Full Body Pilates Reformer Workout #1 | 55 Mins

[@lesliedarnley8235]

I love your classes because I like more reps so I can feel the muscles. And I liked your traditional movements.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you!! I definitely do a lot of reps because I feel like it takes 7 reps to focus on correct positioning and after 10 you start to feel something so then another 5 or 10 reps to really work the muscle.

[@palomino5223]

Excellent. This is classic pilates performed as pilates was meant to. Too many people are being pushed through places like Club Pilates to become instructors and I see they want to embellish and add their own touch. Pilates are not designed to do lots of reps for example, but instructors out there think to run it like a weight gym. I am glad to see this instructor sticking to the traditional ways. Thanks!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks, so glad you enjoyed the workout! I try to stick with traditional pilates exercises and add variations to the basics to make it harder, though sometimes. Traditionally, classical pilates only does 6-10 reps so I try to do between 15-20 because I’ve found that it takes people about 5 reps to understand the movement and then another 5-10 until they might start to feel the muscles working.

[@palomino5223]

Too bad more instructors aren't like you! Absolutely on the reps! You've got this.

[@Bruuner]

Thank you so much for being here. I came back to the reformer today after a prolonged hiatus, and even though this kicked by butt (literally…that side lying series was ouch!), I am so proud of myself for recommitting to my Pilates journey. My goal is to work through all 80+ of your reformer videos little by little. You are a great instructor!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Welcome back! It’s always nice to take a break from something and then get back to it! That’s an amazing goal to do all the reformer videos! Love it! Hope you enjoy them, some are more challenging than others, but I always say, you can take breaks or modify! 😊

[@judylepe8407]

The absolutely best Pilates workout! I’ve been searching for a workout for over six months and I finally found what I was looking for.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome!! Love to hear that! Hope you check out some of the other workouts on the channel! 😊

[@juliferrandoathanasakos6159]

wow i had to drop out a couple times to get a break. man my legs and butt were on FIREEEEEEE great workout hope to build up to hang through it all soon

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

This one is definitely tough! And it’s totally fine to take a break and get back to it! I try to make the workouts challenging for all levels which is why I do alot of reps or offer spring options. You’ll be able to track your strength and progress with this workout. 💪💪💪

[@anjossuzy]

Definitely felt the burn and was great to go back to basics!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it. I love this workout because it is basic pilates exercises but they are so effective! These are definitely some of my favorite exercises on the reformer 💪

[@sabinaa7952]

Burning like 🔥 Thank you, love your workouts! 🦋

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

This one is definitely a burner! 😊 thank you, appreciate it!

[@veronicablackburn2744]

Great class . Thank you

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Love to hear that 😊

[@pattyfitz2168]

That was a great class! Your cuing is so helpful without being too “wordy”. Your back ground music is nice too and not distracting. I do like how you do more than 10 reps for some of the exercises, as it gives my body a moment to adjust accordingly. Thank you for the time you put into your videos and thank you for another challenging class!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks so much Patty! Yes I like to do more than 10 reps the reason you mentioned. I feel like it takes about 5 reps for people to get the form and the cueing, so you need more reps to fully feel your muscles activating.

[@gizem5867]

I finally completed the all series without taking a break💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 I added one more white spring for the bridge series and never took a break. Your videos really changed my life. I always feel great after doing the exercises with you. I can't thank you enough❤

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Amazing!!! Love to hear that. I know my workouts can be challenging but it’s such a good way to see the progress in your strength over time. I try not to say challenging work outs are intermediate workouts for that reason. Yes the workout is hard, but the exercises aren’t complicated so it allows everyone to get a good workout and work toward a goal of getting stronger 😊💪💕

[@vf7833]

Thank you for offering this! Two sessions and I already feel different. Can't wait to track my progress 😊

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Amazing! Love to hear that. Keep up it up! 💪

[@graciehannifin294]

Just received a new Merrithew reformer and this was the first class I did. As I was waiting for it to arrive I found your site and was excited to give it a go. LOVED IT!! Had a great teacher for years then moved overseas. Moved back to a different part of the states and tried Club Pilates and another like it and just didn’t love it (plus no tower work). I missed classical Pilates and tired of teachers talking about personal life during class and then not doing same reps on both sides 😂. So happy to have found y’all! Looking forward to practicing here! Thank you!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome!! Welcome to the channel, glad you find it as well. I love my Merrithew reformer and I'm sure you will too! My workouts are definitely a little more challenging than classical pilates, but I try to keep the moves fairly traditional or simple, but add variations or props to make it more challenging 😊I know what you mean about some instructors talking too much in class or not having a good flow, it really ruins the focus and motivation of the workout. We have over 70 workouts now on the channel, so hope you give hope you like them

[@ac-yo6ys]

One of my top 10 favorite classes. Thank you!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! So glad you like it! These are all my favorite pilates exercises

[@gizem5867]

I just started reformer and thank you so much to your videos, I loved pilates for the first time in my life. All videos are very effective and very enjoyable. It's just that the bridge series is very difficult for me and I have to take a break. I hope I can improve myself over time. Thank you very much for giving me motivation❤

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Love to hear that. Glad my videos make you love pilates! For bridging, I would suggest maybe adding another spring then what I am use. That will allow you to keep the carriage in and is a little easier on the hamstrings so they don’t cramp.

