Control Front on the Reformer

Strength That Works Together: Control Front and the Reformer

Pilates has a reputation for being gentle, and sometimes it is. But anyone who has held Control Front for a few breaths knows it's also about real, honest strength. What makes Pilates different is that it doesn't train muscles one at a time. It asks your whole body to work as a team, so the strength you build actually shows up in daily life.

Control Front is a great example. You're in a front support position, similar to a plank, with your body in one long line from head to heels. Then you add movement while keeping everything steady. That's where the shoulder girdle comes in. The muscles around your shoulder blades, collarbones and upper back have to hold you up, keep your chest from sinking, and stop your shoulders from rolling toward your ears. Meanwhile your abdominals, glutes and legs are all pitching in to keep your hips level. It's not flashy, but it builds the kind of shoulder strength you need for carrying groceries, lifting kids, pushing open heavy doors, or getting yourself up off the floor.

So what is a reformer? It's one of the classic pieces of Pilates equipment, made up of a sliding carriage, a footbar, straps and a set of springs. The springs create resistance, and we can make them lighter or heavier depending on what you need. What a lot of people don't realize is that springs can support you as much as they challenge you. For one person a setting might help them find control through a tricky movement. For someone else the same setting makes an exercise harder. That flexibility is why the reformer works so well for realigning the body and restoring optimal movement, whether you're coming back from an injury, managing stiffness, or looking for a new challenge.

If you've been curious about the reformer, we'd love to show you around. We offer reformer private sessions, where the whole hour is built around your body and your goals, and group reformer classes, where you get great coaching and the energy of moving with others. Come see what integrated strength feels like at @pilatesinguelph.

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