Footwork with the Guillotine

Footwork in Pilates is always an excellent place to start. Footwork on the Reformer helps us get connected to the carriage and ready us for our Pilates workout. While the Guillotine doesn’t have an order a great place to start is with Footwork. Footwork on the Guillotine reveals which leg, foot, ankle is imbalanced. The bar will get stuck if one side tries to push more than another side. First do all Footwork positions with two feet then try it with one leg.

Work the bar up and down from the back of legs.

Mounting the Guillotine from a control summersault position, align your hips under the bar. Hands can hold the handles on the sides or press into the vertical beams. Place the balls of your feet on the bar a fist distance apart and hug the heels together. Start with knees bent and hips on the mat. Gaze to the ceiling.

With pointed feet reach the legs towards straight. Working both feet evenly so the bar doesn’t get stuck. Maintaining pointed feet bend the knees. Repeat 8-10 times.

With bent knees place the arches of your feet on the bar ideally legs parallel and together. Reach legs to straight and bend 8-10x.

With bent knees place heels on the bar, ideally with legs together flex the ankles and reach legs to straight using the heels into the bar 8-10x.

Finally, with bent knees return back to the balls of your feet and place the balls of your feet on the bar a fist distance apart and heels together. Straighten legs and then point and flex the feet only as much as bar is even and heels remain together.

If going well, place one foot in the center of the bar. The other leg long on the mat and repeat all variations on one leg then switch to the other. If needed, repeat on the weaker side.

Be sure to check out more of my Guillotine workout videos. I want to help you continue your Guillotine training!