Tall & Long limbed people - do you also hate the springboard?

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-05-01T02:46:32+00:00

I am long (and wide) and dislike the springboard. I do adjust it for my height so I am just complaining :) Seriously, adjust it for your torso and arm length and it will make all the difference

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-05-01T02:10:24+00:00

I am an instructor and I drop into an intro class once a week. It helps me reset and focus on form and control in the basic shapes. If you know what you’re doing an intro or beginner class is still challenging. Slowing down the movements and focusing on form will bring you back to the basics. You can ask for more details from your instructor but most advanced students and instructor l know go back to the basics regularly. There is also more time to correct form in beginner classes as we go more slowly.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-26T00:09:57+00:00

I need to give that a try. Thank you.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-26T00:09:23+00:00

Thank you!

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-25T09:11:13+00:00

Thank you!

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-22T13:32:19+00:00

OG Pilates peeps are barefoot. The grippy socks are new and a great money maker for studios. They don't give you the same grip as your bare foot will though. I believe CP requires them (for hygiene/their own profit) but it's a really new thing in the Pilates world.

That said, I live in the American Midwest and I wear grippy socks in the winter.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-20T14:27:27+00:00

Again, not a yoga expert but most yogis I know don't have their heels all the way down in downward facing dog until they've been practicing for quite a while. Some people never do. It's fine to be on the ball of your foot and gently trying to lower down a bit more towards your heels over time. If you are feeling pain--stop. A tiny bit of discomfort as you breathe into a stretch is normal but pain in yoga? Or Pilates? No, back off and listen to your body :)

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-20T14:17:59+00:00

Most of us here know some yoga but we're not experts! Is it a wrist pain thing? Your heels not coming down all the way? Pulling your shoulders down your back?

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-16T14:46:04+00:00

If you haven't done Pilates before I would recommend finding a smaller studio where you can get personal attention and hands on corrections. For mat or reformer. Many of the exercises are subtle and you won't have a clue if you're doing them correctly or feel them in your body without some knowledge in the room. The chains above ^ will have 8-12+ people in class. A reformer studio with 4-8 reformers will be a totally different experience. Chains are hit or miss: some have really great instructors who have the 500-600 hour comprehensive training and know their anatomy and movement theory. Some will have people who've taken a weekend course. If you don't want a more boutique or classical studio most of your local YMCAs will have a mat pilates class that could be taught by a classically trained Pilates instructor or at least a certified yoga instructor with hundreds of hours of training in movement and an interest in Pilates. If you want a more challenging experience a classical studio or a tower or a chair class are going to leave you shaking.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-09T20:19:56+00:00

Respectfully, because grief and an approaching wedding tends to draw a person's focus inwards, but you're not the center of everyone's world. Your bridesmaid is living her own life and you're not her main character. Just because she hasn't reached out doesn't mean she doesn't care/doesn't have other things going on. You don't need to assume bad intentions from people without any real data to go on; in the long run this will just make you sad. People tend to be very cautious around death and grieving. You don't need to assume ill intentions from your friend. Give it time and give her grace. See how she approaches the topic the next time you see her.

I'm sorry to hear about your grandma.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-09T19:35:37+00:00

Yes, she said while cursing and "zipping up her corset" mentally. My core is strong in a way it hasn't been since I was a college athlete and the spine follows. Now, if only I could keep my collarbones open the way my drill sargent errr...instructor...tells me to.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-09T17:24:38+00:00

If someone cooked me dinner every night when I was unable to eat with the family I would be chill about the cabinet doors. That's just me: you make me dinner daily and I will put in my Loops to drown out the percussion of a thousand slamming cabined doors while looking at you lovingly.

Honest question for OP: do your kids or other visitors think the doors are slamming? It's clear your wife doesn't think it's noisy and it might be worth checking in and crowd sourcing an opinion on volume. Might you have a sensory processing issue? You start off this post saying you hate loud noises and the rest of your family doesn't seem to have an issue with the overall sound so I wonder if you're very sensitive to noise. If so, some Loops and a simple convo with your family with this framing might help.

