Barrels
Ah, Pilates barrels! Everyone loves working on the barrels!
Barrels are used to increase the strength and flexibility of the spine while it moves in all its natural movements: rounding (flexion), arching (extension), side bending (lateral flexion), and rotating.
Here at the studio we have two types of barrels:
the ladder barrel in the private studio
the step barrels (aka spine corrector) in the main studio
Please click the photo below to watch the barrels in action:
Step Barrel
The step barrel consists of a rounded surface called the hump with an angled well on one side called the step. At the studio, we have padded classical barrels with metal handles on each side. The step barrel challenges every area of the powerhouse (trunk): abdominals, spinal erectors, glutes, inner and outer thighs by supporting the body and providing effective feedback from the barrel to feel when you are working with correct form. In the main studio each client in small group classes has access to their own barrel at their workstation.
Step Barrel/ Spine Corrector
Ladder Barrel
The ladder barrel lives in the private studio. This barrel helps you achieve the correct muscle engagement when performing many of our traditional spinal shapes we do in the Pilates method. Examples are: Swan, Round Back/Tall Back/Twist & Reach from the Short Box Abdominals series, Climb a Tree, Horseback, and Side Sit Ups. The curved barrel provides valuable feedback which helps your body make important muscular connections to perform similar exercises on the Reformer with the Sitting Box.
Ladder Barrel
The whole Pilates Method is connected. The exercises we do on the Reformer are enhanced on the Wunda Chair, which we can feel from another angle on the Trapeze Table/Tower, while receiving helpful feedback when using the Barrels. All pieces of Pilates apparatus help us dig deeper into the Work of Pilates in a uniquely beneficial way. When we practice Pilates on all pieces of apparatus we have the opportunity to build more muscular balance to do all the things we want to do in our daily lives with ease, strength, and vitality.
Curious about other Pilates apparatus? We have also explored:
