The Allegro Reformer takes Pilates to a whole new level

photo from allezhop.net

I have only tried Pilates thrice since I became a Fitness First member if only to find out why some people get hooked on it. Body Balance/yoga classes being offered at the gym remain one of my favorites, along with Retro, Latin and Body Jam. Only last year has Pilates Ball beeen included in the menu of classes owing to its growing popularity among gym enthusiasts.

There are many kinds of Pilates, differentiated only by the type of equipment they use. At home you can do basic Pilates using an exercise mat, very much like yoga. Pilates Ball uses an inflated ball that allows the movement of limbs to increase core strength by strengthening the abdominal muscles along with increasing flexibility in the limbs. There exists, however, another kind of Pilates that uses a machine called the Reformer,giving one an increased range of motion and support, or helping one ease into some of the more complex Pilates movements. I got acquainted with it when I went to Allez Hop Balance and Wellness Center, a boutique gym located in Makati.

Its close proximity to Makati Medical Center  makes the center an alternative to those who may want to undergo rehab therapy. The center, however small, is surprisingly better equipped than most regular gyms I’ve been to. The Reformer alone costs around USD2,300 and the center has two machines which requires quite a bit of floor space when in use.

At first, the Reformer might look like a rowing machine I regularly use at the gym. It looks simple enough, yet upon close inspection and while observing a client at the center using it, I found it to be well-designed as to allow the user a full range of motions, from the basic movement to the most difficult and challenging. It actually assists the user into doing the exercise the proper way, with supervision from a trained instructor.  Like most  of the other Pilates equipment, the Reformer helps to improve core strength and, in turn one’s balance and posture.

Resistance is key in doing Pilates exercises with the Allegro Reformer and its sliding platform and color-coded springs allow the user to change the level of resistance when doing Pilates exercises.  Surprisingly, most of its users are one in saying that the less resistance there is, the more difficult it becomes because it is your own body that does the work. With more tension in the coiled springs, you have more assistance performing a particular exercise. Using less tension on the springs means using more tension in your own muscles. 

These strengthening exercises make it best for those who want a strong and well-defined body without being bulky.  Apart from the aesthetic benefits however, enthusiasts are one in saying that most rewarding thing about Pilates is increased srength that allows one to perform day-to-day tasks such as lifting or going up a flight of stairs with ease.   Some clients regularly come to the center for pain management after having gone through an injury or accident. The Allegro helps them in that respect, allowing them to move and function without pain or discomfort.

In a world where our body is under constant stress it pays to keep the mind and body in top form. Don’t you agree?