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Pull Straps on the Reformer

  • May 10, 2019
Table of Contents
pulling-straps-1-on-the-reformer-2-scaled - Online Pilates Classes
  • Difficulty: Beginner | Intermediate
  • Equipment Needed: Reformer, Long Box, Straps (I love using the Contrology Reformer.)
  • Reps: 3-5 each
  • Warning: Not ideal for those with shoulder issues, can be done seated if not able to lay on stomach.
  • Questions: Contact us here

Pull Straps on the Reformer

Pull Straps on the Pilates Reformer can be done with or without Straps! And, is a great first exercise on the Reformer to challenge your connection against gravity! This exercise, like most Pilates exercises, can be deceiving. You’ll want to work on the part where the springs offer resistance. But the challenge is that we should be working the closing of the springs. As you do this exercise work the return twice as much! If you have been doing Swan or Swan Prep on the mat well, then try to add Pull Straps into your Reformer repertoire. If it goes well, add 2.

Watch those Elbows! Pull from your back as you open and close the springs.

With one spring on your Reformer, lay on top of your Long Box with your shoulders at the edge of the box. It can feel like you need to move forward and for those over six feet, you may need to. The goal is not to fully support your legs with the box. But, instead, to allow the box to support your center. Grab your straps as high up as you can, make sure there is zero slack in your straps. Legs are long, behind you and hugging together. For beginners and those with lower back issues I recommend you have the legs parallel or feel as if the thigh bones are turning in. Reach your tailbone nice and long to help engage your lower stomach and then pull the straps down to the floor at back towards your hips. Your chest may lift if your reach into the straps asks it to. But don’t anticipate this and lift your chest sooner than you need. Just like Swan it is not about going backward. Reach your heart/sternum forward. Return to start with long reaching arms and repeat 3-5 times.

This exercise can be done seated for those where lying on their stomach is not available. It can also be done with 1 and 2 lb weights.


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

By lesley.logan

Lesley Logan, NCPT, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorial videos, where you can also find weekly online mat classes and workshops. When not teaching from her studio in Los Angeles, Lesley can be found traveling the world leading Pilates retreats, or offering Pilates business coaching to studio owners and other instructors through her private mastermind group. Connect with Lesley on instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site.

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SUCH A TEASE

ONLINE MAT & REFORMER PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Teaser is probably one of the most photographed exercises in Pilates. Which makes people think it's a "peak pose." But, it's anything but! It's simply another layer to your Pilates practice. This week we will acknowledge how each exercise contributes to your ability to do Teaser (someday) and then how Teaser teaches you where to get curious in your practice.

On the Mat we will use light weights for one round of Teaser as they can be helpful for those still adding into their practice.
No props on the Reformer.

See you in class,

xx~LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, light weights and a Mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a Reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

PINK PONY

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Let's talk Horseback? Its not an exercise you might know if you only do the Mat. So when you see Horseback think Spine Stretch Forward. However, both exercises look possible when you see them. Only to be discover there are many many layers. On the Mat we'll focus on what Spine Stretch forward reveals we need to work on and what we might be ready for. On the Reformer Horseback is a revealer exercise. Its not one you go slow on. And, it definitely shows where we have work to do!

See you in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


UNDER THE SEA

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This week’s theme is water named exercises - swan, swimming, seal, and crab. Here’s what’s awesome about these exercises - you learn swan before you learn swimming, and you learn seal before you learn crab. So, when it comes to swimming or crab, you can always replace it with swan or seal as you build yourself up to swimming and crab. And you may be able to practice the crab exercise today if it’s not in your regular practice because we’re going to break it down.

On the reformer, there are swan and swimming exercises, but no seal and crab exercises. However, there are exercises that are similar, and there are exercises that can support you so you can practice seal and crab exercises. Maybe even give it a go after your reformer practice to see how it helps!

Mat Prop: Magic Circle
No props for the reformer.

See you in class,
Christine

MOBILITY AND STABILITY

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, TOWER/CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Throughout our movement practice we have muscles actively moving and muscles actively holding still. Whether muscles are mobile or muscles are stabilizing us, they’re definitely working and definitely getting stronger while we workout. As we bring awareness to what’s mobile and what’s stable, we hope it helps you connect more to your body, your practice and your overall confidence in movement!

Props needed:
Mat: Squishy ball or bolster
Reformer: None
Tower: None
Chair: Optional box and mat

See ya in class,
xx-LL

IT TAKES 2!

