The Reformer Pilates Glossary: Every Term You Will Hear in Class

Reformer Pilates has its own vocabulary. Instructors call out "feet in straps", "short box" and "imprint" at speed, and first-timers are expected to keep up. This glossary defines the terms you will hear most often — the machine, the positions, the exercises and the cues — in plain language.

Bookmark it before your first class, or share it with clients who are new to the machine.

The Machine

Reformer. The spring-loaded machine at the centre of the method: a sliding carriage on a frame, with springs for resistance and straps, a footbar and a platform as contact points. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the early twentieth century.

Carriage. The padded platform you lie, kneel, sit or stand on. It slides along rails, pulled back towards the springs.

Springs. The source of resistance. Attached beneath the carriage and colour-coded by tension — though each brand uses its own colours. See our reformer spring colours guide for a brand-by-brand breakdown.

Gear bar or spring bar. The bar the springs hook onto. Moving it changes the starting tension of every spring.

Footbar. The adjustable bar at the spring end of the machine. Used for footwork, planks and many standing exercises. Can be raised, lowered or folded away.

Straps. Two loops on ropes running through pulleys at the far end of the machine. Held in the hands or placed around the feet.

Headrest. The adjustable pad at the top of the carriage. Usually raised for supine work, lowered for exercises that need the spine flat.

Shoulder blocks or shoulder rests. The two upright pads at the head of the carriage. They stop the body sliding off the carriage and act as a push point for hands and feet.

Platform or standing platform. The fixed surface at the spring end of the frame. Used for standing work, lunges and side splits.

Rails or frame. The fixed structure the carriage slides along. Some exercises use the frame edge for hand or foot placement.

Ropes and pulleys. The system that connects the straps to the carriage. Rope length can be adjusted on most machines.

Stopper or gear. Pegs or a lever that set how far the carriage sits from the footbar at rest. Changing it changes the range of movement.

Jumpboard. A padded board that replaces the footbar end and lets you perform low-impact jumping movements lying down. Common in cardio-focused classes.

Accessories

Box (sitting box). A padded box placed on the carriage for seated, prone and supine exercises.

Long box. The box placed lengthways along the carriage, used for exercises like pulling straps and backstroke.

Short box. The box placed across the carriage, used for a family of seated spinal and abdominal exercises called the short box series.

Magic circle. A flexible ring used for resistance between the hands, knees or ankles.

Grip socks. Socks with a non-slip sole, required by most studios for hygiene and stability on the carriage, footbar and platform. More on why in our complete guide to pilates grip socks.

Positions and Alignment

Neutral spine. The spine in its natural curves, with the pelvis neither tucked under nor tipped forward.

Imprint. A gentle tilt of the pelvis that brings the lower back closer to the carriage. Used to support the spine when the legs are lifted.

C-curve. A rounded spine, flexing forward from head to tailbone. The foundation of the short box and stomach massage series.

Tabletop. Lying on your back with hips and knees bent to ninety degrees, shins parallel to the ceiling.

Pilates V or Pilates stance. Heels together, toes slightly apart, legs gently turned out from the hips.

Parallel. Legs and feet hip-width apart, knees and toes pointing straight ahead.

Supine. Lying face up.

Prone. Lying face down.

Side-lying. Lying on one side, usually with the head supported.

Quadruped. On hands and knees.

Arches, heels and toes. The three standard foot positions on the footbar in footwork.

Core Exercises You Will Hear Called

Footwork. Lying supine, pressing the carriage out and in with the feet on the footbar. The standard opening sequence of most reformer classes.

The Hundred. A breathing and abdominal exercise: head and shoulders lifted, arms pumping by the sides for ten breath cycles of ten counts.

Feet in straps. A series performed lying supine with the straps around the feet — frogs, circles, openings and similar.

Long stretch. A plank position with hands on the footbar and feet against the shoulder blocks, pushing the carriage out and in.

Elephant. Standing on the carriage with hands on the footbar, hips high, pushing the carriage with the legs while the upper body stays still.

Knee stretches. Kneeling on the carriage with hands on the footbar, driving the carriage back with the legs.

Stomach massage. A seated series with the feet on the footbar, moving the carriage while holding a C-curve.

Rowing. Seated arm series using the straps, facing either towards or away from the footbar.

Short spine. An advanced supine exercise rolling the legs over the head with the feet in straps.

Mermaid. A seated side stretch with one hand on the footbar, sliding the carriage away to lengthen the side body.

Side splits. Standing with one foot on the platform and one on the carriage, opening and closing the legs sideways.

Front splits. A standing lunge with one foot on the platform and one against the shoulder block, pushing the carriage back.

Tendon stretch. An advanced exercise balancing with the hands on the frame and the feet on the footbar.

Teaser. A balance in a V-sit, often performed with the straps in the hands.

Snake and twist. Advanced exercises moving between a plank and an arch with rotation.

Cues and Instructor Language

Powerhouse. The central band of the body — abdominals, lower back, hips and glutes — that Pilates treats as the source of movement.

Engage your centre. Activate the deep abdominal muscles without holding the breath.

Lateral breathing. Breathing into the sides and back of the ribcage, keeping the abdominals engaged.

Scapular stability. Keeping the shoulder blades steady and connected to the ribs while the arms move.

Articulate the spine. Move one vertebra at a time, rolling up or down rather than moving as a single block.

Control the return. Resist the springs as the carriage comes home. The return is where much of the work happens.

Don't let the carriage slam. The carriage should come back to the stopper quietly. A loud return means the springs, not you, are in charge.

Lengthen. Reach away through the crown of the head, the arms or the legs to create space in the joints.

Change your springs. Adjust the resistance for the next exercise. Instructors will usually call colours and number — for example "one red, one blue".

Class Formats

Classical. Teaching that follows Joseph Pilates' original order of exercises closely.

Contemporary. Teaching that adapts the original method with modern biomechanics and variations.

Reformer flow or dynamic reformer. Faster-paced classes that link exercises with fewer pauses.

Jumpboard class. A cardio-focused class built around the jumpboard.

Mat Pilates. Pilates on a mat, without the machine. Many of the same principles and exercise names apply.

Before Your First Class

You do not need to know every term on this page. Most instructors will demonstrate and correct as you go. What helps is turning up with the basics sorted: fitted clothing that does not catch in the springs, water, and grip socks. If you have not bought a pair yet, Reforman grip socks are gender-neutral, built for the reformer, and designed well enough to wear outside the studio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between reformer and mat Pilates?

Reformer Pilates uses a spring-loaded machine for resistance and support. Mat Pilates uses body weight on a mat, sometimes with small props. The principles and many exercise names are shared.

What does "carriage" mean in Pilates?

The carriage is the sliding padded platform of the reformer that you lie, kneel, sit or stand on.

What is the powerhouse in Pilates?

The powerhouse is the central band of the body — abdominals, lower back, hips and glutes — that Pilates treats as the starting point of every movement.

Why do reformer classes require grip socks?

Grip socks keep your feet stable on the carriage, footbar and platform, and keep the equipment more hygienic between clients.