Pilates Performer vs Current Concepts Personal Reformer
Rbloch29
On October 21 Nancy Watkins asked Sean Gallagher of the Pilates Studio the
following:
-----------------------------
Now....a new question but still on the subject of the home reformer. How do you
compare and contrast yours and the ones offered by Current Concepts and Nordic
Track? The Nordic Track seems to me to be almost identical to yours except
that it is about $100 more expensive. For that and other reasons, yours seems
to be superior to the Nordic Track. The one by Current Concepts is a LOT more
expensive than yours but there seems to be more to it too, especially since it
uses springs like on the studio reformers and yours and NT's use elastic bands
and cords.
------------------------------
He responded with:
--------------------------
Our home machine and Nordic tracks are one in the same except NT has wood
accents and yes costs $100 or more than ours. This is also an example of what
the manufacturer wanted to do with the equipment before we became involved. It
would have been out there only as the Nordic Perfromer and People wouldn't
have known that it was the real thing. As far as Current Concepts model it is
twice as expensive and the measurements are wrong and you also need lots of
space as it dosen't fold up like ours. Theirs also has the potential for the
carrige to tip on certain exercises as the carrage only rolls on top of the
metal tubing as ours has wheels that roll in the grove of the metal track and
thus can not tip at all. The spring issue had more to do with saftey since it
was for home uswe were afraid that peolpe would get hair caught in the
springs or young children would get their finger caught in it. The cords are
adjustable so the tension they produce can be almost identicle to the springs
and addjusted for the individuals body. Also this allows change as they get
stronger.
-----------------------------
I happily own the Current Concepts Personal Reformer and would like to point
out a few things and hopefully clarify some of Mr. Gallagher's comments.
Before buying the Current Concepts Reformer I researched the market for home
reformer equipment. I found there are only 2 models available in the US. The
one by Current Concepts for $899 and the one made by a company called Stamina
and called the Pilates Performer. The Stamina machine costs $399. They also
make the same machine for Nordic Track (selling at $500) with the Nordic Track
name on it, for the Pilates Studio (selling for $399) and for QVC (selling for
$329.88). All companies add shipping and handling.
I consider the Current Concepts Personal Reformer to be so well build that it
could be considered a piece of gym equipment even though they make more
expensive ones for studios and health clinics. The Stamina machine that Mr.
Gallagher sells is only designed for home use.
According to Mr. Gallagher the Current Concepts Reformer has the wrong
measurements. Wrong measurements compared to what and in relation to what? To
a studio reformer? If thats what he means then the one he sells would also
have the wrong measurements.
He is correct when he says that the Current Concept machine doesn't fold up as
does the one he sells. It also takes up slightly more space as compared to an
open Stamina machine. These are considerations people should bear in mind when
shopping for a home reformer.
Nancy Watkins than brought up the question of springs versus bungee cords. The
Current Concepts Reformer uses 4 springs of different strengths, like a studio
reformer does. The Stamina Reformer uses bungee cords.
For safety so people wouldn't get their hair caught in the springs and young
children wouldn't get their fingers caught in the springs Mr. Gallagher
considers bungee cords a superior design. I would say that its probably
cheaper to use bungee cords in manufacturing a reformer than springs and that
is the overriding
consideration in using them.
If its dangerous to use springs because you may get your hair caught in them
then I suspect that Mr. Gallagher has already replaced all the springs on his
Pilates Studio's reformers with bungee cords <g>.
I don't know of any reformer exercise where its possible to get your hair
caught in the springs.
If you have young children (as Mr. Gallagher is concerned with) they would have
to be very strong to stretch a spring and place their fingers in the spring.
For older children warnings about safe use of equipment should suffice. If a
child was to actually take a spring off the Current Concepts Reformer they
would then need 3 hands in order to stretch the spring and place the fingers
of their third hand into the spring <g>.
As for the Current Concepts Reformer's carriage being able to tip on certain
exercises Mr. Gallagher is just wrong. The Personal Reformer has a metal
bracket under the carriage that prevents it from being able to tip off the
frame.
Mr. Gallagher's comparison, as far as I'm concerned, then revolves around price
and space. My feeling is that if you have the space for the Current Concepts
Personal Reformer and can afford its cost then that is the home reformer to
buy (as I did). If price and/or space is your prime consideration in choosing
a home reformer then by all means buy the Stamina machine as sold by QVC.
You'll save $70 over the same one being offered directly by Stamina and
through Mr. Gallagher's Pilates Studio and $170 over the Nordic Track
Performer.
I also wonder if the law suit that Mr. Gallagher has with Current Concepts
entered into any of his considerations.<g>
Just my thoughts.
Richard Bloch (rblo...@aol.com)
SPGPT
>According to Mr. Gallagher the Current Concepts Reformer has the wrong
> measurements. Wrong measurements compared to what and in relation to what?
>To
> a studio reformer? If thats what he means then the one he sells would also
> have the wrong measurements.
What I mean by wrong measurements is that the foot bar as well as where the
straps are placed are wrong Joe Pilates spent over fifty years fine tuning his
apparatuses to facilitate his exercises. Our Pilates Performer meets those
standards and Current Concepts does not.
