Article by Gill Cummings-Bell BA (Hon’s) M.Sc. PGCE. MBA
Written using ‘HI’ an ‘AI’ free zone (Human error forgiveness needed)
Group Reformer Yes or NO!
Group exercise is deemed to be a class of structured physical activity or exercise taught to a group of 5 or more. Of which we have hundreds of styles and genres from Aerobics to Dance to Pilates and Yoga. In the old days, not so long ago, this would not have included the Pilates Studio Reformer (Reformer) as a large group exercise class. This landscape has now changed. Most Pilates reformer sessions originally would either be individual or small group which is 4 people or less. However, as a sector we are constantly evolving the range and access to classes, and we are very good at growing trends. All executed with the desire to get more people moving.
The sector now sees large group studio Reformer classes popping up everywhere in all sorts of guises. Numbers range from smaller numbers i.e. 6-8 reformers with some reaching 32 reformers! Given that traditionally the Pilates reformer exercise repertoire was designed for individual tuition and or small group, can we honestly say that we can keep the public safe in a room with multiple reformers. In truth, “good question, well presented! Read on and decide!
The Hazards
The reformer apparatus is one of the most ‘at risk’ classes we currently teach across clubs and studios. All teachers must remember that the reformer is a moving platform with participants bodies on them. If we don’t consider how to identify the hazards and limit the risk we will undoubtedly, from time to time, experience accidents on this piece of apparatus. Our intent is to limit this and teach safely.
It is essential that any reformer purchased and used by an instructor has at the very least a British Standards Institution (BSI) kite mark for equipment quality. This means a client can use the reformer with trust and confidence. Do be aware that to save money and purchase a reformer that does not meet standards may change your liability for any injury or accident that occurs. Reformers should be added to any health and safety policy which must be operate checks across every class, daily, weekly, monthly etc. Read below to understand what and why we should make these checks. Health and safety checks should include not only what we have identified below but everything from cleaning, springs, moving parts, any nuts bolts & screws. It goes without saying that thorough client consultation and analysis should also take place (not covered in this article)
Let’s explore the hazards and risks of the apparatus itself and checks the instructor should make and checks the instructor should teach class members to make. With larger number of reformers in studio’s where classes are back-to-back it is important that a teacher teaches class participants to make checks before, during and after various exercises so that the participant is kept safe. A teacher arriving for a class may not have time to do more than a few checks themselves so add these checks to your introduction in class and pause to ask participants to make them.
Hazard 1 – The Springs & Gear Bar
Reformers have a variation of springs which range in tension from light, medium to heavy in various combinations. These springs are used to either create stability, assistance, resistance or challenge when using the carriage. In some exercises a lighter spring may challenge the control of the exercise more such as in exercises from ‘The Stretch Series’ or “Bridge’ or a lighter spring may make the exercise easier in exercises such as ‘Full Rowing’. In other exercises a heavier spring may add more resistance to the exercise such as ‘The Foot Series’ or it may help stabilise the carriage to execute an exercise such as in ‘The Bridge’. A heavier spring may also help a person move into the position of the exercise such as ‘Short/Long Spinal’. It is important that all reformer teachers fully understand the effect of the springs on every exercise they teach. A teacher must also to be able to explain to a class participant the effect of the different choices of spring for the exercise so that the class member can adjust their own springs. This is challenging at best on a one to one but in a group of participants of 20+ using reformers this becomes complex and high risk. In many exercises if the spring tension is incorrect for the participant and exercise it can cause an accident or injure the participant.
On many reformers the gear bar can be moved to alter range of movement at the hip or knee or because of a person’s height (when in lying) relative to the foot bar or jump board. I often arrive in the studio to find the gear bar has been moved but not the carriage stopper. This can alter the spring tension and cause damage to the springs or the incorrect tension on the spring for the exercise. Reformer gear bars, springs and carriage stoppers can be different between manufacturers. Take time as a teacher to understand the manufacturers guidance on settings i.e. on a Peak the gear bar and stoppers are numbered and should be set on the same number. If you move the gear bar to 2 then the stopper should be moved to 2. On Align the gear bar and carriage move as one and is height of client dependent.
Hazard 2 – The Carriage, Head Block and Shoulder Stops
The carriage moves on what is essentially skateboard wheels or equivalent. The carriage moves smoothly along runners with a stopper of some nature to prevent the carriage closing. It is important that the Pilates method is taught thoroughly to control the carriage through all movements. If the client is not able to control the carriage with flow during exercises this could cause a catapult effect on their body. If they happen to be in kneeling this can throw them off the reformer. Keeping the carriage runners and wheels clean and lubricated is important for smooth flowing movement of the carriage. Health and safety checks should be daily on the carriage wheels and runners with a weekly cleaning schedule.
