Ready to be Reformed

There's been a lot in the press of late about the benefits of Pilates, with the lovely Miss Pippa Middleton outting the muscle control method as the secret to her killer figure.  It seems important to note at this moment that the style of Pilates she was using was based around a machine called 'The Reformer', a terrifying name for a piece of Pilates apparatus designed to shape, tone and scuplt your muscles. The traditional mat based Pilates, although highly beneficial for posture and body control, does not deliver as immediate or as intense results as a Reformer.

For those of us who get a bit too little exercise, are a bit too time-starved and spend a bit too much time sitting down, a Reformer based Pilates class sounds pretty much ideal. Toned muscles, better posture, stronger core you say? Where do I sign up!

Saying that, I'd somehow managed to avoid trying a session despite endless invitations from our friends at Ten Pilates, a company that has been going from strength to strength in the fitness world. To be honest, I think the name Reformer had put me off a bit.  And, I had seen pictures - it resembled a Medieval torture wrack.

Despite this, swayed by the outstanding testimonials from people who had tried the classes, plus the dread of baring my pasty thighs in skirts over the summer,  I found myself flat on my back, heels up in one of these devices, wondering if it was all it's cranked up to be. No pain no gain right?

I needn't have been so worried. The begginners class was suitably gentle, and our instructor for the evening, Ken Fitzmaurice, a humorous Irish gentleman helped us get to grips with the equipment. I won't lie, it was hard work, but in a satisfying 'Yes I can feel myself working out right now and it feels damn good' way. It was also gentle enough to do it fairly easily.  I could feel muscles in my legs and behind that I didn't even know existed. And that's when I see the appeal.  I'm lying down and this equipment is really helping me workout muscles that other kinds of exercise just don't get to. I also feel like my spine is protected by the padded shoulder blocks on the Reformer, so my back and pelvis stay nicely aligned througout.

The next day I do feel a bit sore and stiff in my body, which I think is a good sign.  I swear my thighs seem a teency bit firmer, even just after one class, and that's enough to tantalise me into wanting to go again.
For people preparing to go on holiday, or coming back from a spa holiday I think it's a great way to get into shape and stay that way.  There are a whole variety of levels and classes to choose from so you won't get bored, and the results and benefits for your body are incredible and will help you a heck of a lot if you're sitting on your rump in an office all day.  It's definitely worth clearing some space in the diary for.