Springs Don’t Lie

Lengthening a spring is simple, but closing
the spring with control is where the Pilates
work comes in.

When you resist springs on a Pilates apparatus, your muscle lengthens as it contracts. This is called an Eccentric Contraction, which is very important for everyday movement and control in real life.

Walking down a hill, sitting down on a chair, or even standing up straight requires your muscles to work eccentrically.

Footwork on the reformer is a perfect example. When the spring gets shorter, your spine should get longer and your abdominals should work deeper (no banging the carriage).

Here is a great example of a common mistake and how to do it correctly: