Reformer Foundations and Footwork

Footwork is a familiar starting point in Reformer practice. Lying on the carriage gives you a chance to notice how your feet, legs, pelvis, and trunk participate in moving against the springs.

Different foot positions change the experience. In the magazine, the sequence includes the balls of the feet, arches, heels, and Tendon Stretch. Your teacher selects the positions and range appropriate for your body and lesson.

Pay attention to the whole movement. Can you maintain the organization your teacher asked for as the carriage travels and returns? What changes when you adjust the position of your feet? Bring those observations into the next repetition.

Footwork is also a useful place to learn the machine. Ask how the chosen springs affect your task and what your teacher wants you to notice. The correct setting depends on the apparatus and exercise variation; the magazine's numerical range is not a universal prescription.

Take one question to class: what is the most useful detail for me to work on in Footwork today? This companion introduces the lesson and is intended to be used with instruction.