Author: Susie Martin is a chartered physiotherapist and clinical Pilates instructor as well as clinical lead at Complete Pilates. She has a holistic approach to care and an interest in hypermobility and shoulder conditions.
What is the Pilates Cadillac?
The Cadillac (also known as the trapeze table) is a piece of large Pilates equipment . This equipment in its original form was designed and built by Joseph Pilates himself so that he could help his clients to rehabilitate.
This Cadillac in its modern-day form is a high, firm, leather clad couch surrounded by a metal frame. The frame has various hooks along its poles which allow attachment points for the springs that Joseph Pilates  used for his exercises.
The metal springs come in different lengths and with different amounts of tension. These springs can be used to create resistance – just like you might with weights, or cable machines in the gym. The springs can also be used provide support as they can carry the weight of the arms and legs during various exercises.
In addition to the frame, the Cadillac is usually equipped with a bar that can swing – known as the push thru bar or the tower bar. There is also a sliding bar that moves across the top which can be used as another attachment point for springs.
There is another attachment known as the trapeze which can be suspended from here, which is suspended by heavy springs and is strong enough to support the body weight or the weight of the legs.
Finally, the signature addition to the cadillac is a pair of sheepskin cuffs – known as ‘fluffies’, which can be used to support wrists or ankles and be used for various exercises or to help support various body positions.
The History of the Pilates cadillac
Looking back at how Joseph Pilates originally started using his methods to help rehabilitate others we can see how the Cadillac design naturally evolved from his early makeshift machinery. German born Pilates was interned during the first world war in a prisoner of war camp on the Isle of Man. Whilst here, the story goes that Joseph attached springs that he found lying around the site to bed frames of the injured and sick inmates.
Pilates used the springs to help the other prisoners exercise whilst still bedbound, making him an early pioneer of physical rehabilitation!
What are the benefits of using the Pilates Cadillac?
There are many features of the cadillac that distinguish it from other exercise equipment and make it beneficial for all types of Pilates exercises.
One that it has a high base – which makes it easier to get on and off for those with mobility issues or injuries compared to getting on the floor or the reformer.
The base of the cadillac has just enough padding and a hard wearing surface, which makes it more suitable for doing exercises than, say, a bed.
Another is that it is wide and stable, which makes it supportive and easier to maneuver on, such as when rolling over.
The frame not only has lots of different hook attachments but also sliding bars which give an infinite number of possibilities for where to attach the spring resistance. This means exercises can be modified to suit every individual and many different exercises.
Another feature is that the frame is extremely strong and sturdy, meaning that a whole person’s body weight can be supported off the bars, making it brilliant for more challenging exercises. This means that whilst the Cadillac is very suitable for beginners, or people with injuries and mobility problems, it is also more than capable of providing challenging exercises for a healthy or athletic population.
Still wondering about the car? We’re not sure either but one Pilates enthusiast, Reiner Grootenhuis, writes that since the Cadillac was the luxury brand of car at the time of Joseph Pilates teaching, one of his students dubbed the equipment the cadillac as a nod to its comfortable, luxurious nature.
Our top 3 Pilates cadillac exercises
The Teaser exercise in its original form is a mat-based exercise for the abdominals. The original Teaser sees you coming from lying flat, to sweeping the arms around and lifting the arms and legs up to balance, unsupported, on the back of the pelvis (called the sacrum). The Teaser on the cadillac is a supported ut nonetheless challenging variation of this exercise. The cadillac variation of Teaser utilizes the push through bar to assist the upper body to lift up into the abdominal curl part of the exercise. This gives a wonderful feeling of freedom in the movement, and also helps to add an element of shoulder mobility to the exercise. Holding the bar supports you so you can focus on variations of the leg position, to challenge your lower abdominals further.
Hanging on the cadillac
The hanging exercise on the Cadillac has several benefits. With this exercise there is no equivalent on the mat – as the bars are needed to support the weight of the body in this position. The hanging exercise is an advanced exercise requiring lots of upper body and grip strength. One variation focuses on grip and arm strength, particularly the biceps (seen in this picture). The other focuses on flexibility – lengthening through the front of the body to create an impressive back bend, whilst needing strength in the hamstrings and the back muscles to get there.
Breathing on the cadillac
The ‘Breathing’ exercise on the Cadillac is a spinal mobility exercise which gently works the back, gluteal and back of thigh muscles. Using the trapeze attachment, the heels press down into the strap, whilst the arms pull down onto the dowel. This creates a full body experience to float up into a long bridge. As you come down, you can imagine draping the spine back onto the bed, thinking of elongating the spine for a decompressive experience.
Conclusion
The Pilates cadillac is wonderful and versatile piece of equipment that truly enriches movement learning. It gives infinite variety to the exercises that you can learn and so elevates your Pilates journey to the next level.
Feeling inspired?
If you want to try these Pilates cadillac exercises for yourself why not pay a visit to one of our studios and we can get you moving right away!
To experience the Complete difference and discover the benefits of one-to-one Pilates, book a session at one of our London studios or online.
Our physiotherapist-led Pilates studios in Chelsea, our Angel Pilates studio and our Pilates studio in City, offer a highly tailored approach to your Pilates training, whether your goal is to manage a health condition, rehabilitate from an injury or to improve your strength and fitness.
Resources
- The History of the Pilates cadillac: https://www.pilatesintel.com/2019/05/history-of-pilates-cadillac-reiner-grootenhuis/
- The Exercise Phenomenon Born in a Prisoner of War Camp: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/11/the-exercise-phenomenon-born-in-a-prisoner-of-war-camp
These blogs are designed to give information to everyone, however, it is important to remember that everyone is different! If you have not seen one of our therapists and have any questions about injuries, what you have read or whether this may be useful to you, please just ask. We are more than happy to help anyone and point you in the right direction. Our biggest belief is that education is key. The more you understand about your injury, illness and movement, the more you are likely to improve.
