How to Create a Home Pilates Studio

Selecting Pilates Machines and Light Equipment

Jan 5, 2010 Christine Harmon

A home Pilates studio can consist of an exercise mat and some mirrors or include an array of sophisticated equipment. Create the perfect studio.

Pilates lends itself well to home exercise. Exercisers can benefit form a well balanced workout with or without highly sophisticated equipment. Create a simple and inexpensive studio or a grand and elaborate one.

Creating a Pilates Home Gym

A Pilates home studio can consist of as little as a mat and some wall mirrors. In his book, Return to Life Through Contrology, Joseph Pilates describes his exercises as perfect for the home. He writes that any exerciser "can successfully achieve [his] worthy ambition to attain physical fitness right in [his] own home at nominal cost." Indeed, there are 56 unique, contemporary mat exercises, enough to keep the average exerciser busy for some time.

If variety is important, however, a television, a DVD player or a computer can be added to the modern studio. These electronics will be helpful in keeping exercise fresh and introducing challenge to a home Pilates routine.

Light, Inexpensive Pilates Equipment

Those who want to add equipment to a home based Pilates workout can do so without undue financial hardship. The entire Pilates mat routine can be reinterpreted on a stability ball or with a fitness circle, flex bands, or even a $10 foam roller.

There are also a number of exercises that can be performed on the arc barrel or the spine corrector. These barrels cost between $175 and $495. They are lightweight and take up little space. The arc barrel will add an additional 33 exercises to an existing mat routine. The spine corrector adds an additional 40 exercises.

Pilates Exercise Equipment

The reformer, cadillac, stability chair, ladder barrel, and hybrid reformers are all large, expensive pieces of equipment. The hybrid reformers, like STOTT's V2 Max Plus Reformer, is the best investment piece, as it combines the functionality of two pieces of equipment, the cadillac and the reformer. It can also serve as a raised mat.

The stability chair is a nice option for those with space constraints, as it is the smallest piece of equipment. Because it has a small base of support, it is described by some as the most difficult and challenging piece of equipment to work on.

The reformer is the most popular and widely used piece of Pilates equipment. The reformer exercises complement the core strengthening mat exercises well, as the reformer routine both increases core stability and introduces exercises that strengthen the limbs. Hundreds of exercises can be performed on the reformer.

The cadillac, or the trapeze table, is the largest piece of Pilates equipment, and it requires significant ceiling height in a studio. More than 200 exercises can be performed on the cadillac, making it a great addition to any existing Pilates routine. The cadillac allows exercisers to use springs and attachments to either provide assistance or challenge exercise, depending on individual goals.

There are 32 exercises that can be performed on the ladder barrel. The ladder barrel is a challenging and versatile piece of equipment. Exercises on it develop core strength, flexibility and mobility.

Pilates Exercises at Home

There are a variety of options available to the home exerciser interested in Pilates. A home studio can begin with a mat and develop to include highly specialized pieces of equipment. Start with a few pieces of basic equipment and add pieces as your practice matures.