The Gratz Pilates Reformer Jump Board: Defying Gravity with Control, Precision, and Zest!

Photo credit: Kerry De Vivo, Excel Pilates Annapolis

Written by: Kerry De Vivo, Excel Pilates Annapolis

Classical Pilates workouts require us to move with intention, concentration, and control. Joseph Pilates emphasized the importance of focusing on each movement and following the principles of his exercises to achieve their maximum benefit. This mindful approach serves a greater purpose beyond the workout: helping us perform, in his words, “…our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.” -Joseph Pilates

The Reformer Jump Board brings this concept to life in a surprisingly dynamic way!

Used toward the end of a Pilates Reformer workout, the Pilates Jump Board adds an advanced way to challenge Classical Pilates principles at a relatively rapid, flowing tempo. And perhaps the best part is… it is fun!

Defying Gravity Through Pilates Jump Board Movement

Photo credit: Kerry De Vivo, Excel Pilates Annapolis

The Pilates Jump Board gives us a chance to experience dynamic movement in a different relationship with gravity. We jump horizontally, experiencing a moment of lightness as we propel ourselves away from the board and return with control in what feels like a gravity-free environment.  It is wonderfully freeing to jump and actually significantly move through space!

Even when you feel “light as a feather” while jumping, the effort involved is deceiving. Control is required and the Pilates Jump Board exercises are serious effort in disguise.

The Classical Pilates Challenge Behind the Fun

Maintaining the abdominal scoop becomes a genuine challenge given that the head is supported on the headrest, rather than lifted into a chin-to-chest position, and the legs work at a relatively low angle. The feet must also land securely on the board, requiring just the right amount of effort to control the distance of each jump, especially when working on one spring. 

Introducing Practice on the Pilates Jump Board

Photo credit: Kerry De Vivo, Excel Pilates Annapolis

The key is to think of jumping as an extension of the Classical Pilates Footwork series and Running. Both provide a great foundation for working with the Pilates Jump Board. Footwork helps us relate to the springs with dynamic opposition and find control on the return of the carriage. Running uses an action in the feet that resembles the rehearsal and preparation, we start with for jumping. 

Starting Position:

• Lie on your back with your head supported on the headrest, powerhouse engaged on 2 springs.
• Position your legs and feet in the “V”, with the balls of the feet toward the top of the board, with room to spare.
• Energize the heels toward the board, but don’t expect them to make contact.

Rehearse and Go!:

• Begin as though starting Footwork with greater effort, or rolling through the feet like Running. Roll to the top of the toes, but don’t jump yet. Repeat for 3 reps. 
• Then JUMP, immediately deepening your connection to the powerhouse. Repeat for 10 reps.
• One spring: Repeat the initial rehearsal to reconnect with the movement pattern and assess your control with lighter spring tension. Then repeat the 10 jumps.
• Add coordination challenges: Explore variations such as beats and stag jumps to increase the demands on coordination and timing.

Tips: 

• Quality takes precedence over quantity. In Pilates, we don't perform exercises simply to accumulate repetitions. Avoid jumping for an extended period of time.
• With lighter spring tension, the carriage may travel farther. As a result, you spend more time in the air requiring increased endurance from the powerhouse. 
• Soaring through the air is exhilarating, but lack of control is revealed in very jarring way on the Jump Board. Hitting the back wheels, or crashing down on the board is very unpleasant.

Cue: The return comes quickly. Resist the return by maintaining lift. Imagine landing on a field of daisies without making them into pressed flowers.

Why the Jump Board is Valuable Beyond the Studio

Jumping is a fundamental movement skill whether for dancing, playing basketball, or moving quickly around a tennis or pickleball court. And non-athletes jump too! 

The Pilates Jump Board lets us practice the familiar action of jumping in a movement environment different from standing. Working horizontally allows us to learn how to jump with powerhouse connection and efficiency. We get to do an action that typically requires a lot of exertion and experience it with greater ease, you could even say with zest.

Ready to challenge your Pilates skills while moving quickly? The Reformer Jump Board might be your next step, or your next jump!

About Kerry De Vivo

Kerry De Vivo is owner of Excel Pilates Annapolis est. in 2002. She is a second-generation Pilates teacher certified through The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning at The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO (1995) and by Romana Kryzanowska at The Pilates Studio in New York, NY (1996). She has an MFA degree in Dance and a BS degree in Arts Management. Kerry celebrated her 30th year of teaching Pilates in 2025. Kerry is co-director of Excel’s Pilates Teacher Training Program established in 2001 and Excel’s Pilates Teacher Mentor Program designed to offer high-level continuing education to Pilates teachers.