The head block is essentially there to aid alignment through the centred position. This is raised to aid a client who may have tightness through the posterior chain and cannot maintain the cervical spine in a lengthened decompressed position without the rib popping up, effectively putting thoracic spine into extension. Teach the Pilates method and the centred aligned position, observe precision of movement and if necessary, raise the head block. For any part of the repertoire that involves raising the body towards the shoulders the head block must be down for spinal safety.
When centering on the reformer there should be air between the shoulder stops and the participants shoulders. If the spring tension is too high and a client is fighting the springs during execution of the exercise this will push the client into the shoulder stops. This may affect their ability to centre and therefore their ability to control the exercise. This is a precision marker to look for that will let the instructor know that the client possibly needs adjustment of the springs or their body position on the carriage to execute the exercise correctly, within method and safely.
Hazard 3 – Ropes/Cables and Foot Bar
The ropes/cables hand straps or foot straps vary on different reformers. If your ropes have carbines these should be checked by the teacher and the participants themselves at the beginning of the class. A teacher must teach participants how to do this in case back-to-back class use has worked one of the fixtures lose. If a rope is released from its carabiner or fixture whilst the carriage is open in an exercise this may cause a catapult effect and throw the client off or into the reformer.
The rope length should be checked to ensure equal tension on each cable for unilateral leg or arm work. If undertaking unilateral work and the tensions are not correct this may pull a participant’s body out of position and injure the client.
The foot bar generally can be raised either on a ladder bar system or on a ridged bar system. In class you must teach the participants how to check the foot bar is secure in the holders every time the foot bar is raised or lowered or changed. If executing exercises such as The Bridge or exercises like The Stretch Series where downward pressure is placed on the foot bar it may cause the foot bar to release. This can cause a serious injury to a client. As the foot bar is continually moved into different positions depending on the exercise used it is vital that the teacher pauses and asks everyone to make this check in a class situation each time before commencing the exercise and applying full force to the foot bar.
Repertoire
The traditional Pilates Reformer repertoire is an order of exercises delivered by Joseph Pilates or through the work of the elders. This repertoire has been brought to life over the decades by varied recognised traditional schools with a lineage back to the traditional development through the elders and Joseph Pilates himself. The flow of the order builds up from the foot series to more complex compound exercises from various start positions. The repertoire on the reformer has an incredible flow and can be enjoyed by all levels of participants. It is important for a teacher to understand the order and flow, and which exercises a participant needs to be able to execute within method prior to the execution of more challenging compound exercises. Teachers must also recognise that not all the repertoire is safe for a large group. Some of the exercises in the repertoire cannot be safely taught in a group and must never be used in a group due to safety concerns.
With the emergence of large reformer studios there is a question as to whether the exercise repertoire can be taught using the Pilates method or not. In my experience when participant numbers on reformer increase above 10 in class this isn’t possible. As a very experience teacher with a great movement diagnostic eye, I struggle with more than 10 on reformer. Observation of technique becomes difficult and getting to participants for more hands on is challenging. At this point the class becomes more of a repertoire being taught on the reformer in a fitness context and not the Pilates method. This is a distinction a teacher must be able to make for the benefit of their participants. Many participants self-refer to Pilates because of a need such as a condition, movement restriction, injury or dysfunction. It is vital that if the Pilates method is not able to be delivered in its full quality that a teacher makes a participant aware that this is Pilates in a fitness context on a reformer and not the Pilates method. This will help participants choose a Pilates reformer class that suits their needs better.
During the period of Joseph Pilates and the Elders development of the repertoire reformer classes with multiple reformers in large numbers did not exist. This means that the intent of some of the elements of the repertoire cannot be safely taught in large groups as it was designed for individuals and or small group.
Some repertoire points to note are:
Any standing exercise executed on a reformer must have three points of contact. Exercises standing on the foot plate, foot bar and carriage in a class must be able to use a dowel as the third point of contact to the floor. These exercises are high risk in a group and even with experienced participants can result in a topple and a serious injury. Many experienced participants may request not to use the dowel for support, but this is not option in group. Safety first always.
Any standing exercise on the carriage using the rope/cables must not be used in a group class. This is one of the most dangerous exercises to undertake and if an instructor is not standing ready to use assistance these exercises from the repertoire should not be used in group.
Any tall kneeling exercise must be tested in low kneeling first to ensure that the spring tension is correct. This must happen every time at the start of the exercise to ensure someone hasn’t forgotten to change their spring. Any new client must be taught to execute the exercise in low kneeling first and only when competent in their own execution within the Pilates method go to high kneeling.
Any roll over exercise i.e. ‘Overhead, Short Spinal, Long Spinal etc’ must first be prepped and sequenced into to build competency and executed safely.
These are a few top tips and guidelines to keep your group reformer classes safe. These are by no means all the safety points you should consider. There are many others and there are many physiological, anatomical and biomechanical differences your participants may present with that change the risk in class. I fully recommend that all instructors fully evaluate their reformer classes for hazard and risk and have in place a full risk assessment that they regularly revisit for each class.
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