Why do I say this so often in the class?

• Knee is an extremely important joint in our body and we want to maintain its mobility.
• When leg muscles such as hamstrings and calfs are tight – because of disuse, sedentary lifestyles or poor posture —you’re not able to fully extend your leg and straighten your knee, and your walking (and running) stride may be shortened and less powerful
• Further, inflexible hamstrings have been implicated in chronic low back pain, because they change the tilt of the pelvis
• And for anyone who plays sports or works out, tight muscles may contribute to muscle strains, knee pain, and diminished performance because the muscles aren’t able to fully extend. 

Pilates exercises require you to stretch your knees (“extend your knees fully”). If you cannot do it yet, it does not mean you are not fit to do Pilates – what it means is that you have one extra thing to focus on: that is on elongating your hamstrings to be able to finally STRETCH YOUR KNEES.  

Pilates Reformer:

• Makes it easy to execute movements in the precise way, with correct biomechanics and joint positions;
• Offers a HUGE variety of exercises with maximum number of muscles being trained, and with specific focus on the core and joint stabilisors;
• Encourages working in the full range of motion to increase flexibility while building strength;

• The rolling carriage challenges stability and balance and further develop core strength;
• Use of springs encourages eccentric muscle contractions, when a muscle lengthens as it resists a force. This is one of the keys to achieving the long, strong muscles without bulk;
• For people with injuries, physical limitations or joint problems the Reformer is an ideal exercise machine, because it makes possible to have a complete control over the range of motion, speed and intensity of exercises.