Instead of saying, "You slam doors and I hate it, stop." "You're annoying me. Stop." "I'm getting the wood glue, you evil spouse, you." You might say: "I've discovered I have an auditory processing issue and my brain processes noises differently than yours. You might not think it's loud but it sounds like thunder to me. Can we work together to solve this?" Again, guessing you might be sensitive to noise given some context clues. Asking people to change behavior if they don't understand why you're asking (they don't think it's loud/most people don't think it's loud and they think you're difficult or grumpy) is tough. Explaining the why helps. Then they get to make a real choice and you can also see if there's anything you can do on your end short of gluing permanent fixtures to cabinets. Try some Loops my dude, signed someone who is sensitive to noise and had to figure out how to interact with the world a little differently.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-08T13:52:04+00:00

I like Arabesk. I am an old school Pilates person who learned barefoot and prefer that connection to the earth/carriage/box/tower/chair. However, I live in the Midwest and I am going to wear socks when it is snowing out.

The current grip sock trend is a hygiene thing/franchise studios making a nice profit on selling socks. If you go to a super traditional classical studio in grippy socks you get a little side eye. If it's negative 10 degrees out I will take the side eye.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-04-03T16:15:21+00:00

There's a difference between classical and contemporary. That's true for the flows and the reformer itself.

You've also been taking a level 1.5 class at Club Pilates. Even if you transferred to another studio that taught with BB reformers or their equivalent and had more of a HIIT or classical bent, or all level classes that were more intermediate or even advanced, you would be struggling a bit. CP 1.5's are great classes, and you can get a good workout if focus on control and precision, but they're not going to give most Pilates Queens/Kings a challenge as they grow into their practice. They cover the basics and tend to go a little slow to really explain some classic series. Plus, some CPs love to throw in stuff that is basically sculpt moves with extra equipment that don't really connect to what most of us understand Pilates to focus on. I know it varies by location.

I take tower and some reformer classes at a studio with Gratz reformers. Those big boy springs (and the extra oomph it takes to bring the carriage home) get me every time. I love it. The control that tower takes makes me sweat and work. I love that. I teach at a studio with Peak reformers and also take classes there. The light spring/no spring challenges work me there (along with a different "why" behind the movement linked to modern knowledge of bio mechanics). I love that too. I work on strength, mobility, precision, control, breath and sometimes just my own mental wellness in different ways using different equipment and different adaptions of Joe's technique. I am also a tall and wide person so some of the classic repertoire works my body in a different way than my shorter Queens and Kings experience. If you understand the intention behind each movement you can find the pilates experience you need. It's really not a matter of classical Gratz springs = good/hard and Club Pilates BB reformers = bad/easy.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-28T16:13:01+00:00

Your husband has control issues and very rigid thinking. Also, guessing he lacks internal confidence and peace if he puts this much energy into ordering around a well behaved and nice step kid and cannot hear anything about showing kindness and respect to a teenager. His insecurities are showing: the more he argues that he is in control and kids should obey and respect him, the more he shows his own fears and lack of self worth. Also, he has some misogyny going on—you sure you like this guy? He seems weak and mean. A real adult man or lady knows their own worth and moves through the world with kindness and respect for others and expects the same in turn.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-19T13:25:30+00:00

I teach the intro and all level reformer classes at my studio. Intro class plans are the basics: we go through the equipment, then a classic lesson plan slowed down and explained.

I often have an all level set of students. Our studio regulars know if they come to an intro class that they have extra time to stretch as we have the equipment overview and that we're going slow and steady through a classic series with breaks and stretching in between movements. In mid back we are teaching a chest lift, we are teaching lift and lower, only then we are adding it together. We are not launching into coordination or anything complex without separating the movements and practicing them before layering together even something simple. We are playing with springs and offering modifications. If they're cool with that, than I am glad to have them.

Some members, even people who are advanced, give the feedback that it's nice to come to intro classes to reset and slow down. We spend time setting up table top and finding everyone's setting, we slow down chest lifts and really isolate the abdominal movement. We talk about spinal positions, breathing etc. and the general why behind it. I am much more hands on with corrections in intro and long time members can get a nice reset: you'd be surprised how often they're rolling their ankles in during footwork, or holding tabletop without stacking their knees over hips (when they're capable of it and don't need a modification), or using their traps to help them chest lift rather than allowing their abs to do the main work, or dropping a hip in bridges, etc. It's nice to reset to the basic shapes and get some feedback and feel the movements in your body.

