The Jump Board for Every Body: Four Clients, Four Ways to Jump

Photo credit: Amy Berger, Star Pilates

Written by: Amy Berger, Star Pilates

With the Pilates Jump Board being Gratz’s Apparatus of the Month, I’ve been thinking about all of the different clients and bodies that can benefit from this versatile piece of equipment in Classical Pilates.

The Jump Board can be used to explore strength, proprioception, coordination, and stamina, but what I love most about the Pilates Jump Board is how differently it can serve each client. The same apparatus can provide a fun change of pace for an everyday Pilates client, a precise training tool for a dancer or athlete, a supportive environment for someone working to rebuild body awareness, or simply a new way to spark a young person’s interest in Classical Pilates.

As with everything we do in Classical Pilates, we have to consider the individual in front of us and make thoughtful choices based on their body, experience, goals, and any limitations or injuries. Here are a few of the types of clients I use the Pilates Jump Board with and why I find it so valuable for each individual.

The Everyday Client

Admittedly, I don’t use the Jump Board very often. I like to leave it as a bit of a “treat” for my clients at the end of their session. It’s fun, invigorating, and always leaves them feeling energized!

For the everyday client, the Jump Board can be a great way to work on foot and ankle strength, body awareness, and leg and powerhouse stamina. It also gives clients an opportunity to revisit a movement that many of us gradually lose as we get older: jumping.

The primary age range of my clientele is 50+, and unless they participate in activities that involve jumping, this can become a lost skill. Especially as we age, bone mass decreases therefore limiting our strength, making movement more challenging. To increase bone mass, performing mechanical loading such as resistance jumping and weight-bearing movement can strengthen muscles and bone health to support healthy aging. The Jump Board offers a supported way to perform resistance training by pushing off, getting some air, and returning with control.

I especially love seeing the response from clients who realize, “Oh, I can still do this!”

The standard spring setting for the Pilates Jump Board work is two springs, but when introducing the Jump Board to a client, I will often begin with one spring. This gives the client more time in the air and allows them to concentrate on their alignment and movement quality without feeling rushed.

The Professional Client

The Pilates Jump Board can also be an excellent place to add challenge and specificity to a dancer’s or athlete’s Reformer work.

For dancers, it provides an opportunity to work on precision, endurance, and foot alignment while practicing movements that have a direct relationship to their training. Ballet jumps such as sautés, changements, and entrechat quatre can be explored while the Reformer provides feedback and support.

For athletes, the Pilates Jump Board can offer opportunities to work on quicker, more dynamic jumping patterns and bursts of power. Depending on the athlete and their sport, we can use the apparatus to explore rhythm, repetition, coordination, and the ability to produce and control force.

The Pilates Jump Board is also valuable when working with dancers and athletes who are gradually returning to movement following an injury. The supported position can allow us to introduce jumping patterns in a different environment from the one the athlete would experience standing on the floor. Of course, the timing of this work depends on the individual and, when appropriate, coordination with their medical or rehabilitation team.

For a dancer or athlete, the Pilates Jump Board isn’t simply about jumping. It becomes another way to refine the connection between the feet, legs, pelvis, and powerhouse while asking the body to respond with speed and precision.

The Unique Client

Then there are the clients who remind us that Classical Pilates equipment can be incredibly adaptable.

I have a client who experienced a traumatic brain injury and has also dealt with multiple sprained ankles. Postural and spatial awareness are important goals in our Classical Pilates sessions, and all of our work is done in conjunction with her vestibular therapist and physical therapist.

For her, the Pilates Jump Board provides a very different experience from simply doing Footwork on the Foot Bar.

The larger surface of the Pilates Jump Board gives her something substantial to connect with. We can work on standing and small bends with both legs and then repeat the work one leg at a time. We practice in parallel and Pilates stance, and sometimes incorporate the 2x4 exercises.

One of our goals is to help her find an even connection through the tripod of the foot while using the Pilates Reformer as additional feedback for her posture and body position.

Eventually, I would love for her to return to simple jumping from standing on the ground to pushing through her sit bones, springing into the air, and landing on her feet again. She was a former Division I athlete, and she absolutely lights up when we do anything that connects her to that part of her life.

Ultimately, though, my goal isn’t simply to get her jumping again. It’s to help her feel more successful and confident in her everyday activities. When her brain becomes overstimulated, we’re working toward giving her physical experiences and patterns that can help her find stability.

One of the things I love most is seeing clients make connections between different pieces of Classical Pilates apparatus. The Pedi Pole is another favorite of hers, and I find it fascinating to watch her recognize the postural relationship between the two pieces of equipment.

That, to me, is one of the most amazing things about the Classical Pilates Method: the apparatus may change, but the body’s ability to make connections continues to grow.

The Young Client

And finally, my favorite client: my 11-year-old son.

Whenever I bring him to the Pilates studio, I try to introduce him to something new and exciting to spark his interest. He is a disciplined kid who has already earned his Junior Black Belt, and I have a feeling that as he continues to grow, his interest in Pilates will grow with him.

For now, I’m happy just to give him little tastes of the Classical Method.

The first time he tried the Pilates Jump Board, his reaction was:

“It feels like zero gravity.”

I love that reaction because, in a way, it captures what makes the Pilates Jump Board so special. It takes a familiar movement, jumping, and puts it into an entirely different environment. It can challenge an experienced athlete, give an everyday client the chance to rediscover a lost skill, provide a unique tool for someone working on body awareness, or simply make a kid excited to try Classical Pilates.

Four very different clients. Four very different reasons to get on the Pilates Jump Board.

How have you found the Pilates Jump Board can support your clients’ different needs, goals, and abilities?

Share your experiences in the comments!

The Gratz Jump Board is available for the 86" and 89" Reformers.

About Amy Berger

Amy Berger is the owner of Star Pilates, a Boutique Classical Pilates studio in Rittenhouse, Philadelphia. She is a Romana's Pilates International instructor and mentee of Romana herself having learned in Drago's in New York City. Amy partners with Pilatesology, leading Classical Pilates classes for the platform's subscribers.