Reformer Observation Logbook

Date of observation: 2026-06-12

Duration: 60 mins

Class type: Group (4)

Instructor name: Ashling Rafferty

Studio / location: ALIGNed, Listowel

Class structure & exercise selection: Warm up - breathing, pelvic tilt, core exercises; foot series - double and single leg.
Main body - bridging series - glute bridge, single leg bridge, bridge pulses, single leg bridge with extension
Legs in straps - frogs, frog pulse, leg open close, leg circles & reverse
Glute work - four point kneeling glute kickbacks, pulses, side lying footwork
Side kneeling arms - Sword, shoulder raise, Y
Supine arms - Arm circles, tricep press
Core - sit ups, hundreds, coordination

Cueing style & teaching highlights: Lots of tactile cueing because of the smaller group.

Visualisations - imagining a glass of water on your hips and tilting & spilling some of that water as you tilt and then bringing it back down; peeling yourself slowly like you are peeling back a plaster

Class management & safety: Transitions - come off the carriage, walking around. No stepping over or walking on the carriages.
Using the room to make sure everyone is beginning on the same side (door side vs studio sign side).
Ensuring the box is always to the back of the carriage when not in use.

My takeaways for teaching: -She used lots of tactile cueing today because the class was that bit smaller & I thought this personally really helped me.
-Verbal cues were clear and concise, there was silence that allowed me to figure out the exercise without being confused by too many cues at once.
-Great visualisations - she used simple but effective imagery

Date of observation: 2026-06-17

Duration: 60 mins

Class type: 7

Instructor name: Katie Purtill

Studio / location: ALIGNed, Listowel

Class structure & exercise selection: Footwork (Warm-up)
Parallel heels
Parallel toes
Pilates V
Wide heels
Wide toes
Running
Legs in Straps
Frog
Leg circles (both directions)
Extended lowers & lifts
Openings (adduction/abduction)
Short scissors (optional progression)
Abs on the Box
Half roll back
Oblique twists
Toe taps
Hundred prep
Kneeling Arms
Chest expansion
Biceps curls
Hug-a-tree
Triceps press
Salute
Scooter / Kneeling Glutes
Scooter
Donkey kicks
Fire hydrants
Standing Lunge Series
Static lunge
Lunge pulses
Hip flexor stretch
Side-Lying Legs
Leg press
Abduction
Small circles
Long Box Back Extension
Swan prep
Pulling straps
Standing Elephant
Cool Down
Mermaid stretch
Deep breathing

Cueing style & teaching highlights: Engage the core - imagine you are zipping up a tight of jeans, arms/leg are moving like we are swimming through honey, holding a tray of drinks across our hips

Class management & safety: Suggested spring for each exercise and said for this I like to use a red and a blue but also gave a level up or a level down.
Gave progressions for exercises and gave things to watch out for and recommended to go back to level one movement. e.g in coordination if neck is aching lower the head.

My takeaways for teaching: - Friendly, positive and welcoming atmosphere in the class. Chatted and greeted everyone. Made jokes and people laugh throughout the class. The instructor created a really nice positive and relaxed environment.
- Effective imagery used in her cues - especially legs moving through honey for leg circles
- She offered regressions and Lv 2 options for lots of exercises but also made it clear what might be happening if you werent ready and needed to take it back a level e.g. is back is arching

Date of observation: 2026-06-19

Duration: 60

Class type: 5

Instructor name: Emma Connor

Studio / location: ALIGNed, Listowel

Class structure & exercise selection: Footwork (Warm-up) – Parallel heels, parallel toes, V position, wide heels, wide toes, running, prances.
Bridges – Articulating bridge, bridge with leg extension
Abs on the Box – Half roll back, oblique twists, tabletop toe taps, hundred prep.
Kneeling Arms – Chest expansion, biceps, serve, salute & sword
Standing Lunges – hip flexor stretch, lunge, lunge pulses, scooter
Stand Legs – Skater, Squats In/Out, Adduction/Abduction
Planks - knee off, full plank & holds
Cool Down – Mermaid stretch, hip flexor stretch, spinal rotation, deep breathing.

Cueing style & teaching highlights: Engage the core - imagine you are zipping up a tight pair of jeans, hold an apple under your chin, peel yourself off the carriage vertebrae by vertebrae

Class management & safety: She demonstrated on an empty reformer beside the person she was correcting and stayed with them while instructing the class until the got it. She walked around a lot and was giving personal feedback, using tactile cues as she was going around.

My takeaways for teaching: - I like how the instructor used a stretch before going into the lunges. I personally would have like a transition exercise or stretch on the carriage before going into the standing legs straight after the lunges.
- Using the reformer to demonstrate was very helpful especially in terms of getting set up and in the correct start position.

Date of observation: 2026-06-22

Duration: 40min

Class type: 10

Instructor name: Edele Daly

Studio / location: Halo, Killarney

Class structure & exercise selection: Footwork
Parallel heels, Parallel toes, Pilates V, Wide second, Calf raises, tendon stretch, walking
Legs in Straps - Frog, Leg circles, Extended lowers & lifts
Core – C-Curve/Spine Roll Back - C-curve hold, Spine roll back, Oblique rotations
Standing Leg Series - Scooter, Standing lunges, pulses
Plank Series -Long stretch hold , Knee tucks. Pike (between lunges)
Kneeling Arms - Salut, Biceps curls, Triceps press, Serve
Cool Down
Mermaid stretch
Hip flexor stretch
Monkey Stretch
Child poses

Cueing style & teaching highlights: The instructor used clear, concise verbal cues alongside visual demonstrations.
Cueing was positive and encouraging, reminders about breathing & core engagement. She used belly button to our back drawing it in and down.
Progressions and regressions were offered for most exercises

Class management & safety: Instructor gave spring recommendations for all exercises and noted when someone might need to reduce/add springs.
She gave clear instructors about transitions and box placement.
Instructor supported some people through the roll back until they were more confident.

My takeaways for teaching: - This was a mixed ability class so offering regressions and progressions was very important to make sure the class was accessible to all.
- The class sequence flowed really well we transitioned nicely and smoothly between exercises.
The use of music in this class was excellent - it was a higher tempo class and the music helped keep the energy levels up but the instructor remember to turn it down for instructions.