Pilates Equipment

Pilates is a unique form of exercise that incorporates the use of a variety of basic and advanced equipment during the workout. By adding these tools to your Pilates routine, you can enhance the health benefits of your training creating a stronger body.

Basic Pilates Equipment

Most of the basic equipment used in Pilates is relatively inexpensive and easy to use in a group class or by yourself at home. The most common basic Pilates tools include a mat, a roller, the Magic Circle, and the Big Ball.

The Mat

The simplest Pilates workout only requires a good mat, loose clothing, and bare feet. Pilates mats can be found for approximately $30-$50. While they appear similar to Yoga mats, a Pilates mat is generally thicker and firmer than a Yoga mat. The additional padding is useful for a variety of the Pilates exercises.

Pilates mat work is the foundation of the entire system with over 200 exercises available. There are several predetermined sequences of exercises that are ideal for beginners to prepare their body for more advanced work.

The Roller

The Roller is essentially a cylinder of plastic foam. After you have become stronger through mat exercises, you can begin to use the roller over the mat. By balancing your body lengthwise along the roller, you will further develop your core strength during your Pilates routine. Rollers are typically $15-$30 depending on the material and quality of construction.

The Magic Circle

The Magic Circle is one of the originally developed Pilates tools that adds additional resistance to the workout. It is made of a metal ring with two cushions on either side. It is often compressed between your thighs during exercises making use of its cushions for additional comfort. Often, a Magic Circle can be easily substituted with a small ball that is 6-8 inches in diameter and possesses an elastic quality. Magic Circles can be purchased for approximately $30-$60, and small balls are typically $10.

The Big Ball

The Big Ball is essentially a typical fitness ball you often see at gyms. This piece of equipment was originally developed for rehabilitation, and is an excellent tool to help increase your stability, balance, control, and strength. Many of the common Pilates mat exercises can be performed on the Big Ball for a more advanced workout. Big Balls range in size from 55 cm to 85 cm, and cost about $30 each.

The Wall

The Wall is not actually a specific Pilates tool, just a nice open wall for you to lean against. By placing your back flat against a bare wall, you can refine your postural alignment checking for common problems, such as a forward-head position. By using the wall during your Pilates exercise, you can more easily maintain proper alignment by keeping your whole spine against the wall.

Advanced Pilates Equipment

Joseph Pilates designed several tools and machines during his WWI internment that more effectively rehabilitated injured inmates. These unique designs allowed individuals to work independently, and have proven their value over time with several becoming the cornerstones of the Pilates method today.

The intention behind the development of these Pilates machines is to support the user in performing the Pilates movements. The various spring-loaded mechanisms used in these Pilates machines are able to support a percentage of your body weight during movement, allowing you to complete multiple repetitions of the exercises. The additional benefit of using springs for resistance during training is that springs possess a variable level of tension during movement. This contrasts to the use of free weights that can create harmful stress on the joints and soft tissue of the body.

While some Pilates machines may seem intimidating in appearance, the proper movements and sequences can be learned under the guidance of a qualified Pilates instructor. Over time, you will develop a stronger core, increased limb strength, and improved muscle control from the use of these Pilates machines.

The Universal Reformer (aka the Reformer)

The Universal Reformer is the most commonly known piece of Pilates equipment. Joseph Pilates created almost 100 different exercises for use with the reformer, usually performed in a preset sequence. The reformer is a spring-loaded carriage built into a rectangular frame allowing an adjustment of resistance. From the central guiding platform, you use your powerhouse to move your body weight along with the spring-loaded carriage. The Reformer is an excellent apparatus to develop your coordination, balance, and strength. A quality Reformer often costs between $2000-$4000.

Trapeze Table (aka the Cadillac)

The Trapeze Table consists of a rectangular supporting metal structure above a wooden frame, which possesses a variety of springs and straps. This piece of equipment is especially useful for the correction of balance problems and rehabilitative movements. Joseph Pilates created over 80 exercises for the Trapeze Table; however, they were not designed as a sequence of Pilates poses. A quality Trapeze Table can cost approximately $3000-$4000.

The Wunda Chair (aka the Low Chair)

The Wunda Chair is another multipurpose device that is especially useful for advanced Pilates movements. Its distinguishing characteristic is your vertical alignment during use in contrast to the Reformer and Trapeze. The Wunda Chair is essentially a square stool, again with a spring loaded foot pedal. Wunda Chairs are less expensive than other advanced equipment, ranging from $700-$1200.

The Barrels

The Barrels were developed in several different forms with varying heights and shape: the High or Ladder Barrel, the Hump or Spine Corrector Barrel, and the Small or Arc Barrel. Joseph Pilates understood the importance of spinal alignment and its effect on your overall health. He created these barrels to promote spinal health through improved alignment, flexibility, and strengthening of the supporting muscles. The cost of Barrels varies with each shape with Ladder Barrels costing around $1500, Spine Corrector Barrels approximately $500, and Hump Barrels ranging around $250.

Other Equipment

There are numerous other Pilates machines that have been developed by Joseph Pilates and other ingenious Pilates instructors. A variety of manufacturers now sell their own versions of each machine. Some of these are replications the original Pilates design and others are combinations of several machines formed into one device. There are also simpler and more cost-efficient versions of Pilates machines designed for home use.