Pilates Equipment for Home: 4 Must-Haves and How to Use Them

So, you’ve tasted the rejuvenation of Pilates after experimenting with pilates and now want to own a home studio? Well, there are more than a dozen pilates equipment for home workout on the market. And as a serious pilates enthusiast, some of the equipment are must-haves.

At Vaissal Pilates, we understand pilates home workouts are convenient for most people. And to enhance your exercise, you’ll need pilates focused equipment that:

• Adds versatility to your exercises and makes them more dynamic
• Increases the difficulty of your exercises for overall strength building
• Targets all your core muscles, including the back, abs, and pelvic floor muscles

To help you get started with your journey to a full home pilates studio, here are the four essential pieces of equipment you must have.

1- Aluminum Pilates Reformer for Muscle and Strength Training

Originally designed by Joseph Pilates, a reformer is a bed-like platform with a sliding carriage that has handles, springs, pulleys, ropes, and shoulder blocks. Modern reformers also have an adjustable headrest for maximum comfort.

An Aluminum Pilates Reformer is used to add resistance and intensity to pilates exercises. This machine can be used for weight loss, injury rehabilitation, and all kinds of strength training. However, there are numerous documented pilates reformer exercises, and you should only choose those that align with your goals.

Before we look at examples of exercises, here’s how you use an Aluminum Pilates Reformer for a basic workout as a beginner:

1. Ensure the reformer is securely in place. All the parts have been well assembled according to the instructions and nothing is loose or missing.
2. Lie down on the carriage facing up and rest your legs firmly on the foot bar with a 90-degree bend at the knee.
3. Slide back and forth, gradually increasing the resistance using the different springs.

While the above exercise is the most basic use of a pilates reformer, there are many other variations you can choose from. The variations increase the intensity of the workouts and help target different parts of the body, such as the groin.

Some of the variations include:

• The elephant: This type of reformer exercise is best for beginners but can also be advanced to accommodate experts. You’ll need to stand on a reformer whose foot bar is lifted. You then bend forward, hold the foot bar, and then slide the carriage back and forth.
• The frog: The goal of the frog exercise is to strengthen your inner thighs and groin while improving your flexibility. This exercise also improves both your balance and coordination.

2 - Exercise Your Core With Elite Pilates Combo Chair

When you want your exercises to target your lower back, abdomen, arms, shoulders, neck, and lower spine, the Elite Pilates Combo Chair is your go-to instrument. Anyone can use it, including both beginners and experts.

Just like the pilates reformers, combo chairs also originated from Joseph Pilates. They started as “Wunda chair” before evolving into what we know today as combo chairs. However, unlike a Wunda chair, which has one pedal, a combo chair has a split pedal that can be used together as one or independently.

After assembling your recently acquired combo chair according to the instructions accompanying it, here are some exercises to get you started.

Footwork:

1. Sit on the chair upright.
2. Place your feet on the pedals, push them downwards, then allow the pedal to return to its position.
3. Using the springs, create a resistance you’re comfortable with.

The mermaid:

1. Sit sideways on the chair with one thigh on top of the side and its knee high on the edge of the seat.
2. Raise both your arms up and start bending sideways.

The padded split pedal makes the Elite Pilates Combo Chair the best for exercises that include rotational and reciprocal movements. The extendable handles will help you maintain balance and control when performing such exercises.

3 - Elite Ladder Barrel for Pilates Stretches

An Elite Ladder Barrel is yet another must-have piece of pilates equipment for your home studio.

Because of the modern lifestyle that requires us to sit for long hours in an office, our bodies are prone to backaches, poor air circulation, and other health issues. With an Elite Ladder Barrel at home, you can easily hop on it and quickly stretch your body before starting or ending your day.

This machine comprises a ladder and barrel joined at the base. The base has a sliding mechanism that allows the ladder to move and accommodate users of varying heights. The barrel has a covering made of leather to ensure your comfort.

Most exercises done on this instrument involve bending over the barrel, either upside down with your spine supported by the barrel, sideways, or facing forward while resting your body on the barrel.

Barrel exercises help your spine stay in its natural position, thus improving your posture overall.

“A man is as young as his spinal column.”
— Joseph Pilates

The exercises also help improve your strength, balance, and flexibility of other body parts, such as the core, neck, and shoulders.

An example of an exercise done on a ladder barrel is the spine stretch:

1. Facing the ladder, stand with your feet wide (shoulder-width is recommended).
2. Straighten your arms towards the rung on top of the ladder.
3. Now, slowly lower your upper body backwards over the barrel.
4. As you continue lowering your body, be flexible and allow your spine to curl over the rounded barrel.
5. Once you reach your lowest point, rest for a moment.
6. Using your core muscles, roll back slowly back to your standing position.

4 - CADILLAC TRAPEZE TABLE for Support

Last on our list is the CADILLAC TRAPEZE TABLE. It’s a fantastic addition to your pilates home studio that will support everyone regardless of their abilities or age.

A CADILLAC TRAPEZE TABLE is made up of: 

• A table base 
• long and short cadillac springs
• A roll-down bar
• A push-through bar 
• A wooden trapeze bar
• Bar stretches 

A fully assembled trapeze table is slightly bigger, so you’ll need to create some more space to accommodate this machine.

To create different levels of tension when exercising, use various sets of springs. Depending on the exercise, the springs can be attached either on the horizontal bar at the top or on the vertical side bars. For example, in the trapeze version of the frog exercise, you’ll attach the springs high up on the vertical bars of the same side.

A number of different exercises can be done on the trapeze table and here are two beginner-friendly ones you can start with:

Shoulder rugs: 

1. Attach springs that have handles to the loops on the trapeze bar.
2. Lie on the table facing upwards and hold the springs up.
3. Pull the springs down to the table but not all the way down. Keep your arms just up off the table and maintain the position.
4. Lift your shoulder blades up, towards the head, and then lower the shoulder blades down.
5. Repeat this movement all while keeping the shoulder blades flat against the table.

Plies:

1. Attach the safety chain on the push-through bar, then bottom load with a pair of strong springs (for beginners, one spring is enough).
2. Lie underneath the push-through bar, hold your legs up, and place your feet on the push-through bar in a “V” position.
3. Push the bar up to your furthest and then allow the bar to return to its initial position.
4. Maintain the feet position while exercising.

Other Pilates Equipment Worth Having in Your Home Studio

Besides the four pieces of equipment recommended above, there are more pilates machines that can enhance your home workouts. With these machines, you can add more versatility to your workouts while focusing on specific exercises.

The table below shows some of the equipment.

Whether you’re a pilates beginner or an experienced trainer, Vaissal Pilates has a wide selection of pilates equipment for your home workout.

Contact us today for more information or to get a quote.

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