The Reformer Headrest

Apr 26, 2026

 by Leslie Janel Guerin

It is more than just neck comfort!

Most people think the headrest on the Reformer exists for one simple reason:
neck comfort.

And yes, it absolutely helps with that.

But the real purpose of the headrest goes far deeper than just making your neck feel better. When used intentionally, the headrest plays a key role in ribcage placement, spinal support, and overall alignment, especially for people with low back issues, anterior pelvic tilt, or poor posture from modern life (hello laptops and phones).

In other words:
The headrest isn’t a pillow.
It’s a positioning tool.

Why Ribcage Position Matters (For Everyone)

Let’s talk about the ribcage for a moment, because this is where most people miss the bigger picture.

The way your ribs sit in relation to your pelvis directly affects:

• how your abdominals function
• how much support your spine gets
• how your neck and shoulders behave
• and how much strain your lower back carries

When the ribs are flared forward (which is extremely common), the spine loses its natural support system. The abs can’t engage efficiently, and the neck and hip flexors start doing work they were never designed to do.

This is especially common in people who:

• sit a lot
• have an anterior pelvic tilt
• experience chronic low back pain
• feel their neck “take over” during core work

Sound familiar?

What the Headrest Actually Does

When you lift the headrest slightly, something subtle but powerful happens:

The head and upper spine are supported just enough that the ribcage can soften and angle slightly toward the pelvis.

That small change allows:

• the abdominals to engage more naturally
• the spine to feel more supported
• the neck to relax instead of gripping
• the pelvis to settle into a more neutral position

For many bodies, especially those with tight backs or poor posture, lying flat with the head down actually makes it harder to organize the spine, not easier.

So while the headrest does make things more comfortable, its deeper job is to create better biomechanics.

Teachers: It’s Not an all or Nothing Decision

From a teaching perspective, this is where nuance matters.

The headrest should not be:

• always up
• always down
• or treated as an afterthought

It should be:
intentional, situational, and individualized.

Some people feel great with the head down.
Some people immediately feel strain in their neck or low back.
Some need the headrest for supine work but not for footwork.

Your job as a teacher isn’t to memorize rules, it’s to observe how the body is responding.

Clients: What You Should Pay Attention To

As a client, here’s what matters more than any “rule”:

Ask yourself:

• Can I breathe easily here?
• Does my neck feel relaxed or tense?
• Do my ribs feel like they’re popping up?
• Does my low back feel supported or strained?

If your neck is working harder than your core, something in your setup needs adjusting, and the headrest is often the simplest fix.

A Real Life Example (And Why This Matters)

I was recently in a class where, during warm-up, we did multiple crunches with the hands in the straps, lifting the head and torso up and down repeatedly.

After about six reps, I felt my neck start to engage.

Now, that could have been:

• early morning stiffness
• too much time on my computer lately
• or just one of those days

But what I noticed was this:
My neck was doing more work than my abdominals.

That’s a signal.

Not that crunches are bad.
Not that the teacher was wrong.
But that my body needed a slightly different setup in that moment more support, better rib positioning, and less demand on my cervical spine.

That’s exactly what good movement education teaches us:
listen to feedback, not formulas.

The Bigger Picture

The headrest isn’t about being fancy or technical.
It’s about respecting how real bodies actually work.

For teachers:
It’s a tool to improve alignment, reduce strain, and support learning.

For clients:
It’s a way to move with more comfort, less pain, and better results.

And for everyone:
It’s a reminder that small adjustments can create big changes, especially when it comes to the spine.

Because Pilates isn’t about forcing shapes.
It’s about finding support first, then strength.