can cater for a wide range of clients with different goals - from injury rehab and prevention to beginners and elite athletes.