The neck's best thing: the importance of head support in Pilates.
A common question I get asked is, do I need to use the headrest or head cushion? This is usually from people who wish to correct a rounded posture or forward head, working on the assumption that lowering the headrest on the reformer will help straighten the upper back. After all, if the head is lower, surely the spine will lengthen too? Unfortunately, that’s not what happens. For people with a naturally rounded upper back (which includes most of us to some degree), lowering the head doesn’t magically straighten the spine. Gravity and willpower alone won’t do the trick! Instead, the upper back stays as it is, but the head tilts back, forcing the neck into an extended position. This can feel uncomfortable and may lead to strain in the neck. A headrest or head cushion doesn’t push the head forward or encourage forward head posture; it simply supports it in a more neutral position. If the upper back has more curvature, keeping the headrest too low can force the neck into extension, creatin...