[@suerandhawa5671]

Wow that's all I can say, you pushed me hard. Thank you for all your hard work you put into these video. This is the best video that I have done so far!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you so much, appreciate the kind words! I love being pushed and feeling stronger after each workout, so glad I was able to push you a little bit!

[@MrsRivera777]

This was great thank you so much those dang bridges on the reformer kill my hamstrings but I did the best I could!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome, love to hear that! If your hamstrings tend to cramp on bridges, add another spring. That should help a little bit

[@MrsRivera777]

@@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis ohhh I had no idea! Thank you so much!! New to the reformer. Loving it, have been doing mat for a while now and also love that! I do both! Why not. I used to suffer from immense lower back pain. Pilates has literally healed me! 🙏🙌🏼

[@kaymoore7581]

Absolutely loved it!!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Love to hear that!

[@juliehomer]

I love this workout. You’re one of my favorite instructors. The parts where you hold the pose, and overall it’s mostly classical Pilates is exactly what I needed. Thanks for posting this on KZbin. I really like your techniques and I definitely feel the burn. It would be nice to not have to music though.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks Julie! So glad you love the workouts. This was the first reformer workout I ever made so the first several workouts I had music and then took it off and unfortunately since it’s already posted there is no way to take the music off, but all the newer workouts don’t have music.

[@juliehomer]

@@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis that’s ok. This was seriously one of the best workouts I’ve done because it wasn’t all these crazy athletic moves. The holds are where I really felt challenged. I’ll check out your others.

[@ytfriends4622]

Awesome workout. Feeling it the next day. Can’t wait to try more of your workouts. Thank you

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Great, so glad you liked this workout! The other ones are equally as good

[@jamiewebb4751]

GIRL, that was truly fabulous.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks so much! Glad you had an awesome workout and appreciate you coming back to the channel for workouts 💪

[@jeannahuggett3734]

great class, i love that you push nearly to the point of fatigue, also there's not a whole lot of continuous chatter so i can zone out a bit while doing it!!!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you Jeanna!

[@jenniferp2676]

Great class. I like the challenge!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you! Glad to you liked the workout!

[@mkaderali]

Great cues, thank you. Appreciate these classes.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

You’re very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it! Cues are definitely important to the workout, just reminders on form and muscles you should be working 😊

[@pixiesmama8807]

Great workout! You’re a great instructor🎉

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks so much! Appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed the workout 💪

[@malindawesome]

Loved it! Def had me working hard and having to breathe through it. Looking forward to your other videos on the channel.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the workout and I think you’ll like the other ones on the channel too if you liked this one!!

[@XtinaRenee]

Thanks!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you for keep coming back to my channel!! 💪😊💕

[@christina4339]

Love this! Thank you so much for the reformer class!!

[@faramalley4637]

Awesome session!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AgentPopCat07]

Wow great class. All the reps were challenging but awesome. Felt cute in my shorts today lol. Thanks!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

That’s awesome! That’s such a great feeling and so glad this workout helped 😊

[@imyourbabydaddy]

The strap behind the knee had me working out a muscle I’ve clearly never used before! Omg, great freakin class!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Glad you liked it. Yes the strap behind the knee is always a good one 😊

[@amandawills8955]

Great workout! Felt like I was in the studio again. 🥵 Loved all the isometric holds.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome!!! So glad you enjoyed the workout! Love isometric work 😊

[@nancydaul2010]

Such a great class. I'm starting to see definition in my glutes because of it! :)

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

That’s awesome! Glad to hear it!

[@theagencycoffsharbour9259]

FANTASTIC workout . Thank you 👏🏼❤️

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Yah! Thank you

[@anamartalaviaguerre9024]

Great workout! Thanks for sharing!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Thank you

[@mervegenc445]

I like this one🎉thank you for sharing and next time when i do arm work i will use box because this way it felt better 😊 a

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome!! These are definitely my favorite "Go To" reformer exercises. They are pretty standard but always feel so good!

[@mervegenc445]

Again here and felt really good again🎉

[@happylapochka]

Thank you for a great workout! Just what I needed.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! So glad you liked it 💪

[@unknownunknown-lg4vc]

I did enjoy it! Thanks

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome!

