Fit: Contraption Reactions

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WHEN BOXER/CIRCUS STRONGMAN Joseph Pilates designed his exercise program in the early 20th century, mat routines were only part of a system that also included exercise equipment of his own design. Folks who learn the methodology in the gym or from videos, rather than in a dedicated studio, may have never seen the devices. Or if they have, they may have been scared away by the intimidating abundance of springs, levers and straps.

The apparatuses teach students how to target certain muscles and work them efficiently, explained Mark Trudeau, owner of the Quantum Fitness Pilates studio (2130 P St. NW; 202-331-1790; quantumpilates.com). On the mat, exercisers must fight gravity to do the work correctly. Springs in the machines stabilize flailing body parts so that each move directly targets the muscle or muscles it's supposed to work.

This is not to say you're in for an easy workout. "It's called an apparatus because you work an apparatus — an apparatus doesn't work you," said Michael Rooks, co-owner of Pure Joe Pilates Studio (in D.C. and Reston, see purejoe.com). "The springs give your body clues on how to pull and when to push," but they don't do it for you.

We took three of the better-known contraptions on test-drives.

» REFORMER:
Looks Like: A cross between a rowing machine and a torture device from the Middle Ages.
How It Works: Exercisers take their place on the "carriage," a cushioned board with a headrest and shoulder pad that glides from one side of the 8-foot-long machine to the other. Color-coded springs at the base of the machine provide resistance as exercisers push the carriage away from the base or pull it toward the top of the machine using arm and leg straps.
Moves: The Reformer corrects positioning on classic Pilates exercises like the hundred, which involves pumping the arms up and down while lying on the back with legs in a tabletop position. On the mat, an exerciser might scrunch up her neck and shoulder muscles to power through the exercise. On the Reformer, however, strain on those muscles is eliminated because the arms are secured in straps, so the exercise goes directly to the muscles in the core.

» CADILLAC:
Looks Like: A creepy canopy bed, complete with trapeze bars, fuzzy feet holders and springs. During World War I, Pilates, a German national, was interned at an English camp for enemy aliens. There, he developed the Cadillac from a hospital bed, so sick patients could work out without having to stand.
How It Works: Exercisers lie on the platform and push trapeze bars attached to the canopy posts with their arms and legs. Springs on the posts can be used for arm workouts.
Moves: Simply pushing and pulling the trapezes is a tough workout, but the device's soft surface and forgiving springs are gentle enough for people recovering from serious injuries. Advanced students eventually attempt moves that involve hanging from the top, with feet secured in the fuzzy stirrups. In one such move, students hang from their feet and twist the torso to the side, working the obliques. It's daunting, sure, but instructors guide and spot students through the exercise once they're ready to try it.

» WUNDA CHAIR:
Looks Like: An armchair, turned on its side. The original Wunda (that means "wonder" in German) chair could be used as seating, then converted into a workout machine. Rooks jokingly called it "the first home gym."
How It Works: The device has two perches — a stable one on top and a parallel bar below, which moves up and down like the footrest on a recliner, except that the motion is controlled carefully by springs. Exercisers position themselves on the stable perch and move the parallel bar with their legs and arms. The chair requires more stability from students than the Reformer or Cadillac, but teachers like the ability to see their students' spinal alignment from all angles.
Moves: Sitting on top of the stable perch, exercisers push the reclining bar down with the legs. This exercise looks like a classic leg press, but with perfect alignment and appropriate breathing, the move works the core more than the thighs. Students can also stand on the stable perch, facing away from the reclining bar, and do a lunge, using one foot to press the reclining bar away.

» THEY ONLY LOOK SCARY
It's clear that Joseph Pilates didn't have a PR department. Some of his other devices have even more horror movie-ish names than "The Reformer."

» The Guillotine: This device is basically two posts from the Cadillac's canopy bed. In an exercise called the tower, exercisers lie down on a mat underneath the apparatus and push the foot bar up, rolling up vertebrae by vertebrae until they're standing on their shoulder blades.

» Foot Corrector: This doohickey looks like the gizmo that shoe salespeople use to figure shoe size, except that a metal pad with a spring underneath it sits in the middle. Pushing down on this spring using the heel and the ball of the foot helps stretch out muscles made sore by stilettos.

» Neck Stretcher: "It feels a lot better than it looks," said Quantum Fitness' Trudeau. The weirdest-looking of all Pilates equipment, this device features a round band that goes around your head and a spring. Attach the spring to the Cadillac, lean forward and hang. Trudeau insisted this helps relieve headaches.

This post was written by Express contributor Julia Beizer.