In recent years, Pilates Firmly With the help of celebrity fans like Hailey Bieber, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga, Pilates has entered the mainstream era. Once a niche discipline, Pilates is now booming on TikTok and IRL, with new Pilates studios and classes popping up everywhere (including wall Pilates classes).
If you’re already familiar with mat or reformer Pilates, you might be interested in the four-poster bed equipment being used by celebrities on Instagram. Dubbed the Cadillac, the piece of equipment is popular among Pilates instructors and boasts of offering a variety of variations for an incredible full-body workout.
Indeed, it is new Designed by Joseph Pilates himself (who invented the Mat Method in the 1920s), the Cadillac has recently become the go-to exercise machine for Hollywood celebrities, including Kate Hudson and Hilary Duff, to work up a sweat.
So how exactly does the Cadillac work, and is it worth spending a ton of money on a one-on-one session? We’ve compiled all the answers below. Don’t miss our guides to the best Pilates workouts you can do at home, the best Pilates exercises for beginners, and Pilates barre exercises to take your workout to the next level. If you want to invest in your at-home workouts, we also recommend buying the best reformer Pilates machine for at home.
The Cadillac Pilates Trend – What You Need to Know
What is Cadillac Pilates?
If you regularly take Reformer classes at a Pilates studio, you’ve probably seen a Cadillac parked in the corner of the room.
Comprised of a sturdy leather couch surrounded by a four-poster metal frame, this large piece of equipment supports a variety of exercises, from simple supine movements to acrobatic upside-down moves.
Attached along the poles of the frame are trapeze systems (a bit like those used in traditional circuses) that hang overhead, as well as various attachment points for springs and pulleys allowing you to try out different challenges and exercises.
Common moves performed in the Cadillac include cat stretches, roll-downs, and hanging exercises such as spread eagle (where you slide your feet onto the trapeze and grab the vertical pole to bend your spine).
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When was Cadillac Pilates invented?
Although the Cadillac looks ultra-modern, it was actually designed as part of the original Pilates system, which was created over 100 years ago.
“In 1912, Joseph Pilates was living in England and working as a circus performer, boxer and self-defence instructor,” says Jane Robinson, brand director for Exhale Pilates. “During World War I, he was interned along with other German nationals and during this time he developed his fitness techniques by teaching other internees.”
“Later in the war he worked as a nurse’s assistant in a hospital on the Isle of Man, treating patients who could not walk. He fitted hospital beds with bed springs to support patients’ limbs, which led to the development of the famous device known as the Cadillac.”
What are the benefits of Cadillac Pilates?
First, a quick history lesson: While mat and reformer classes are probably the most well-known version of this trend, Joseph Pilates actually created a series of weird and wonderful equipment to support his method back in 1912.
Each piece of equipment is designed to help you master the six core principles of Pilates: breath, control, precision, centering, focus and flow. The idea is that using equipment like the Cadillac or Reformer allows you to stretch more, hold stronger and engage your core more effectively when it’s just you on the mat.
“Working out the Pilates Cadillac can improve your strength, flexibility, stability, and muscle tone,” says Robinson, who says many of the exercises are especially beneficial for your spine health, as they work in the opposite direction to the hunched posture we often adopt while working on a laptop or scrolling through TikTok.
Robinson adds that the Cadillac is extremely useful for rehabilitation from injury: “The structure allows instructors to easily modify exercises to meet the needs of the person in front of them, whether that be someone with limited spinal range of motion or tight hamstrings.”
“The frame also comes with a variety of hook attachments and slide bars, so the possibilities for attaching spring resistance are endless, providing new challenges.”
Plus, let’s not forget that it’s also a super fun way to stay fit. Repeating the same moves in a Pilates mat class can get a bit stale over time, so if you loved hanging in grade school, working out in a Cadillac will definitely bring back some kid-like nostalgia.
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What is the difference between a Cadillac and a Pilates Reformer?
“The main difference between the two apparatus is that the Cadillac has an additional vertical bar, cables and an elevated frame, offering a wider range of strength and flexibility challenges through a variety of attachments,” explains Robinson.
It’s also a bit more acrobatic than the Reformer, and often requires you to hang from the upper frame while using the trapeze bar as a foot support.
Is Cadillac Pilates difficult?
In short, yes, but not as good as mat or reformer Pilates.
Unlike Reformer machines, which slide along on spring-loaded rails to build core balance, the Cadillac remains stationary, making it less intimidating for beginners looking to build core strength without having to worry about a moving Reformer carriage.
“As with any Pilates exercise, it can be challenging if you follow the Pilates principles faithfully,” says Robinson, “but it’s beneficial to start at an understandable level and work with a qualified instructor who can help you build a solid foundation before progressing to more advanced exercises.”
“I tried Cadillac Pilates and my back pain was cured.”
Ellie, 34, an insurance underwriter from London, started Cadillac Pilates classes earlier this year after suffering from pain caused by her desk job.
“After spending hours hunched over a laptop and regularly running marathons, I began to develop back pain. I tried a variety of physical therapy and stretches, but nothing lasted long enough. So I decided to give Pilates Cadillac a try, and it was a game changer.”
“At first glance the Cadillac looked intimidating with all the different bars and springs, but our fantastic instructor slowly walked us through each part and explained how it’s great for runners recovering from injury. We started with some gentle stretches on the trapeze and soon my back felt good and my body was opening up in new ways.”
“I love that every movement is controlled and purposeful. My regular running workouts often feel hectic, but Cadillac forces me to focus on my breathing, posture and correct muscle movement. It was hard at first, but by the end of the first session I felt taller, lighter and stronger.”
“After a few weeks of regular sessions, I saw a big change in my back pain. I gained both strength and flexibility without the high-intensity training of running outdoors. Plus, I really enjoyed turning off my phone and getting an hour each week to focus on exercise.”
“One of my favorite exercises is hanging from the frame and doing assisted pull-ups. The support and resistance that the Cadillac provides allows me to push myself safely, something I’ve always been concerned about with traditional training, especially as I’m prone to back pain.”
“Cadillac Pilates is now a staple in my fitness routine. My back pain is almost completely gone and I feel stronger and more flexible than ever before. I would highly recommend Cadillac Pilates to anyone struggling with physical discomfort or simply looking for new ways to challenge their body.”
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