[@karenbennett9464]

Another great class!…loved it 💕

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Thanks Karen

[@nimaBakhtiary]

Thank you. You are a master!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Appreciate it! Glad you enjoy the workout 💪

[@pauladane]

Thank you great class😊

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it

[@jessicajungeunsong]

Great class, thank you. wish I can hear the voice more clearly with less music though. But overall a great help working on reformer on my own.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you!!! This was one of my first workouts I ever made so when I first started out I was putting background music but all my newer workouts don’t have music and I think any workout after #30 doesn’t have music. So give those ones a try 😊

[@gylgunstream6262]

Another winner! ❤ Can you tell me which workout had the pull-up from the end? I can’t remember which one that was. Thanks😊

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Awesome! This workout definitely included a lot of my favorites. The workout your thinking about with the pull ups is #64

[@barbaramartinez3705]

Genial!me podrias desir por favor con q resorte trabajo, en el box brazos?gracias!saludos desde la Argentina!✈

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Love to hear you watch my channel from Argentina! I use a blue and white spring for arm work on the box. If you have a balance body machine, use a single red spring

[@barbaramartinez3705]

@@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis🤗☺

[@TripleJAu]

Great videos just wandering have the longer videos stopped and only I hope I get the word right... Short reels from now on?

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you! No I am still posting full length video on Mondays! The shorts are only for ideas and to reach more people in hopes that they find my channel for the full length videos 😊

[@kerriw232]

Hello! At the studio I used a balanced body machine with a green, red and blue for legs. What springs on the merrithew are equivalent to that? What is the equivalent spring on the merrithew for each balanced body spring example red merrithew = green balanced body? Thank you.

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Hey Kerri, so merrithew red= green balance body merrithew blue & white = red balance body merrithew blue= blue balance body merrithew white= yellow balance body For footwork/legs if you used a green, red and blue on balance body, I would use 2 red & white on merrithew. If you don't have the white spring try 2 reds. If that feels too easy then do 2 reds and a blue.

[@normamontoya6617]

Desde Argentina 🇦🇷 felicitaciones!!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

So happy you found my channel! I have been to Argentina once and loved it!

[@unknownunknown-lg4vc]

i like this routine very much, but have a question. about at the 17 minute mark, during this action I get sever ham string cramps and cannot follow through. I just plant myself down on the bench and do them. going up and out just is awful for me though I would like to. any advice?

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

I know a lot of people that get hamstring cramps too when they push the carriage in and out or just doing bridges. Try adding another spring on bc the spring might be too light to pull it in and it’s making the hamstrings cramp. Also try not going out as far with the carriage, maybe go back a few inches and in.

[@webstuff56]

Thank you for demonstrating the use of the Pilate. I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out the sets and reps of your excercises however, and which muscle group you're targing. I find the most of the time you jump in and begin your reps then out of no where you call out that 5 more more left.. the 4, 3, 2, 1, etc. and your even changing position during this time. Could you clarify what you're doing please. Thank you.!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks for your feedback… this was my first workout on the reformer that I ever filmed so I was just learning how to cue and do the workouts at the same time and what works.

[@laurathole4792]

How do I know when to inhale or exhale. also when I exhale do I engage abs

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

I usually say to exhale on the harder motion of the exercise. So for example: footwork, the press out is harder than pulling the carriage in, so I exhale on the press out. And when you exhale, you tend to naturally engage the abs a little bit, but I would say yes engage the abs. Especially when doing actually ab exercises, I think about pulling my belly button in deeper when I exhale cause that gets those deep transverse abs below the surface. Another example for ab work. Any time I lower and lift my legs, I inhale down and exhale when my legs are coming up because then you really feel those abs. Try laying on your back and lower and lifting the legs and do a few where you exhale down and inhale up and then the opposite. Just curious if you feel a difference in your abs activating. Most of my workout videos I do try to tell you when you inhale and exhale, so you don't always have to think about it and after a while, it will come naturally

[@ucspanishprogramme9449]

Hi! I am one of your fans and I do your workouts almost every day, thank you, they are awesome!! But I have realized that many of my favorite workouts are unavailable now... Is this just temporary or are there any changes to your channel? Please let me know! Thank you!!!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you, appreciate it! I have moved a lot of those videos to my own website. www.pilatesbodywithmichelle.com I’m offering a promotion right now. Use promo code LAUNCH50 and you get a 7 day free trial and the first month is $12.50. Hope you check it out 😊

[@ucspanishprogramme9449]

@@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis thank you for letting me know! :)

[@nimaBakhtiary]

Thank you

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

You're very welcome!

[@shs1592]

Awesome

[@vickynguyen7596]

What is your machine? Can you please share it here?

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Yes of course! It’s the Merrithew V2 max and I got the combo which included the box, small platform and larger mat the turns the machine into a partial Cadillac

[@savannah-brentnall]

While I loved the form and the queuing, I found that doing 20 reps of everything rather than the usual 10 meant I began to feel the strain more in my joints than my muscles.

[@수혀기-d4x]

❤

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you! 😊

[@michellepennington4245]

Wow. I don’t think I will be able to walk tomorrow!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Hopefully in a good way 😊 yes the booty section is tough in this workout

[@shs1592]

More awesome

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thanks so much Karen! Jump Board will probably be the next class I'll post!

[@stephaniehowlett2786]

Thanks!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

You’re very welcome! 💪

[@nimaBakhtiary]

Thanks!

[@PilatesBodywithMichelleAlexis]

Thank you so much, greatly appreciated 💕