What is Pilates?
Pilates is a low-impact, full-body workout that helps improve muscle tone and endurance, posture, strength, flexibility, balance and functional movement. It gives you an edge in athletic performance, everyday activities, and injury prevention by building a strong core (the foundation of a healthy body!) and activating underused muscles. Hundreds of precise, controlled exercises are performed on a mat or on a variety of spring-based apparatuses designed to simultaneously stretch and strengthen the entire body. The beauty of Pilates is that it is so adaptable; from being challenging enough for elite athletes, to gentle enough for rehabilitation purposes.
Get started with me and enjoy tailored and affordable private reformer sessions designed to help you feel your best every day.
About the Reformer
The reformer is an incredibly versatile exercise machine that uses a sliding platform attached to springs and moves by way of a pulley system. At the core (pun intended) of its design are adjustable springs, which will challenge your strength or give you support where you need it. This unique resistance system allows for progressive overload, ensuring continuous growth and improvement so you don’t plateau with your workouts. Did you know that it is possible to produce more than 100 pounds of resistance while using reformer springs?!
The reformer was invented by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century as a way to support bedridden World War I soldiers in rebuilding strength. Many different models have been created since then, including the Allegro 2 by Balanced Body, Jessica's favorite and the one you'll use at Cobalt.
If you’ve done Pilates on a mat, but have never used the reformer, the main difference lies in the resistance provided by the springs (in comparison to mat Pilates, where you are challenged by gravity and your own bodyweight). Reformer Pilates — which, at Cobalt, often incorporates free weights, resistance bands, and compound movements to amplify muscle activation — typically leads to greater strength gains than mat work. The result? A more powerful, effective way to strengthen and sculpt your entire body while protecting your joints in the process.
Whatever your interest or goal, Pilates will help you do it better and feel better.