A Pilates tower is an accessory that adds challenge to a Pilates reformer workout, with straps, rings, and pulleys. It can be attached to a reformer or mounted on a wall and is popular with advanced practitioners.
A Pilates tower is an exercise device designed to provide an additional challenge to a Pilates reformer workout. Most of the time, the tower is sold as an optional accessory. It is usually a flat rectangular structure, often made of narrow boards or metal tubes, standing anywhere from 3 to 5 feet (about 1 to 1.5 m) off the ground. The tower can include a variety of straps, rings, and pulleys that create tension and increase the intensity of different stretches and muscle movements.
Joseph Pilates developed the training system that now bears his name in the mid-1900s as a way to unite mind and body in pursuit of better health. The system targets the core of the body, particularly the abdominal muscles. The original Pilates work was done exclusively on a mat, but over time, it evolved to include some apparatus as well. The Pilates Tower is a means of combining work with mats and apparatus, and can be used within a studio or at home.
In almost all cases, a Pilates tower is attached to a reformer, another type of apparatus. Pilates reformers are simple machines that professionals can use to guide their Pilates movements, especially advanced techniques learned on the mat. Reformers often resemble small springs, on which practitioners must lie or sit. The lower support panel typically moves in a back and forth track, and different straps and bars allow for a specific range of motion that isn’t always possible when on a mat. Rooks are generally designed to be attached to the head or foot of a reformer, adding even more exercise options.
A Pilates tower can also be mounted to a wall, although this approach is generally much more permanent. Mounted towers are rarely seen outside of professional studios. The more portable towers are very popular in home gyms or more multi-use spaces, where they can be folded up and stored out of sight when not needed.
The details vary depending on my manufacturer. Some towers are universal and will join almost any brand or style of reformer. The more specialized models generally need to be purchased with specific reformers in mind. There is also usually some difference when it comes to what a Pilates tower actually includes. The most basic models only have belts, while the most intense versions have heavy bars, pulleys and rings.
Towers tend to be the most popular with more advanced Pilates aficionados. While the mat work and some reform exercises are designed for beginners, most sequences performed on a tower are considered advanced. The height of the straps, rings and other features add a resistance that is difficult to modify. More intermediate practitioners will generally start with lower reps, but often have a hard time smoothing out the exercises.
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