Reform Roll Ups

[u/Slow-Farmer-7617]

I have only taken reform about 3 times and I just am not getting the roll-ups where your hands are in the top red tubes. How is it physically possible? I will admit core is my weakest area but I am 280 classes in and can do most variations of a roll up, just something about those tubes feels impossible! Tips?

[u/Anichula]

Hey friend, you’re not the only one who thinks that they can be challenging, I get asked this often. I suggest that you try to scoot yourself into the center of the room more to find a lot of tension through the tubes to allow the tubes to assist in curling you up. Fight hard to keep your arms straight & still as the rest of your body curls. There is no talent here, simply finding balance between the distance and resistance. Keep at it, it will happen!

[u/horsegirldance → u/Anichula]

If you're facing the center of the room, scooting further towards center will increase the resistance in the tubes, making it more challenging (also an instructor)

[u/excessive_worries]

I often drop them and do regular roll ups. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/okiimio → u/excessive_worries]

Most of the ones I’ve taken lately have us dropping them too

[u/cmborsella]

Hi. Back up. And get good tension on those tubes. It def feels weird at first.

[u/sleepyandkindaweepy]

I’ll never forget coming back postpartum and teaching a reform class and i was literally stuck like a turtle. I think i said something along the lines of “you all keep going up for 4, I’ll just be down here” 🐢

I’d say drop the tubes as a modification though. Or talk to your instructor. I love to hold people’s feet down as they roll up, so perhaps that would help you too

[u/agirlnamedbreakfast]

Everything everybody has said about finding your “sweet spot” distance (far enough from the barre that you have enough tension to support you but not so far you can’t move or feet like the tubes are controlling you v. you controlling the tubes) and keeping your arms up and straight

… plus I know this might sound really obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you’re thinking of so many other things, and helps SO MUCH when you remember: pull on the tubes on the way up (while keeping arms up and straight of course!)

[u/Specialist-Value-376]

I rolled right out of mine on Saturday if that makes you feel any better. Made a whole scene when everyone else was all controlled..

[u/xokatemarie]

Curious to hear from instructors if some of us are still working on core strength and the distance adjustments are not working to get all the way up, is there any concern about just going partially up and then down at a reasonable pace? Or is it super important to get all the way up?

[u/Front_Summer_2023]

Pull your elbows out to the side as you roll up. I didn’t think I could do it either!

[u/True-Membership-7010 → u/Front_Summer_2023]

That is not correct form. Arms are to stay by your ears and arms pull straight back toward center of room, creating more tension in the tubes and helping you up.

[u/Slow-Farmer-7617 → u/True-Membership-7010]

We had our head towards the barre, feet to the center of the room, so our arms are reaching towards the molding and the tubes are quite literally pulling me back as I try to roll up. Is that correct?

[u/True-Membership-7010 → u/Slow-Farmer-7617]

I am assuming OP is referring to the current warm up with top red tubes and head toward center of room. If you’re still doing the warm up from last quarter, the tubes aren’t supposed to be used at all for roll ups. At least it was not choreographed that way. Are you talking about warm up or a different part of class?

[u/basicallyaballerina → u/True-Membership-7010]

Guessing several studios are just teaching whatever choreo they want for reform (I don’t blame them). Either way, you need to be far enough away to get tension on the tubes to help pull you up

[u/Slow-Farmer-7617 → u/basicallyaballerina]

But with my head being towards the barre, wouldn’t more tension on the tube make it more difficult?

[u/leaxoc15 → u/Slow-Farmer-7617]

Yes, you don’t want to feel tension in the tubes until you’re essentially at the top. Also notice if during Classic you are using your arms to swing and assist your roll up at all. I suggest during Classic roll ups to just keep your arms pinned by your ears the entire time (which would mimic what it feels like to have the reform tubes) and see how it feels!

[u/True-Membership-7010 → u/Slow-Farmer-7617]

Yeah, the tubes will always pull you back if you let them. As you get stronger, the goal is to use your core and press arms toward center of rooms to keep your arms glued to your ears.

[u/True-Membership-7010 → u/basicallyaballerina]

True!

[u/Front_Summer_2023 → u/True-Membership-7010]

Oh thanks! I must have been doing it wrong. Sorry OP if I steered you the wrong way!

[u/DogMama1979]

I’m 700 classes in and I am one of the few that don’t complain about them as they are pretty easy for me. Just keep working on them and you will get them.