Homemade Pilates Equipment

Pilates is a program of low-impact exercise designed by fitness expert Joseph Pilates. Many of the exercises can be done without any equipment other than possibly a towel or mat to make the floor more comfortable underneath you. As you progress and get stronger, however, you may want to try some more advanced exercises that require a Pilates chair or possibly a Pilates reformer.

  1. Simple Equipment

    • Even beginners can benefit from adding a few simple pieces of equipment to their workout. Pilates exercises are generally isometric, holding poses with muscles tensed. Use a rolled-up towel to add some leverage. Take a bath towel and twist it lengthwise as if you were going to wring it out. Hold an end in each hand and tug. You will feel the muscles in your upper arms, chest, upper abdomen and shoulders working. Look for other ways to use a towel in a Pilates book, video or website.

      Consider using a Pilates ball to enhance your back and abdominal workout. The ball is relatively inexpensive and is made to support your weight and other pressure. If you prefer to substitute, however, you can use some firmly stuffed pillows instead. These will not allow you to do rolling exercises, but they will support you while doing work to realign your spine and stretch your torso.

    The Chair and the Reformer

    • With a little ingenuity and woodworking ability, you can make reasonable substitutes for more advanced pieces of equipment. Usually only seen in Pilates studios, they are quite expensive to purchase. The chair, sometimes called a Wunda chair, looks basically like an ottoman or foot stool. Underneath the seat of the chair a pedal is attached with two sturdy springs. This contraption serves the purpose of providing resistance for your exercise. The pedal is not necessary for many of the moves you would do on the chair, so you may choose to simply use a sturdy ottoman or a dining room chair. Sit on the edge of the stool or chair, holding on to the corners for support. Slowly raise your legs as far as you can and hold them there for a count of 10. Repeat this a few times for an effective core workout. To substitute for the pedal, you can attach bungee cords to the legs of a kitchen chair. Place the soles of your feet on the bungee cord and push against it while you lean back for an abdominal hold.

      Get some of the benefit of a Pilates reformer at home by adapting a weight bench or an outdoor chaise lounge. You won’t be able to take advantage of the sliding action the authentic reformer provides with this setup. However, by attaching a spring or strong bungee cord with an adjustable strap or handle at each corner of the bench or lawn chair, you can add resistance and support to many of the poses you would do on a reformer.