Can Tower Pilates combat ‘tech neck’?

It’s a workout that promises to banish ‘tech neck’ – that stiffness you get from hours hunched over a computer. Our lifestyle writer Madeleine Howell tries it out

THE TOWER workout may centre around what resembles a medieval torture device, but it promises all the benefits of mat Pilates and more: the gains to be had include postural alignment, core strength and toned, lean limbs. Plus, it’s touted as a way to combat ‘tech neck’ by realigning the shoulders – the ultimate antidote to office life.

Sales jargon over. What exactly is it?

Essentially, the Tower is a vertical unit with spring attachments including a rollback bar, arm springs, leg springs and a push-through bar, which all isolate muscles you never knew you had. It is similar to Reformer Pilates but is said to offer ‘fuller movement’. There are moves to try either lying down or standing up – bracing with all your might to manoeuvre the springs up, down and around. The resistance builds strength, but the springs also offer support – a great aid for flexibilityenhancing stretches.

Looks complicated…

Pilates equipment can be intimidating. But with the help of my instructor, it was easy to navigate, and the pace of the class was slow and controlled. If you’re nervous, returning to exercise postpregnancy or recovering from an injury, you can book an initial private or duet session.

Isn’t it a bit of a gimmick?

This is no fad: inventor Joseph Pilates often incorporated equipment into his methods of body conditioning, so these techniques have been tried and tested. But playing with props does makes the class more interesting.

It sounds quite gentle – will I actually feel anything?

It’s not heart-pumping cardio, but your legs and arms will be quivering and trembling throughout if you’re doing it right (all while being lowimpact and kind to the joints).

Does it work the whole body?

I’ll hand this over to my instructor, Rachel Barron: ‘It’s a myth that Pilates only targets the abs – the whole body has to work as a stabiliser to control each movement, however tiny.’

But is it just a London thing?

No, many good Pilates studios around the country offer Tower Pilates.

Would you do this again?

As someone who has preferred cardio and yoga, consider me a convert. After one class, I walked out standing perceptibly straighter, carrying less tension in my body. I can see how it might improve my form to complement other exercise – and safeguard against injury when it comes to weights, sport and higherintensity classes. Tower class, from £25 a session at Raw Pilates, The Laboratory, 1a Hall Lane, London NW4; rawpilates.co.uk