The New Trend - Mixed Equipment Pilates Class

If you're new to teaching mixed equipment pilates class it can be challenging. Following every client on different apparatus, explaining them what to do and checking individually is definitely harder than teaching a reformer group class.

At first I found it impossible and frankly it didn't feel right as i'm a detail obsessed and perfectionest teacher. I couldn't follow the one on the chair, while I was correcting the one on the Cadillac and trying to give the next exercise for the one on Reformer. It was becoming a nightmare until I found my way!

So what I did basically, I plan a regular Reformer class by the book. Regular repertoire, you know; footwork, armwork, pulling straps... And then I started to adapt each one in the best way possible to the Chair and Cadillac. In that way I gained the control of the class, following and correcting each client easily without being worried about the next exercise separately. 

Here is an example of a perfect mixed equipment. It's a 70 minute ADVANCED class. Hope you remember your instructions book by heart, I used only the original names from the repertoire. On chair you will see abbreviations such as 2B2 or 1W4 , it means 2 black spring on level 2 or 1 white spring level 4.

ENJOY!

FOOTWORK

Reformer - 4 springs / toe, arche, heel

Chair - 2B3 / toe, arche, heel

Cadillac - Push through bar with safety strap, bottom spring RB / toe, arche, heel

*Transition to all;

Reformer - Teasar off the carriage, changing the springs RB

Chair - Change spring 1W4, Lay down on mat in front of the chair

Cadillac - Roll up and lay under the roll down bar, spring board is levelled by the arm length.

HUNDRED

Reformer - Just as mat work without straps

Chair - Just as mat work without pedal

Cadillac - Just as mat work without bar

SHORT SPINE

Reformer - RB, feet on straps

Chair - 1W4 / Hands on pedal, sending the legs over the chair

Cadillac - Loop roll down bar under the knees, start with pelvic curl lift the feet off, roll the spine down

JACKKNIFE

Reformer - RB / Hands in straps, headrest down

Chair - 1W4 / Hands on pedal

Cadillac - Reverse the previous exercise

COORDINATION

Reformer - RB / Hands in straps

Chair - 1W4 / Hands on pedal and press as you lift the chest

Cadillac - Yellow short springs handles

*Transition to all;

Reformer - Teasar off the carriage, changing the springs 1B, ready for Rowing

Chair - Change spring 1W4, sitting with long legs facing away 

Cadillac - Roll up and find a seated position with long legs with same springs

ROWING 1&2

Reformer - 1B, facing straps / round back, flat back

Chair - 1W4 / as you dive forward send the arms back to pedal and press

Cadillac - Yellow short springs / Facing roll down bar

ROWING 3&4

Reformer - 1B, facing footbar / round back, flat back

Chair - 1W4 / Facing chair sit with open legs hands on pedal / as you dive forward press the pedal

Cadillac - Yellow short springs / Facing push through bar

TEASER

Reformer - 1R / Long box BACK STROKE and TEASER

Chair - 1W4 / Teaser on floor, grab the pedal and press with pelvic tilt

Cadillac - Under push through bar, Teaser 1,2,3

BACK EXTENSION

Reformer - RY / Long box, overhead press&swan , BREAST STROKE

Chair - 1W4 / Reverse swan press lift torso & Reverse swan side arm twist

Cadillac - Swan to advanced swan under the push through bar

STRETCH SERIES

Reformer - RB / Up stretch, Down stretch, Elephant, One leg elephant

Chair - 2B2 / Pull up front and sides & Pull up single leg

Cadillac - Roll down bar / Rolling in and out 

DEPRESSION SERIES

Reformer - 1R / Long back stretch & Tendon stretch

Chair - 2B2 / Frogs sitting & Tendon stretch

Cadillac - Hanging Pull ups & Twists

STOMACH MASSAGE

Reformer - RB / round back, flat back, hands off, twists

Chair - 1B4 Supine leg pumps & Frogs

Cadillac - Tower & Monkey 

CHEST EXPANSION + THIGH STRETCH

Reformer - RB / Facing straps kneeling

Chair - On mat / option to use hand weights

Cadillac - With roll down bar on kneeling

ARMWORK

Reformer - 1B / Side kneeling , Sword, overhead, side bending triceps

Chair - 2B3 / Press up with handles / facing forth and back

Cadillac - Roll down bar / Kneeling rolling in and out, biceps curls, overhead

BACKWORK

Reformer - All springs / Long box rocking & Grasshopper

Chair - 1W3 Swan on floor

Cadillac - Push through bar with safety strap / Advanced high bridge

ABDOMINALWORK

Reformer -  All springs / Short box abdominal series / round back, flat back, around the world

Chair - 2B2 Hand stand / plank as hands on mat, feet on pedal, lifting the pedal with abs power

Cadillac - Long purple leg springs / Magician, Dolphin, Airplane

LEGWORK

Reformer - 1B, Front and side splits

Chair - 2B2, Front and side lunges

Cadillac - Long purple leg springs /Scissors, bicycle, circle

MERMAID

Reformer - 1R, mermaid&twist

Chair - 1B3 Mermaid on chair

Cadillac - Circle saw with push through bar