Pilates- Why we do Footwork: not to be underestimated.
Footwork is where every Reformer class at The Pilates Club begins, not because it looks pretty or feels familiar, but because it has a direct impact on how you move every day.
Standing. Walking. Climbing stairs. Running for a train. Balancing on one leg to put your shoes on.
All of it starts at your feet.
Here’s what the footwork series is really doing for you, in simple, practical terms.
1. It Teaches You How to Use Your Legs Properly
Most of us overuse certain muscles (usually quads or calves) and underuse others (glutes, inner thighs, deep stabilisers).
Footwork:
Re-trains your body to push evenly through the whole foot
Helps your legs work as a team, not as isolated muscles
Reduces “dumping” into one hip or one leg
Real life impact:
You stand more evenly. Walk with less effort. Feel less fatigue in your lower back and knees.
2. It Improves How You Walk (Without You Thinking About It)
Exercises like walking on the bar mirrors your natural gait pattern, but in slow motion and under control.
This helps:
Improve ankle mobility
Strengthen calves without tightness
Real life impact:
Walking feels lighter and more fluid. Less calf tightness. Less clunking through the joints.
3. It Builds Stronger, More Supportive Feet
Your feet contain 26 bones and over 100 muscles and ligaments, but most shoes do very little to train them.
Footwork:
Strengthens the arches
Improves balance
Teaches your feet to support your weight properly
Real life impact:
Better balance. Fewer aches in the feet. More confidence on uneven ground or stairs.
4. It Protects Your Knees and Hips
When the feet don’t work well, the knees and hips take the load.
The different positions (parallel, V, single-leg):
Teach your knees to track safely
Improve hip stability
Reduce twisting and strain through joints
Real life impact:
Less knee discomfort. More stable hips. Greater confidence in movement, especially if you’re returning to exercise or managing joint issues.
5. It Improves Balance and Confidence
Single-leg work reveals a lot - wobbling, gripping, favouring one side.
Footwork helps:
Balance left and right sides
Improve coordination
Build trust in your body
Real life impact:
You feel steadier on one leg. Less fear of losing balance. More confidence in everyday movement.
6. It Supports Better Posture (Without “Standing Up Straight”)
When your feet and legs are organised, your pelvis sits better.
When your pelvis sits better, your spine doesn’t have to fight gravity.
Footwork:
Encourages natural upright posture
Reduces unnecessary tension in the back and shoulders
Creates a feeling of lift rather than effort
Real life impact:
You stand taller without trying. Sit more comfortably. Feel less tension after long days.
Why We Always Start Here
Footwork isn’t about perfect positions.
It’s about teaching your body how to support itself.
That’s why we never rush it.
Those first 10 minutes of class subtly improve how you move for the rest of the day and if you come enough, the rest of your life.
At The Pilates Club, we believe strong movement starts from the ground up.
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