Footwork Basics

Footwork is the foundation of reformer pilates classes, as it is typically the first exercise performed on the reformer. Footwork was designed to bring focus to your body, muscles, and mind through breath and movement.

Footwork is a series of foot positions that are performed on the foot bar while laying face up. This approach is meticulously designed to bring focus to your body, muscles, and mind through breath and movement.

There are a variety of positions you can take on the foot bar including: Pilates V, parallel, perch, heels, and wide. Not only will these various positions work different muscles, but they will hit different acupuncture points on your foot for added benefits. Pilates instructors will program their incorporated footwork based on what muscles need to be warmed up and ready to work during your session or class.

When it comes down to it, footwork is a really important part of our core and ab work. Your core is one of the most — if not the most — important body part to strengthen. Everything we do in our day to day life incorporates ab and core strength, yet it is often neglected.

Of course, not all instructors or studios teach this, but here at Peninsula Pilates we believe in strengthening our core any chance we can get. Thats why our classes will always have our footwork translating to ab work. We believe in the power of multifaceted, compound movements that greatly benefit our bodies in the long run.

One of our core beliefs is that it is imperative to guide our clients through movements and offer any suggestions/modifications when necessary. As a general rule of thumb, most people will go through the motions during the footwork portion of a pilates class, which results in using the power in their legs. It’s great to make our legs work, but that’s not what footwork is designed for. We want to avoid our legs overworking and the rest of our body not getting a proper workout. Clients are encouraged to shift their attention from the quads to their hips, lower abdominals, and rib cage.

Suddenly the workout that seemed too easy is now much harder because we’re firing up muscles that we’re not consistently using. That’s the beauty of pilates!