Squats with Standing Arm Springs on the Cadillac

Squats on the Pilates Cadillac or Tower are more than your normal squat. They are a great teaching tool for Russian Squats on the Reformer. But, they also will help you with exercises like Rolling Like a Ball, Double Leg Stretch, Rowing on the Reformer, and standing in your feet. The more you work your two-way stretch and do not rely on the springs the more of this exercise you’ll be able to translate to other areas of your Pilates practice. Give these a try and if you’re up for more a challenge take one leg forward and do them again.

Stand in all four corners of your feet as you squat down and stand up.

-Lesley Logan

Standing parallel with your feet a hips distance apart place your hands in your handles. Make sure the pinky side of your hand is pressing into the handle elbows as high as your shoulders. You don’t want to be pulling on the handles so be mindful that you’re not doing a bicep curl. Stand about a springs ish distance from the Cadillac. You don’t want the springs to be engaged but not so slack that they don’t provide any help for you as you squat and stand.

Keeping your elbows up bend your knees squat straight down. Stand in all four corners of your feet and without leaning forward or back stand all the way up. Repeat this 2-3x. Then if that is going well, stand up reach your arms forward and press the handles down to the floor, pull them to your feet and then reach them back under your shoulders and roll all the way back up to standing. Repeat this 2-3x and then combine the two moves. Squat down with your arms in a 90ish degree angle and then stand up reach your arms forward. Reach down and back then down and forward and roll up and repeat 2-3x. Be careful not to lean off your knees.

Be sure to check out more of my Pilates Cadillac exercises. I want to help you continue your Pilates Cadillac training!