Online Mat, Reformer, Cadillac & Wunda Chair Pilates Class Descriptions:

Yaasss, it does take 2 to make a thing go right! This month, we’ll only be doing 2 reps of each exercise on the Mat, Reformer, Wunda Chair, and Cadillac/Tower. This is such a fun challenge for our bodies. Have a towel nearby because we’re gonna’ work up a sweat!

Props needed:
Mat: Magic Circle
Reformer: None
Tower/Cadillac: None
Wunda Chair: None

See ya in class,
xx-LL

BOOM BOOM POW

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Boomerang on the Mat isn't easy for me. It's got sooo much going on. Perhaps that's why Joe Pilates put it at the end. In this week's classes on the Mat and Reformer we'll build up the connections we need to roll through our Boomerang with strength and control. And, focus on the genius of how many exercises ready us for this chaotic controlled roll.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, 1lb weights or water bottles and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, 1lb weight or water bottle and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


FLIP IT AND REVERSE IT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Ever wonder why some of the exercises that require more stability, balance, and control are at the end of the order when we’re tired? I have, and I can’t help but think “Why all the madness???”

We know there was definitely a method to the matness (puns intended), but I wonder if there’s a bit of madness to the method. I want to know if it really makes a difference to do the order from beginning to end…so, why not flip our Order and reverse it and then talk about it?

Join me for this week’s classes where we are going to flip it & reverse it! We are going to start at the end of the order and work our way to the beginning. Let’s explore how our bodies feel when doing the “end of the order” exercises while we are COLD and how it feels to do our “warm up” exercises while we are HOT (and maybe a little tired)!

Grab a barrel or a blanket for the Mat class. We might need a little help connecting at the beginning of our workout, and a barrel or blanket will help us do that! Grab a ball and you’ll have everything you need for the Reformer class.

See you in class,
Rachel

ARM FUN WEIGHT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Everytime I use Arm Weights in my workouts I have a lot of fun playing around with the exercises. These little weights have a big impact on our form, control and execution and we also get a sweaty workout. Let´s grab your 1 to 2 pound Arm Weights and get together on your Mat & Reformer to play around and have some fun!

See you in class,
Yasmin

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, 1-2lb arm weights and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, 1-2lb arm weights and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


PINK PONY

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Let's talk Horseback? Its not an exercise you might know if you only do the Mat. So when you see Horseback think Spine Stretch Forward. However, both exercises look possible when you see them. Only to be discover there are many many layers. On the Mat we'll focus on what Spine Stretch forward reveals we need to work on and what we might be ready for. On the Reformer Horseback is a revealer exercise. Its not one you go slow on. And, it definitely shows where we have work to do!

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

FLIP IT AND REVERSE IT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Ever wonder why some of the exercises that require more stability, balance, and control are at the end of the order when we’re tired? I have, and I can’t help but think “Why all the madness???”

We know there was definitely a method to the matness (puns intended), but I wonder if there’s a bit of madness to the method. I want to know if it really makes a difference to do the order from beginning to end…so, why not flip our Order and reverse it and then talk about it?

Join me for this week’s classes where we are going to flip it & reverse it! We are going to start at the end of the order and work our way to the beginning. Let’s explore how our bodies feel when doing the “end of the order” exercises while we are COLD and how it feels to do our “warm up” exercises while we are HOT (and maybe a little tired)!

Grab a barrel or a blanket for the Mat class. We might need a little help connecting at the beginning of our workout, and a barrel or blanket will help us do that! Grab a ball and you’ll have everything you need for the Reformer class.

See you in class,
Rachel

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, barrel or a blanket and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a ball and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.


ARM WEIGHT FUN

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Everytime I use Arm Weights in my workouts I have a lot of fun playing around with the exercises. These little weights have a big impact on our form, control and execution and we also get a sweaty workout. Let´s grab your 1 to 2 pound Arm Weights and get together on your Mat & Reformer to play around and have some fun!

See you in class,
Yasmin

UP, UP, & AWAY

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

We are all going to feel like Super Humans after this month!!

Whenever I’m in a hard exercise (for me) where I’m holding myself up with my arms and reaching my legs away I picture myself with super human strength!!! I can do ANYTHING! It makes me smile and helps me stay STRONG.

This month our exercise is Up Stretch and when you think about it - reaching your legs away and staying strong over the carriage may feel a lot like flying!

We’ll be focusing on stabilizing our strong cores while staying equally balanced in our arms and legs. We are giving you some amazing building blocks by merging strength and stretch in all directions. You are going to get a little bit of everything that you can use to connect to your Up Stretch (and even your Roll Up and Knee Stretches Off).

Chair: Please have a foam roller and a balance pad available. We are going to challenge your balance safely.

xx-LL