Why I Love the Gratz Pilates Jump Board

Photo credit: Colleen Ferguson, Atwill Pilates

Written by: Colleen Ferguson

I've always believed jumping is one of the best ways to tone your legs. As a ballet dancer, it was my favorite part of class, but my love of jumping started long before that. My mom, Elaine, loved trampolines, and she bought these amazing-quality gymnastic trampolines for our backyard in Connecticut from as early as I can remember. With six older siblings who were also trampoline obsessed, we spent a lot of time getting some air. Every day after school, I would run outside and jump, and that's where it all began.

Incorporating Jumping into Classical Pilates Repertoire

Jumping has always made me happy. It's an instant mood elevator, and when done properly, it's great for the body. Now, with two toddlers, I'm constantly taking them to our neighbor's trampoline, mostly to wear them out before an afternoon nap but also for their athleticism. It has been so cool to watch them develop their jumping skills at two and three years old.

That's why the Pilates Jump Board is such a gem. It gives you an intense cardio burn, leg strength, and proper alignment without the heavy impact of jumping on the floor. It was originally created to help rehab dancers recovering from injuries, so it's easy on the joints, yet it builds the spring and strength you need for standing jumps. And here's something I've noticed over the years: as we age, we lose our buoyancy, our spring, our ability to jump. The Pilates Jump Board is a way to regain your buoyancy, that youthful spring.

Embracing the Ease of the Pilates Jump Board

At my studio, Atwill Pilates in Santa Barbara, the Jump Board is one of the first things clients ask to try again. It's also incredibly versatile. I switch between one and two springs depending on what I'm teaching, and the single spring is perfect for clients who can't push a heavier load.

I particularly like the Gratz Pilates Jump Board because it's easy to slot in, with no bolts to tighten like the Pilates Jump Boards I used before I switched to Classical Pilates equipment. It's also just the right size. The ones I've used on other Pilates Reformers are oversized, which makes your jumping a lot less precise. Since we're practicing the art of Contrology, as powerful as jumping is, it also takes a lot of coordination and control. I like that clients have to land in that small square frame. It keeps you in your "box." The Gratz Pilates Jump Board also has great cushion, just enough to ease the landing, and a good soft base to spring off of.

The Why Behind Teaching the Pilates Jump Board

What I love most about teaching the Pilates Jump Board is in the details: how to jump, how to land through toe, ball, heel, how to stretch the legs in the air, and how to engage the abdominals throughout. Clients feel empowered when they master it. It's dynamic, it builds coordination, and you only need a few minutes to feel the benefits. It's great for muscle tone and definition, and clients can feel the difference quickly. On a light spring it can also be pretty low impact, so clients can build strength and agility to progress to a heavier spring. The cardio blast you get from the Pilates Jump Board is also incredible for clients who want a sweatier workout. It's good for the heart, and it's good for your mood. My mantra is: if your body is healthy enough to jump, don't stop jumping.

My Go-To Pilates Jump Board Routine on the Pilates Reformer

My standard Pilates Jump Board routine on the Pilates Reformer incorporates a lot of ballet moves. Here's how I usually structure it:

• Foot Articulation ("Forced Arch"): A common dance warm-up. In turnout, press out, lift the heels, plié with heels up, and roll through the foot as you come home. Then reverse it: press out in relevé, lower the heels, and plié to come in.
• Basic Jumps: Ten jumps in first, ten in parallel, and ten alternating, landing first to parallel.
• Beats: For a more basic flow, start in first and beat the right leg front ten times, landing in first, then the left leg front ten times. If a client masters that, I challenge them with beating the legs front, back, then landing.
• Single-Leg Jumps (One Spring): Ten jumps on each leg in parallel, opposite knee at tabletop. Ten jumps on each leg in turnout, with the extended leg straight up at 90 degrees.
• Scissor Jumps: Straight legs, landing on one leg and then the other.
• Single-Leg Jumps (Two Springs): I go back to two springs and focus on using my glutes.
• Split Jumps: Jump as wide as the Pilates Jump Board and land with heels together.
• Slalom Ski: I often end here, jumping in parallel and landing both feet on the diagonal, side to side.

Why the Jump Board Is a Key Part of My Classical Pilates Practice

When I was dancing daily, I noticed huge gains in stamina, height, and speed. These days, when I add the Pilates Jump Board to my workouts twice a week, I still see a big difference. When I do get to ballet class, my regular Pilates Jump Board routine gives me the leg strength I need to get into the air, as well as the foot articulation and propulsion that are imperative to a nice high jump. And on days when I'm tired after a day of teaching but still want a workout, I'll do a quick 10-minute Pilates Jump Board session, and my legs are sore the next day. So, get jumping and get your clients jumping too! They'll thank you for it.

About Colleen Ferguson

Colleen Ferguson is the owner of Atwill Pilates in Santa Barbara, California, where she teaches Classical Pilates on Gratz equipment. A former ballet dancer, she loves teaching clients of all ages to jump with power and control.

Atwill Pilates is a Gratz Gallery, Classical Pilates studio located in Santa Barbara, CA. Gratz Galleries serve as real-world spaces for experiencing Gratz equipment as each studio has a shared commitment to Classical Pilates, craftsmanship, and preserving the lineage of the method.