If you’re relatively new to Pilates and want to take things to a higher level, you’re probably curious to know how the many Pilates equipment available today can help add variety to your Pilates workout. Well, if you want to know how to go about finding the ideal Pilates equipment, you’ve come to the right place. Here we tell you about the 4 most popular types of Pilates equipment and how they are used when doing Pilates exercises.
Pilates Reformer
Practically every Pilates studio out there that offers classes incorporates the use of the Reformer in their Pilates workout programs. This is because this nifty machine effectively provides added resistance to Pilates exercises to help you develop flexibility, improve alignment, and increase the strength of your core muscles. The Reformer has a “carriage” you lie down on and slides up and down the machine if you pull on the rope or bands at one end or push on the foot board to move the carriage.
Pilates Resistance Bands
Pilates resistance bands are no different from the exercise bands you see being used in yoga and other forms of fitness exercises. And as their name implies, their primary purpose is to provide added resistance to your Pilates workout so the muscles are more engaged and you get better muscle strength training. It also helps with balance because you can use it to keep your feet in place and your body in the right alignment when you do sitting exercises and your leg/s are lifted off the ground. If you’re only starting to try out using Pilates equipment in your workout, buying a resistance band would be a good start.
Magic Circle or Exercise Ring
Like the resistance band, the Magic Circle or exercise ring is also multi-function and can be used not only in Pilates exercises but with other types of fitness programs. What the exercise ring does is it adds pressure and resistance even to the simplest Pilates exercises like the Halo Ring (hands overhead and you squeeze and release the ring) to engage the arm muscles. Buying a magic circle or exercise ring is a good idea if you want to incorporate moves in your workout that involve using Pilates equipment. These rings are very affordable too, which is obviously always a good thing.
Exercise Ball
The exercise ball is just as popular as, if not more than, resistance bands because of its versatility in adding variety to your Pilates workout. And like the magic ring, the exercise ball is also often used even outside of Pilates and in “regular” workouts like doing reps of crunches, push-ups, and lunges. It doesn’t do much in terms of adding resistance, but it helps a lot in the areas of balance, posture, and flexibility. The exercise ball is widely used for back bending or spine stretching exercises, and does wonders for working the buttocks and thighs. An exercise ball is also recommended for the curious newbies because it doesn’t cost a lot, it’s multi-functional and easy to use, and honestly, the fact that you can bounce while sitting on it just makes a Pilates workout (or any workout for that matter) much more fun.
There you have it, folks. Those are the most popular Pilates equipment you can use to enhance and/or vary your workout sessions. Choosing between which of these Pilates equipment is ideal for you would largely depend on your fitness goals and which areas you think you need more help with. If you want or need more resistance, then a trusty resistance band is a good bet because it does the job and doesn’t cost much. If you intend to practice Pilates long term and want an all-around equipment to make your workout fun and varied, then maybe the Reformer is more right up your alley.
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