Tower Reformer

What Is Tower Pilates?

The Tower – also known as the Wall Unit or Half Cadillac – is a vertical spring system that attaches to the end of your Reformer. It adds an entirely new dimension to your Pilates practice by introducing standing work, push-through movements, and spring-loaded leg and arm series that you simply can’t do on the Reformer alone.

Think of the Tower as the bridge between the Reformer and the Cadillac. It uses the same spring principles but in a vertical orientation, which means you’re working against gravity in a completely different way. The result is functional strength – the kind of strength you actually use when you’re standing, walking, lifting, and moving through daily life.

History of the Tower

The Tower evolved directly from Joseph Pilates’ Cadillac. While the full Cadillac is a standalone piece of apparatus with its own raised table, the Tower was developed to bring the same spring-based exercises into a more space-efficient format by mounting the springs, bars, and attachments directly onto the Reformer frame.

This ingenious adaptation means studios can offer the full range of Cadillac-style exercises without needing a separate piece of equipment for each client. At The Old Dairy, our Tower attachments give you access to push-through bars, roll-down bars, leg springs, and arm springs – all within your Reformer session.

Key Tower Exercises & What They Target

Push-Through Bar A spring-loaded bar that moves in an arc through the frame. Used for deep spinal articulation, hamstring stretches, and chest opening. One of the most therapeutic exercises available – the spring assists your movement, making it accessible even for those with limited mobility.

Leg Springs Springs attached at the top of the frame, connected to your feet or ankles. Allow you to work your legs in circles, scissors, and walking patterns with the springs providing both resistance and support. Excellent for hip mobility and lower body strength.

Arm Springs Upper body equivalent of leg springs. Used for chest expansion, shoulder strengthening, rowing series, and back extension. Particularly effective for desk workers and anyone with rounded shoulders or upper back stiffness.

Roll-Down Bar A bar attached to springs at the top of the frame. You sit tall and slowly roll your spine down, vertebra by vertebra, against spring resistance. Builds deep core control, spinal mobility, and body awareness.

Standing Cat Stretch Standing at the Tower, you use the push-through bar to articulate through your spine while weight-bearing. Builds functional strength that directly transfers to how you stand and move in everyday life.

Vertical Springs

The Reformer works horizontally – you push and pull along the carriage. The Tower adds vertical spring work, challenging your body against gravity in a completely different way.

Standing Work

Many Tower exercises are done standing or kneeling, building the kind of functional strength you use every day. The Reformer is primarily lying or sitting.

Upper Body Focus

The arm springs and push-through bar are exceptional for shoulders, chest, and back – areas that the Reformer addresses less directly.

Who Is Tower Work For?

Tower work is woven into our reformer sessions by your instructor when they believe you’re ready. It’s the natural progression from the Reformer and is suited to:

Level 2+ clients – You’ve built a solid Reformer foundation and you’re ready for new challenges.

Variety seekers – If you love Reformer but want something different to complement your practice.

Flexibility focused – The spring-assisted stretches on the Tower help you achieve ranges of motion that are difficult to reach alone.

Upper body strength – If shoulders, arms, and back are areas you want to develop, the Tower is brilliant.