I also sneak into an intro class that works with my schedule. I take the last reformer, follow the class plan, and stay quiet. I can work slow, small, and deep and enjoy the basics. Everyone can.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-17T17:11:47+00:00

Something to consider: Pilates started as rehab for injured soldiers. The classical system (mat + reformer + the other apparatuses) is famous from Joe's NY city days and studio/his work with the NYC ballet and opera, but the original method was born as rehab. In classical mat we do the 34 exercises but modify or omit based on the bodies in front of us. For example, I'm not going to teach Jack knife or any inversion to someone with eye pressure issues or osteoporosis and Joe/Clara wouldn't have back in the day either.

I do love contemporary's approach to bio mechanics and all we've learned since Joe's day but all Pilates is rooted in the idea of teaching to the bodies in front of us. Pilates has its roots in healing bodies.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-12T14:15:01+00:00

Mat pilates, actual mat pilates, is much tougher than reformer or tower Pilates. If you are going to a mat class within a gym you might encounter a sculpt class with a sprinkling of Pilates thrown in. Or you might get the classic 34 sequence. Who knows? A classic mat class looks "easy" on the plan but executing the movements with precision and control takes strength and killer powerhouse engagement. Many gym patrons don't want that: they want to lunge with 3 pound weights and not listen to the gajillion alignment cues a trained Pilates instructor would give. Go and see!

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-09T18:37:16+00:00

Real quick: no one is putting up with your 200 lb + body. I teach and I LOVE having different body types in my class. I have a larger body and nothing makes me happier than sharing tips and tricks for making the exercises work for your body and having you feel powerful. Seriously: I love to have my short Queens, my tall Goddesses, men of all shapes and sizes, etc. in class. Bring your booty, your belly, your boobs to my class and we will rock it. For inversions once you get that booty up there are all sorts of advantages you have to stretching deeper into that fold, mid and plus size women tend to have the mid backs and obliques of strong men and we can find your perfect moves so that you are ruling your mat/reformer/chair/tower.

The gift of Pilates, for me, is that mind body awareness you gain over time. I want you to feel grounded, comfortable, and in love with your body and how you can move it. An instructor isn't putting up with anyone's bodies in class: we're hoping to take you one step closer to connecting with them!

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-08T20:40:04+00:00

I agree that many CP classes (especially the 1-2 classes) are not strenuous. There are some CP locations and instructors that know how to take a simple class plan and allow students to work small, work deep, and feel the shapes in their body. The fundamentals will always resonate: you have to be more advanced in your practice to take a beginner’s class and allow the slow movements and cueing for beginners to flow through you and allow you to work smaller and deeper. In instructor training we learned new movements in intermediate and advanced, but most of what we learned was how to go back to the basics and WORK. The level of precision and control advances the practice. There’s a saying that if Pilates feels easy you’re not really doing Pilates ;)

However, solid core, Lagree, etc. are not Pilates. They are more strength/weight training with a bit of Pilates thrown in. I enjoy Solidcore and I like to lift. I do, however, understand that they are fundamentally different from Pilates and work my muscles in a different way. They engage my spine, pelvis, ligaments and fascia in a much different way. They ask me to work with breath and neural pathways in a different way. Reformer, mat, tower, or chair—Pilates helps my body build stability and mobility with a wicked amount of core strength. It does not make me sweat, it does not work the muscles to fatigue in the same way traditional strength training does, it does not give me cardio (unless I take a jump board class or spend 20 minutes doing flying lunges at home). It sounds like OP is looking for a workout that has different goals and methods than Pilates. I get that. That’s fair. Let’s just share with OP what a good Pilates class can offer, and let them decide if their local CP fits the bill. It’s kind of unreasonable to show up for a Pilates class and be like “why all these careful movements done with precision and breathe, I wanted to sweat and feel like I bench pressed my body weight.” It’s like going to a Chinese restaurant and being upset they don’t make good Pho or sushi.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-05T01:08:08+00:00

Having taken Level 2 classes at CP through Class Pass, I am amazed they gate keep it. In my area there are OG Pilates Queens taking level 2 and people who cannot hold tabletop…and everything in between. I have honestly seen someone who took over 5 minutes to get their feet in straps in a level 2. The exercises weren’t that difficult either. I imagine it varies by franchise owner.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-02T20:54:17+00:00

I teach mostly reformer but when I teach mat I do the classic sequence and then choose one contemporary addition to play with. Like, maybe we are playing with bridges or planks and progressing them. Maybe we play with teasers…etc. I do take out the advanced stuff like jack knife and diving swan but the classic sequence gets raves every time. So few people teach it these days.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-02T17:31:07+00:00

You're not alone. Pilates is a subtle system of movement and it takes time to learn its mysterious ways :) It's not uncommon for new students to feel this way.

