25/08/2026
Pilates and the how it can differ
There’s often so much more to Pilates than people think…
The Tower or the Reformer?
These two photos are a really good example of how a similar exercise feels quite different on a Reformer compared with a Tower
The Tower is fixed, so the resistance is coming from the fixed springs attached to the frame.
The Reformer has a moving carriage, which can therefore be less stable as springs are connected underneath the moving carriage.
The Tower can be used to establish the movement pattern and give someone a very clear sense of where the resistance is coming from.
Then use the Reformer to add the moving-carriage component and challenge the ability to maintain position and stability.
Same movement concept → different external load → different stabilisation demands.
And that’s where Pilates becomes particularly interesting from a biomechanics perspective: changing the equipment doesn’t necessarily change the exercise’s fundamental movement goal, but it can substantially change the way the body has to achieve it.
Have you tried Pilates Reformer and or the Tower?
Do you have a preference?
Come practice with me in Horsham at Total Therapy Studios Horsham and see how much your body will thank you for it