>Nancy Watkins than brought up the question of springs versus bungee cords.
>The
> Current Concepts Reformer uses 4 springs of different strengths, like a
>studio
> reformer does. The Stamina Reformer uses bungee cords.
Again Joe Pilates didn't have different strenght sprins in his universal
reformers that is something that current concepts has done to change how their
machine works. I never said that I felt that bungies are a superior design.
And yes cost was a factor in using bungies. To make a machine that is safe and
affordable it was decided to use bungies and they are adjustable so that they
can closely match the properties of springs with out the dangers that home use
presents. So cost was not the only "overriding consideration" as you put it.
>If its dangerous to use springs because you may get your hair caught in them
> then I suspect that Mr. Gallagher has already replaced all the springs on
>his
> Pilates Studio's reformers with bungee cords <g>.
>
>
A studio reformer has a teacher there to help you change the springs and also
to take care of any other saftey concerns that may arise. Some one who is home
alone working out does not have this available to them.
>I don't know of any reformer exercise where its possible to get your hair
> caught in the springs.
Then I guess that you are not working out the Pilates way but the balanced body
method or the physical mind method as the are some exercises in The Pilates
Method where this could possibly happen.
>If you have young children (as Mr. Gallagher is concerned with) they would
>have
> to be very strong to stretch a spring and place their fingers in the spring.
> For older children warnings about safe use of equipment should suffice. If a
> child was to actually take a spring off the Current Concepts Reformer they
> would then need 3 hands in order to stretch the spring and place the fingers
> of their third hand into the spring <g>.
If only one spring is attached it would be very easy for a young child to move
the carrage and get their fingers caught in the spring. And again this was a
legal as well as financial problem that was imposed on us by the insurance
company. In today society when you market a product that is for the general
public there are many concerns that ha sto be taken into consideration. We
would rather be safe than sorry.
>As for the Current Concepts Reformer's carriage being able to tip on certain
> exercises Mr. Gallagher is just wrong. The Personal Reformer has a metal
> bracket under the carriage that prevents it from being able to tip off the
> frame.
I was sent a current concepts reformer to see if we would approve it. And I
personally did a Pilates exercise (the snake twist) and the carraige tipped
off its track. Now maybe current concepts has made adjustments since they sent
me a machine but the one I tried tiped and I an not as you say "just wrong"
>I also wonder if the law suit that Mr. Gallagher has with Current Concepts
> entered into any of his considerations.<g>
I had the concerns about current concepts home reformer even before I took them
to court for trademark infringement.
I hope this clarifies things for you.
If you want a real Pilates Machine as designed by Joe Pilates then ours is the
one to buy for home. If you are looking for a machine to do the balanced body
work out or the physical mind method then you should be purchaseing the
current concepts model as it fits those exercises.
Thanks for the imput and your opinion. It just helps clarify things for
everyone.
Sean P. Gallagher, PT
Bang2B
I agree, the Current Concepts reformer is really a better piece of equipment
for doing Pilates exercises. But one mustn't forget that Sean Gallagher is
involved in a lawsuit with the maker of the Current Concepts Reformer and is
perhaps not a terribly objective source for comparison. Since Joseph Pilates
never made any efforts during his life to limit the development of the
wonderful system of exercises he and several other people developed together,
I would urge taking Mr. Gallagher's words with a little sea salt....maybe some
lemon too.
David
SPGPT
I see that again Daivd is expressing his opinion again. Let me point out a few
of his misconseptions>
Since Joseph Pilates
> never made any efforts during his life to limit the development of the
> wonderful system of exercises he and several other people developed
>together,
> I would urge taking Mr. Gallagher's words with a little sea salt....maybe
>some
> lemon too.
>David
>
>
>Joseph Pilates Patented all his major piece of equipment that he invented and
copyrighted all of his writings it is obvious that he was very protective of
his method which he alone invented. His wife Clara helped him fine turn his
exercises. There were no other people as David states that helped him
developed his method. Only those who have changed it and made it something
that wasn't what Joe taught. We at the Pilates Studio are staying true to form
and maintaining his system and standards.
>
> Sean Gallagher is
> involved in a lawsuit with the maker of the Current Concepts Reformer and is
> perhaps not a terribly objective source for comparison.
As I stated previously I disapproved of the current concepts home reformer even
before I had to take them to court for trademark infringement. And I am very
objective about the quality and content of where the Pilates Trademarks are
put. This insures that the public knows that they are getting the original
Pilates Method.
And lastly for those of you who haven't been following this David tends to be
very subjective on this issue. But I would again like to thank him for
bringing up his opinions so that I can set the record straight and inform you
of the truth and not just opinions.
Sean P. Gallagher, PT
Director of The Pilates Studio(R)
Mrpilates
David writes,
>Actually several people developed the Pilates method along side Joe Pilates
>and
> made huge contributions to its growth, both before and after his death.
I know this is you opinion but unlike David we have facts and he is wrong when
he states this. The Pilates Method was developed by Joe Pilates and only him.
