The Best Pilates Chair

While many studios and fitness centers have the cable-based Pilates reformer, the International Dance Exercise Association reports that private studios and group exercise directors are adding the chair to their apparatus repertoire. The name "Pilates chair" is appropriate, because Pilates originally designed the chair for small, New York City apartments. This space-saving apparatus facilitates exercises for every muscle group.

Pilates Chair Description

The Pilates chair, also called the wunda chair, consists of a box with an upholstered seat on top, with a spring-controlled resistance pedal on the side. When Joseph Pilates had his Eight Avenue studio in Manhattan, he used the chair to rehabilitate clients with knee injuries, and to teach acrobatic upper body exercises to his advanced clients, says Balanced Body education director Nora St. John. Pilates also invented the high chair, which has adjustable seat and knee alignments and handles to assist clients with the more challenging exercises. The chair evolved in the late 20th century. Some now have split pedals, and others are lightweight for group exercise use.

Choosing a Chair

Although celebrity-endorsed Pilates chairs flood the as-seen-on-TV infomercial market, equipment specialists from "Pilates Style Magazine" warn that these products are often poorly made and lack durability. Instructors considering buying these inexpensive chairs should reconsider, because their warranty does not cover professional use. Equipment manufacturers that also offer certification and training are usually the most knowledgeable about equipment design. Instructors interviewed for a 2010 "Pilates Style Magazine" article listed Stott, Gratz, Balanced Body and Peak as their favorite manufacturers. Interestingly, the Pilates Guy, a Los Angeles based Pilates repair company, recommends the same manufacturers.

Group Exercise

Pilates group equipment training offers a win/win scenario for students and studio owners. The group classes cost less than private sessions, but instructors earn more by teaching multiple students simultaneously. Balanced Body, an equipment manufacturer and Pilates education organization, initiated the group equipment training concept with their Allegro reformer. The continued the trend with the Exo Chair, a lightweight and stackable chair designed for group exercise classes. Its innovative design includes a set of heavy-duty resistance cables, which double the value by providing exercises that simulate those performed on the Pilates reformer. Peak Pilates MVe chair is a viable second choice. Peak offers special studio packages that include equipment and instructor training. The EXO Chair and the MVe are viable for home use.

Commerical Chair

The Stott Pilates stability chair comes as what the company calls a "bundle" package, which features a dual-peddle chair, a set of handles, a platform extender and a two-set DVD.Kimberly and Katherine Corp of Pilates on Fiifth in New York City praise the durability and streamlined design of Stott Pilates equipment. Stott Pilates is a Toronto-based equipment manufacturer and certification organization, which often sponsors international fitness conferences.