50 MINUTE FULL BODY *creative* REFORMER PILATES CLASS // short box, follow along, week 5

[@brittanygracia9499]

That was amazing! I’d love to see some more reformer classes!

[@user-vp6qb9he8z]

😍😍😍😍That's incredible class!😍😍😍😍i'm your big fan from now on

[@emilydunn3570]

Thanks!

[@jojowallace5098]

Excellent training by a terrific teacher.

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

You're too kind!

[@roxyracz6821]

Love love love the variations 🎉

[@pilatesbyanna1500]

Great workout! I got into a traffic jam on the way to my regular class, so I just turned around and come back to my studio do do this class. Wasn't disappointed!

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

So glad you liked it!

[@emilydunn3570]

You are such a talented and inspiring Pilates instructor. I found you on TikTok. I purchased a reformer for home and enjoy your classes.

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

I am so happy to hear that!!! Glad you found me!

[@ambsat]

Hi Margaret~wowza~this was a great, new challenge for me today. I appreciate you using the box, as I’ve owned one for years, but rarely use it or know any exercises to do on it. That said…I hung with you well, for never having done any of these moves…until that last bit of legs in straps on the box with the roll backs and 100. I just stopped, but what adjustments can I make to build up to that? Usually I do the 100, the traditional, beginner reformer way, with arms in straps, legs out, facing the foot of the reformer bed, laying down, and not on the box. And same with leg crunches/roll backs, I’d usually do facing same way, legs in straps, laying back on reformer bed. (If that explains it well) But that didn’t really prepare me for the box 100 etc you did in this. I felt unsure on the box and not strong enough without maybe pulling my back, so I just stopped at that point. Just wondering how I might adjust, to best build up to that. Thank you!

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

A couple things going on that you could try and adjust - when you're facing the back of the machine like that with your legs in the straps it changes the way the resistance is being pulled. So in a traditional 100 facing the front of the machine you're pressing down into the straps to help support your lifting the upper body. Reverse facing and on top of the box we don't have that same support and the focus shifts more to the lower abs & holding the spring just slightly open with the placement of the legs. You can do all those same exercises without the box, reverse facing on the carriage, just being mindful of the shoulder blocks, decrease the resistance on the springs or ditch the loops completely. Building up to these on the mat can be helpful too! Just takes a little practice and it's a lo more work to hold up in the crunch this way!

[@ambsat]

@@MargaretElizabethLLC Thank you so much for that detailed advice…I will probably understand it better when I read it and try what you’re saying on the reformer, which I will do! You really explained why doing them forward didn’t build my core strength enough (not that I do them consistently enough! but still…) to be able to do them the way you did in this video. I knew I wasn’t stable enough to do it properly yet, so I stopped but I will try what you say. And yes, when all else fails, doing them on mat will build core strength without the added strap support, so that makes sense. Anyway, thank you again!

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

@@ambsat No problem at all!!!!

[@lisaprettypetals]

I like watching these,but will you do workouts for us people who dont have a reformer? 😊

[@paulagabay9915]

I don't have a reformer either you just need to be creative lol. She breaks this workout down on Wednesday and Thursday each day 30 minutes. I am getting ready for it.

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

Yes Lisa!!! Wednesday and Thursday I post mat workouts!!!!

[@paulagabay9915]

@@MargaretElizabethLLC I hope I didn't overstep you.

[@lisaprettypetals]

@@MargaretElizabethLLC ok I didnt notice things been crazy here n be even crazier after this week as kids be out for summer uggg i want to run n hide now,its do hard to get workouts in when kids off as my daughter wakes early so I usually do a few poses here n there through the say if I can't, but it's not the same as a workout uggg, i need me time, everyone needs me & its just too much & dealing with this perimenopause uggg🥺

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

@@lisaprettypetals No worries at all!!! You got this Lisa!!

[@paulagabay9915]

Wow those lunges and step up and pulling imaginary cords. I wasn't sure if you were uploading today I sure am glad that you did. I was watching videos from reformer studios and they were saying that Pilates isn't weight bearing. I got nervous since I was diagnosed with Osteopenia and told to do weight bearing exercises. I have no idea why they would say it isn't weight bearing.

[@MargaretElizabethLLC]

Definitely a weird thing to say - because in a variety of positions it is weight bearing 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@paulagabay9915]

@@MargaretElizabethLLC I totally agree and the best workout is one I will do.