How to Pilates Exercises · From Our Archive
Reformer Foundations and Elephant
A small carriage movement can give you plenty to notice about control and support.
1 minute read
Elephant can make a small movement feel like a substantial conversation. You are in a standing position on the carriage, with the apparatus asking you to coordinate support and movement in an unfamiliar way.
Learn the entry, hand placement, foot placement, and exit with your teacher. Confirm that the footbar and other components are secure for the assigned variation. Standing on moving equipment is not the moment to improvise from a picture.
The magazine emphasizes control and the relationship between the hips, legs, and trunk. Ask your teacher what you should notice as the carriage moves and returns. A smaller range may make the task more understandable.
Observe whether you can maintain the position you were assigned throughout the movement. If you lose track of it, pause and ask for a cue or an adjustment. The exercise gives you useful information when you can recognize what changes.
Your practice question is simple: what helps me control the return today? Bring the answer back to the next repetition, with the setup and guidance appropriate for you.