Use It or Lose It: An Apparatus Primer

Hey there Pilates friends 🙂

Thanks for joining me this week for all kinds of nerdy thoughts about the Pilates Method.

Let’s talk apparatuses!

Ugh…don’t you wish the plural of ‘apparatus’ was ‘apparati’?

Like ‘platypi’?

That would be so cool.

Clumsily, the correct plural of apparatus is ‘apparatuses’, or simply ‘apparatus’ (like ‘sheep’, yawn…).

Let’s create a fun collective term instead.

The best choice by far for a collective term would be a ‘studio’ of apparatus, right?

(groan)

A ‘control’ of apparatus: more apropos.

JoJo and I loved creating terms for theatre peeps years ago:

A ‘pester’ of Stage Managers, a ‘chatter’ of Seamstresses, a ‘crude’ of Carpenters, a ‘need’ of Actors…

This is perhaps my very favorite game after Pilates Projects LOL

If you come up with any zingers, drop them in a comment below.

Why Does The Pilates Method Use Specialized Apparatus(es)?

 

A Brief History:

In the beginning, Joe Pilates creates his 34 Mat exercises.

They’re hard to do.

Joe uses his body all day long to help students achieve the exercises.

“There’s gotta be a better way!”

Joe invents the apparatus.

How do these specialized apparatuses benefit you?

Sure they’re fun, but what have they done for you lately?

The Pilates apparatuses…

…support your movements.

…put you in position.

…assist you to achieve the exercise.

…give you feedback.

…provide resistance using springs.

…help you get better at the Mat exercises.

…can increase or decrease the difficulty of the exercise.

…correct your movements.

…are good teachers.

You probably learned many of these things in your Pilates training or experience.

But what does it all mean?

In the Pilates Method of exercise, the support and help come from solidly constructed apparatuses that utilize variable tension provided by springs.

Springs can be wobbly and noisy so you’ll know if you are in control or not.

Lots of bouncing springs and loud noises?

Probably not a good thing.

At some point, someone explained to you that more springs don’t make the exercise harder. When there are fewer springs it means you have to do more of the work.

Fewer springs make the apparatus harder to control.

Control: It’s the name of the game.

Pilates is the man.

Contrology, or the study of control, is his invention.

Optimally, the mind is in control of the body’s movements, not at its mercy.

Who said that?

The Pilates Method teaches you to be in control of your body and not at its mercy. – Joe Pilates

Spring Fever

The Reformer is perhaps the most familiar and popular place in the studio to find springs.

And like everywhere in the studio, I believe you need a compelling reason to change a “prescribed” spring setting.

On the Cadillac, often we use a specific spring for each area of the apparatus: Arm springs, Leg springs, Roll-Back Bar springs, and Push-Through Bar springs.

With the Wunda Chair, there’s more of a guideline for spring settings.

(Every spring setting is ultimately a guideline since no two individuals or circumstances are alike. Yup. That’s Pilates 😊)

If you’re lifting your body weight on the Wunda you may have a 2-spring setting; when your hands are on the pedal you may have only one spring by itself.

But wherever you are in the studio, let’s regard the springs as help.

Sometimes you need a little bit of help and sometimes you need a lot.

And there’s no shame in asking for help.

From Joe With Love.

Spring Awakening

“The Spring Doesn’t Matter.”

Jay Grimes can be provocative.

Wait. Wait. That… Hurts… My… Brain…

Training programs fail you if you don’t know how many springs for every single exercise.

Of course.

You’re in training.

You have to prove you won’t kill anyone.

But it’s never been about the spring.

It’s about YOU, friends.

You matter.

Control

Control is the name of the game.

And on the road to Control, there are always choices to make.

Choices like:

• Where’s the best place in the studio to visit exercises x,y, and z?
• Am I looking for help or a challenge?
• What does the student do well?
• What causes the student to struggle?

 

And most importantly:

• What’s the best spring to get what you need from the apparatus today?
• How can I best set up for success?

Some Kinda Wunda-ful

 

One of the greatest examples of spring choice is the Wunda Chair.

Once you’ve digested the basics, the springs on the Chair can be finessed to suit the student, the exercise and the intention.

TBH the Wunda Chair is a crowd-pleaser.

So cute. And prickly.

A tough workout.

That fits so easily into your home or studio.

And returns you to life!

This Week’s Workout

On the Wunda.

Again.

Yes, sorry – NOT sorry – obsessed!

Based on last week’s Short Wunda Chair Workout, today I’ve got a longer Wunda workout with a faster pace.

Bonne chance!

Something Wundaful is About to Happen in San Diego

The Roll Up to Push Down to Going Up Front Workshop

Find More Lift in your Mat Exercises on the Wunda Chair

Saturday, March 25, 2023

1:00-4:00 pm

with Nicole Martin of Ritual Pilates

Join me and my colleague Nicole Martin of Ritual Pilates, in partnership with Balanced Body to celebrate the newest in the Contrology line of apparatus: the Wunda Chair!

This 3-hour workshop will highlight the Pilates System: How do the Wunda Chair exercises improve and enhance your Pilates mat experience?

We’ll explore the relationship between these 2 small but mighty apparatuses.

After a vigorous Mat Workout, we’ll decide together what are the most problematic exercises and how we can address and improve them on the Wunda Chair.

How can the springs in the Wunda exercises help your toughest Mat exercises?

What does the firm horizontal support of the Mat teach your body?

You’ll get to experience the new Contrology Wunda Chair and take it for a spin, and there will also be Contrology Folding Mats, complete with straps and handles for a vigorous and supportive workout.

Teachers and enthusiasts welcome.

Wine and snacks reception to follow!

Early Bird pricing for the first 10 participants is $299.

Snag your spot today!