The Best Pilates Machines

Joseph Pilates developed his first exercise apparatus, the "bednasium," during World War I using a bed frame and mattress springs. Today, the Reformer still resembles its predecessor. Although the Reformer is the most famous, it might not be the best Pilates machine for your needs. Joseph Pilates created a number of different exercise devices, including the Cadillac, the Wunda Chair, the Tower and the Wall Unit. You can find Pilates equipment in different brands of varying quality.

Home Equipment

For a home studio, your Pilates machine will probably need to fit in a smaller space and store easily. Joseph Pilates designed the Wunda Chair to fit in a Manhattan apartment, for use as exercise equipment and as furniture. The Wunda Chair, sometimes called a Pilates chair, looks more like a stool. It has a padded top and a hinged platform or pedals underneath with adjustable springs. With a Wunda Chair you can complete a full-body Pilates workout. Consider taking a private lesson with a certified Pilates instructor to learn correct form. The brands that manufacture equipment for studios, Gratz, PeakPilates, Balance Body and Stott Pilates, have strong reputations and excellent warranty and delivery policies.

Studio Equipment

The most sought-after studio Pilates machine is the Cadillac, sometimes called the Rack or the Trapeze Table. The Cadillac looks like a large, sturdy massage table with a padded top. A metal frame extends above all the edges of the table, holding springs, a swing, a push-through bar and sheep-skin foot loops. You can do over 80 different exercises on the Cadillac, including hanging upside-down by your feet from the top frame. Because the Cadillac needs to be stable, you cannot fold and store it when it is not in use. It is large enough to accommodate users of all size, and with fewer moving parts, it has excellent longevity. Consider second-hand equipment, but be certain to factor delivery into your decision, as a Cadillac can be difficult to transport.

Accessories

A high-quality Pilates mat is considerably less expensive than any Pilates machine. Once you have learned the basics of engaging your deep lower abdominals and have basic flexibility in your spine, a mat workout can be as effective as a workout on an apparatus. True Pilates mats are thicker than yoga mats. The Spine Corrector, or Step Barrel, is a useful accessory that allows you to do mat exercises with an arched back with appropriate support. It resembles a half-barrel lying horizontal with a seat in front of the arch. A Wall Unit or Pilatesstick can let you to do many of the Cadillac exercises. If you have a Reformer, you will need a frame to raise the apparatus off the floor to complete all the classic Pilates exercises. You will also need a Box to put on top of the Reformer carriage for about one-third of the beginner exercises.