Finding Gold on the Contrology Ladder Barrel

When was the last time you used the Ladder Barrel?

I remember when my teacher asked me this, and I shamefully said… 

"It's been a while."

To keep it real, our Ladder Barrel was collecting dust in the corner of our studio.

I stretched on it occasionally and had my clients stretch on it occasionally, but I was unaware of how important the Ladder Barrel really was. 

So, I got to work and explored in greater depth what the Ladder Barrel has to offer. 

Here is what I discovered: 

Spinal articulation over the large apex of the barrel gives me good information. I could clearly feel the tight spots in my back—the areas where I needed to loosen up. 

This information or feedback helped me understand how to articulate my spine while doing other exercises such as Short Box: Round Back and Tree on the Reformer. 

Practicing the Leg Stretches on the Ladder Barrel opened up my hips and stretched my quads. At the time, my knees were in pain because I was lifting heavy weights. 

The Leg Stretches gave me relief in my knees.

Horseback on the Reformer used to be almost impossible for me, but now it has become doable because of the support you get from the large curve on the Contrology Ladder Barrel. 

There was a time when I used to say, "Swan is just not the right exercise for my body," because I didn't know how to extend my spine without crunching my lower back. 

Well, the support of the Contrology Ladder Barrel changed all that!

I learned to extend my spine without stressing my lower back or neck. 

Hallelujah! 

Practicing consistently on the Contrology Ladder Barrel allowed me to find gold in my Pilates practice.

I quickly learned that this apparatus is one of the best teaching tools in Pilates for myself and my clients. 

The stretches and support you receive on the Contrology Ladder Barrel are truly unmatched. 

If you have a client with tight shoulders or tight hips, try the Ladder Barrel.

If your client struggles with extension from the mid back, put them on the Ladder Barrel. 

If you are going to teach Swan or Horseback on the Reformer, put your client on the Ladder Barrel first.  It is the best place to learn those exercises, and they will make your clients feel successful!

I learned there is so much more to the barrel than draping myself over it. (Although draping myself over the barrel is still one of my favorite things to do).

And out of all the Ladder Barrels I've been on, I love my Contrology Ladder Barrel because the pedal makes it easy to adjust to a person's height and it is simple to use.

Like all the Contrology equipment.

Less is more.