What equipment do I need to improve my Pilates practice?
If you're newer to Pilates, you've probably seen pictures of people seemingly being tortured on big pieces of equipment.
And if this has been putting you off the idea of Pilates, I want to tell you that it's totally possible to develop a home practice using some small and simple equipment that will help you to achieve the same effects as the Pilates equipment that you'd find at a studio.
You also shouldn't think that mat Pilates is a less challenging version of Pilates versus the Pilates that you do on equipment. In fact, we have a specific mat repertoire AND are able to use exercises from the equipment repertoire and bring them to the mat, using the small equipment. That means I have many, many ways to help you to get stronger (for which read "torture you"!).
In fact, if you're looking for a quick and effective workout using small equipment (resistances band, slider and small weights), check out this
Reformer on the Mat
class on my YouTube channel.
So, if you were to invest in some small equipment, what would I recommend? Great question!
Note - this blog post contains affiliate links which means that Amazon will pay me a very small commission if you buy anything from any of these links..
What should I look for in a Pilates mat?
Pilates mats are usually a bit thicker than yoga mats, because we spend a lot of time lying on the floor and will also do some exercises where you roll on your back. Look for one that's around 8-15mm thick and that has a non-slip surface.
Of course, you can start with a yoga mat, if that's what you have. For your own comfort, you may want to invest sooner rather than later in something more comfortable.
What sort of exercise balls will I use in Pilates?
Exercise balls also known as Pilates balls, fitness balls, stability balls, balance balls, and Swiss balls—are large inflatable balls that measure anywhere from 55 cm to 75cm in diameter.
They're very useful to challenge your balance as your muscles are forced to engage and stabilize the entire body.
In Pilates, the exercise ball might be used to enhance your workout in spine stretches, planks, hundreds, and roll-ups, by providing support, resistance, and focus.
It can be used under both hands to roll out and work your core, or you can lie over it to move from spinal extension to flexion and work your abs. You can also use it to rest your feet as you perform exercises such as shoulder birdges to strengthen your glutes and hamstrings.
Top Tip: Replace your desk chair with an exercise ball to work on core strength and balance while sitting at your desk!
While I don't tend to use the Swiss ball in my class, I'm a BIG fan of
Mini balls. I use them to help you challenge your balance; to bring focus to different muscle groups; and to assist with getting to inversions.
They're also great for working on alignment and good posture; are lightweight, don't take up much space and can be inflated according to your desired firmness. Note - want to challenge your balance? Inflate it more!
What's a Pilates Magic Circle?
Can I use Resistance Bands in Pilates?
Err, hello! Did you check out this recent
blog post? I LOVE resistance bands and loops.
This is the "all -you’ll-ever-need" piece of Pilates & fitness equipment. Usually made of latex, (if you have a latex allergy, you can get non-latex ones) these flat ribbon-like bands are used for strength and flexibility exercises. They come in different lengths and resistance levels from light to medium to heavy. You can even get bands that come with a
handle
And, a band with handles (or loops tied at the end) is one of the pieces of equipment that you'll need if you want to try my
Reformer on the Mat class on my YouTube channel!
How will I use a Foam Roller in Pilates?
What can I do with Sliders in Pilates?
Do I need weights to do Pilates?
We do use weights in Pilates...but we're just trying to add a little more resistance to the exercises or to help ourselves to connect better. We're not working to build big muscles! This means that
0.5kg is heavy enough.
In fact, if you don't have any small weights, grab two tins of baked beans (they'll weight about 0.44kg) and you're ready to go!
I've used two small weights in quite a few of the exercises in my
Reformer on the Mat class on my YouTube channel.
So there we are - a mat and six pieces of small equipment and you are ready to go! In fact, you can improvise for two of them (sliders and weights) with things you'll already have at home.
You don't need to go to a Pilates studio to get all the benefits! What are you waiting for? Try a class with us for free today by booking
here
