In a health-spa world filled with machines as sleek as Mercedes and BMW SUVs the Pilates apparatus is comparable to a Land Rover Defender. The Pilates equipment remains pretty much unchanged. And with metallic posts extending vertically from each corner, trapeze-like bars with springs and chains affixed to either end, stirrups to hold your feet and some of the body positions typical of an exercise session such a conclusion is not so far fetched. Main difference though is after a Pilates session you'll not be curled into the fetal position, you'll stand up feeling taller, more physically able and limber. Sarah led me through leg, back and shoulder stretches on this apparatus that felt much more effective than any of the typical static postures I've used previously.
Springs add tension.
Pulleys, different foot rests and boxes provide exercise variation. Elite athletes are using a specialized device these days for lower body joint rehab and explosive power training, essentially a plyometric sled on which they lie, supine and jump, horizontally. Pilates saw the benefit of removing gravity from the rehab equation long ago as well as using spring assisted acceleration to improve leg strength and power. That's all part of the program, just like ordinary weight training except the point here is generating limb strength from the core, outward. Big, sequential movements are allowed only through joint stabilization by small muscles.