Independently published The Pilates Reformer: Part II: Modern Reformer Exercises & Pilates Jumpboard

I am, by and large, a more traditional Pilates instructor but I also teach at several other studios where I participants are expecting more variety and “fitness” Pilates. This thick manual (334 pages!) gives so many great options and ideas to add into the traditional work or to just put together a more contemporary class.I have a few of Reiner’s manuals. He does an excellent job. Plus he is very kind and professional!!! A gem in our Pilates world!

Our weekly teacher sessions just got even more interesting!Opening “The Pilates Reformer: Part II: Modern Reformer Exercises & Pilates Jumpboard” by Reiner Grootenhuis is like finding a treasure trove.Whilst the first Reformer manual focused on the traditional exercises, this second volume focuses on lesser-known (and in many cases - at least as far as I concerned - totally unknown) variations.Variations aren’t used for their own sake or because a client is bored, but because they can be effective tools to:1. Make a traditional exercise more accessible (call it a stepping stone, building block or scaffolding), or2. Challenge a particular body (e.g. a boxer, a dancer and a runner will all have different needs and challenges).Joseph Pilates taught each of the Elders (first-generation teachers) slightly differently because they had different needs. It logically follows that there are many ways to skin a cat.Thank you Reiner for adding to the toolboxes of Pilates teachers around the world and in so doing, granting us the freedom to be more creative in our approach to movement.

I absolutely love this book. I don’t use a professional reformer (no room for that nor the budget) but I am so grateful I am able to do Pilates on a reformer at home. Having such a detailed list and explanations of the exercises, classic (volume 1) and modern ones (volume 2), the original names, the useful insights on the technical aspects of reformers (springs, wheels etc) and muscles involved is a helpful resource to better understand the movements and adapt them to my reformer. I always think that Jospeh Pilates was too curious and smart not to modify or evolve the exercises and machines as long as they respect his principles. He did this with Romana, making his method a perfect fit for her ballet dancer needs and proving how profound pilates was. Had he lived in these days with todays technologies and knowledge, I wonder what amazing things he would have done. These two books are a work of love, passion and knowledge that can help anyone understand the original method and better understand its many evolutions around (positive, negative, near, far).

Simply put, this is an excellent addition to any Pilates Teacher's library. Modern/Contemporary variations to the classical repertoire as taught and/or experienced by the masters and elders of our practice.Thank you, Reiner, for sharing this work with us.