Why do you think they call it The Pilates Method. Now maybe your talking about
the Ron Fletcher method or the Eve Gentry Method or the physical mind method
or the balanced body method. they have all taken so of Joe's original concepts
and added their own ideas and exercises and it has become their own work. But
it is not The Pilates Method as Joe Pilates taught it. And that is a fact and
not an opinion.
>Joe
> Pilates made no efforts during his lifetime to limit the use of the word
> Pilates or to develop and expand the method itself. Mr. Gallagher is
>mistaken
> on this issue.
Again David is only stateing opinion here and one that is wrong. Joe Pilates
was the only person who invented over 18 different apparatuses for his unique
method. had over 600 professional photo's taken to document his exercises and
method. And in one of our depositions from John Steele the lawyer for the
Pilates studio in the 70's he talks about Joe going to a studio owned by a
former employee Bob Seed and thretening him to stop using his name and trying
to take his clients. So I find your opinion only that and not based on the
truth.
>Mr. Pilates, unlike Mr. Gallagher understood the concept of
> sharing.
I share all the time so I'm not sure what you mean by this. Just because I am
protecting the integrity of Joe's work dosn't mean I don't share it. Wwe have
hundreds of teachers that have shared in this knowledge. Just because they
have to pay a fee to gain it doesn't mean we don't share it. Every school I
know that shares it's knowledge of it's teachers usually chages some sort of
fee. Just as Joe Pilates always did.
Again I would like to thank David for his opinions even if they are wrong as it
gives me an opportunity to set the record straight. I also hope that David
isn't going to keep this going much longer as we have found out many times
before that this argument is always the same.
Bang2B
I too have spoken facts, and given opinions about them. However the Physical
Mind Institute didn't exist when Joseph Pilates lived. It didn't need to.
Joseph Pilates had enough integrity to know about the concept of sharing.
David
Bang2B
The facts will come out in the lawsuit. They don't look so favorable to you.
Best of luck.
David
Rbloch29
On 11/10 Sean Gallagher responded to my original post with:
>What I mean by wrong measurements is that the foot bar as well as where the
>straps are placed are wrong Joe Pilates spent over fifty years fine tuning
his
>apparatuses to facilitate his exercises. Our Pilates Performer meets those
>standards and Current Concepts does not.
What standards are you talking about? It's clear that the Pilates Reformer (as
well as the Current Concepts Personal Reformer) are not studio reformers. They
are both designed for home use. They therefore should produce the same or very
similar results to a studio reformer.
What standards or criteria did Joseph Pilates use in designing his home based
machine?
The Pilates Performer's strap pulls from floor level whereas the Current
Concepts straps pull from an elevated level as does studio reformers. If you
are comparing both machines to a studio reformer then the Current Concepts
reformer seems to be closer to a studio reformer than does "your" machine.
I used quotes around your because I don't think you were involved in its design
but are licensing the name Pilates to be used with the machine. If I'm not
mistaken the same machine under a different or similar name was being sold by
the Physical Mind Institute (as I think they are still selling it). Again all
Pilates (or NordicTrak) Performers are made by Stamina.
You also said:
>To make a machine that is safe and affordable it was decided to use bungies
>and they are adjustable so that they can closely match the properties of
springs >with out the dangers that home use presents.
as well as:
>If only one spring is attached it would be very easy for a young child to move
>the carrage and get their fingers caught in the spring.
When I'm finished using my Current Concepts Personal Reformer I place all
springs on the hooks. It is impossible for a "young" child (please define
young child) to move the platform with all springs attached. I then took off
all but the lightest spring from the platform and moved the platform. It would
be very difficult for a young child (unless that child was an experienced
weight lifter <g>) to push the platform to its extension. Only at its full
extension, and only then, could a very small finger be placed between the
springs. But to do that the child would have to free up one hand. By doing
that the platform would start returning and the space on the spring would
decrease to the point where no finger could be inserted. It is not possible to
place anything between any of the other springs, except for a piece of paper.
What sort of experimentation did you do to determine that the Personal
Reformer's springs were unsafe <g>?
You also wrote:
>If you want a real Pilates Machine as designed by Joe Pilates then ours is
the
>one to buy for home.
My original post stated:
>>The Stamina machine costs $399. They also make the same machine for >>Nordic
Track (selling at $500) with the Nordic Track name on it, for the Pilates
>>Studio (selling for $399) and for QVC (selling for $329.88).
I also wrote:
>>Mr. Gallagher's comparison, as far as I'm concerned, then revolves around
price >>and space. My feeling is that if you have the space for the Current
Concepts >>Personal Reformer and can afford its cost then that is the home
reformer to buy >>(as I did). If price and/or space is your prime
consideration in choosing a home >>reformer then by all means buy the Stamina
machine as sold by QVC. You'll >>save $70 over the same one being offered
directly by Stamina and through Mr.
>Gallagher's Pilates Studio and $170 over the Nordic Track Performer.
He didn't address price in his response so I just thought I would mention it
again.
As David has said in his dialog with Mr. Gallagher I to would be interested in
seeing the various court documents if his lawsuits ever get to court.
Richard