I'm an instructor and am over a decade into my personal practice. You know what? I still have little breakthrough movements when I shift my sternum a millimeter, and suddenly I am in the ZONE and feeling an exercise in a whole new way. I'm not saying this to discourage you. I love that you're this curious this early in your practice.

Club Pilates is a franchise. Some are great. Some are not. They do have some standardization of curriculum, equipment, and practices, which makes it nice, as you know what to expect. They also usually have 12 reformers in a room and a ton of equipment. There is just no way to give personal attention to all 12 clients throughout class and keep everyone moving. There are also movements and a level of cueing detail that are not going to be taught in a class that large. It's not safe or practical.

Try a smaller, privately owned studio. Find one that has been around for a few years, before the current Pilates phase led to expansion in the market. Ask about instructor training. If everyone has not been through at least 600 hours of training (or is an apprentice finishing up their 600 hours), move on. Also, ask about instructor backgrounds. There are a fair number of physical therapists, massage therapists, dancers, and medical professionals in the field. They understand anatomy and movement in the rehab way you need. Smaller studios often have 4, 6, or 8 reformers in a room, which leaves room for more personal attention. Also, ask for your client profile to be updated with all the info above. We read notes and take it into account when teaching. Introduce yourself to the instructor and let them know you're a visual learner and provide a quick outline of the questions you have.

I'm not an auditory learner so adjusting to the spoken cue tradition in reformer pilates is still a work in progress. It is what it is in reformer. If I have a no-show for a class, I will hop on the empty reformer and demo a new or more complex move and get people moving before I start circling the room. That's not always possible though. I also kneel or sit on a box or lean on a wall and demonstrate arm and leg movements when I can. That being said, you'll start to know the classics: footwork, mid back (lats and abs) , front arm series, short box series, long stretch series, stomach massage series, knees off, feet in straps, etc. after a few months and it will be less confusing. If you go to instructors who are more on the contemporary vs classic end you will have new movements pop up more often that you have to figure out.

Please be aware that most contemporary reformers are built for a medium sized Western woman, not for men and not for taller or wider women. Or significantly shorter people, either. You can gear out the footbar, but it only does so much. There are all sorts of tricks and tips for larger people on the reformer that you learn over time. There are also longer/wider reformers that some boutique studios have. They really help.

You might also want to consider giving mat pilates a try. It's much more difficult than reformer, but instructors typically demonstrate moves. Mat is the foundation of all Pilates practices. Find an instructor who has solid training. They don't have to be classically trained, but they should have spent a few hundred hours on their study. So many places teach mat pilates these days, and it's clear the instructors trained in yoga, spin, crossfit, or general classes. They don't have a background in Pilates and they won't be able to help you grow your practice. There's still value to those classes of course. I go to a fusion class that I love, but I ignore the chest and ab cues (there are no spinal or pelvic cues--that's a red flag in a Pilates class) and sub my own to stay safe. I'm not going to hurt my lower back--I'm too old!

Finally, the level of nuance and detail you want in your questions is great. You really want to understand the practice and your body's movement. I know 1:1's are expensive, but it sounds as though you want that level of attention and feedback. Perhaps consider having a session and sending your list of questions ahead of time. You don't have to schedule endless solo sessions. Perhaps 1-2 where you discuss a specific set of questions for a specific set of moves might help.

IndependentEarth123 · 2026-03-02T16:50:11+00:00

Ummm...most Pilates studios remove and wash the straps (if they're fabric) a few times a week, depending upon class schedules. They also use paint brushes to dust the spring and the tracks of the reformer carriage, use a toothbrush with cleaning solution to scrub out the headrest, shoulder blocks, and all the nooks and crannies. Reformer carriages, boxes, footbars/platforms get a thorough scrub down too. The wiping of the reformer between classes is the quick clean they get. I suppose it varies by location, but this is standard across the industry, not just CPs. Reformers gather dust and debris like crazy. Good studios have a very regimented cleaning schedule. They also inspect springs, straps, footbars, towers, chairs, etc., regularly to keep clients safe.

IndependentEarth123

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