Issue #480
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Backbend on the Reformer
Part 2
A More Advanced Preparation
by Brett Miller
As I let you know in Part 1, I think that bending backward is a great contributor to keeping the spine young, which in turn keeps YOU young and healthy.
This is the second in a series of articles where I’ll break down the Backbend on the Reformer as I teach it. Today we continue with a more advanced preparation.
Prepare the Reformer by putting the foot bar in a low/middle position. I put on quite a heavy amount of springs (on my Stott Reformer, I use 2 red (full strength) springs).
Ok, now we are ready.
Mount the reformer by standing on your knees facing the back of the reformer, your knees should be pressing against the shoulder rests.
Extend your right arm forward, palm facing up. While maintaining that upright length, twist slowly to that side. Notice how wide your back feels here.
Push your hips slightly forward to enter a small backbend. Reach back and grip the footbar from underneath (this is why we started with the palm up). Your hand should now be positioned underneath the footbar.
Brett Miller is the founder of Pilates Intel, he started his professional life in the world of ballet, working with various companies in the US. Later on he moved to New York and branched out into modern along with the ballet. Since then, he has lived in Finland and now in Stockholm Sweden.
Brett became a Pilates instructor in 2005 and has been teaching ever since. The intelligent technique that Pilates is, and the chance to continue to be physical, attracted him to this field after being so long in the dance world.