Pilates Technique Thursday: Echolocation and the Reformer

Eyes closed to sharpen awareness, training movement through sound, breath, and pressure.

Echolocation is a way of sensing space through sound. An animal sends out a sound, waits for the echo, then uses the returning sound to judge distance, size, and movement. Bats use it at night. Dolphins use it in water. It is a precise navigation tool.

You will not make clicking sounds on the Reformer, but you can use the principle. When you close your eyes, your hearing sharpens. Your body pays attention to pressure, vibration, and breath. You get clearer information about how you move.

What echolocation means in Pilates

• You listen to the carriage.

• You listen to the springs.

• You listen to your breath.

• You feel how weight shifts under your feet or hands.

• You sense alignment changes faster.

Sight distracts you. Sound and pressure guide you.

How to use this technique on the Reformer

• Set your alignment first.

• Close your eyes once the position is stable.

• Choose movements like Footwork, Supine Arm Work, or simple Kneeling.

• Move slowly and stay honest with the sounds you produce.

• A smooth glide shows control.

• A loud return shows loss of control.

• Uneven pressure shows drifting alignment.• Breath changes show strain.

Work for short sets. Open the eyes, reset, then repeat.

Why it helps your technique

• You train proprioception with precision.

• You stop relying on eyesight to fix problems.

• You react to small errors before they grow.

• You build consistent movement quality.

This is not a trick. It is sensory training. When the eyes rest, the body pays attention. That attention is what improves your Reformer practice.