apparatus & equipment

Universal Reformer

The reformer is probably the most popular and widely used Pilates equipment found in studios and gyms around the globe. It is known to "reform" the body. It is a padded table equipped with a foot bar, pulleys, springs, and ropes with a sliding carriage (a bedlike platform that slides back and forth within the frame). By adjusting a neck rest, shoulder block, foot-bar and leg and arm pulleys, you secure yourself on or around the machine, pushing and pulling for muscle resistance and stretch. Exercises can be perform either on your back, stomach, knees, standing or sitting, and challenge you to stabilize the trunk using your own body weight as resistance, while allowing your extremities to move freely from a stable torso. Pilates developed well over 100 exercises for the Reformer.

Cadillac

The Cadillac (also referred to as the Trapeze Table) comes loaded with everything you could want in an exercise apparatus. Thus, its name: Cadillac. A wide stationary padded table with towers, bars, and attachable springs. It sits higher off of the ground than the reformer, so injured and older people can get on and off easier. Because the bed is fairly large, the exercises are generally more comfortable for overweight and very tall people and for people with tight muscles who can't put their bodies into small spaces.

It allows for the safe performance of spiraling and circular movements used to restore flexibility and strength in the back as well as to lengthen the spine, and permits the body to move 360 degrees. It is tailored to perform a complete, full-body workout ? that both strengthen and stretch the muscles, in assortment of positions. Pilates developed over 80 exercises for this versatile piece of equipment.

Wunda Chair / Exo Chair

The Wunda Chair a bench-like machine (almost like a box) with a padded seat and a movable pedal and 2 to 4 springs attached for a variety of resistance. (If turned on its side, it transforms into a chair! Thus, how it got its name! See picture.) You can sit, stand, kneel or lie on this multipurpose apparatus, developing upper body strength, stabilizing the torso and performing a number of lower body and feet exercises. Many exercises involve lifting your entire body weight. Pilates developed over 50 exercises for his Chair! Today, it is also made with a split pedal to help correct muscle imbalances and is used many times as a form of rehabilitation.

Ladder Barrel

This is a large padded-arc with a step ladder. It is used to both stretch and strengthen the entire body. It is a wonderful piece to use for targeting the back and abdominals, especially the hard to get areas obliques (a.k.a.love handles), and is an excellent way to stretch the psoas, hips and hip-flexors, and glutes. It allows you to safely get into positions to stretch muscles you may have not been able to on your own. One of our favorite pieces! Pilates developed around 20 or so exercises for this barrel.

Spine Corrector

This low barrel is a smaller version of the ladder barrel. One of its main applications is to support and correct imbalances in the spine. It is also used to stretch the tight muscles in the chest, shoulders and hips. It helps balance muscles and develop a more nimble and flexible spine. With over 50 exercises, a challenging and fun, full-body workout can still be achieved on this small piece of equipment.

Small Apparatus

Small Arc

The Small arc is used similar to the spine corrector to stretch and strengthen primarily the spine and release tension in the chest and shoulders and hips. It could be thought of as a "modification" for those who have extremely tight muscles in these areas.

C-Shaper

A padded, chair-like cushion that shapes to the curvature of the spine and allows those with weaker abdominals to perform deep and challenging abdominal work without straining the back. Is an excellent tool for pregnant women!

Mini-balls

A squishy ball made of plastic and inflated with air is used in a variety of positions to deepen the work of the exercise. "Here comes the ball..." is usually the response I get. Much better than the occasional rolling of the eyes! Eventually clients learn to love it!

Long Box

A long padded box used primarily on the reformer, to perform exercises targeting the upper quadrant of the body. The box can be used to perform advanced full-body exercises and the lower limbs.

Ankle & High Cuff

Used for modifying exercises. Such as, someone with an injury such as a broken toe or sprained ankle and for special populations.

Foam Roller

A cylinder of plastic foam. Acting as a deep tissue massage, this tool stretches out every aspect of the body. Great way to alleviate back and neck pain.

Jumpboard

The Pilates Jumpboard attaches to the reformer. It is a non-impact way to perform plyometric jumps! Great for toning thighs and glutes! And, is an awesome way to improve your vertical jump and uphill biking and skiing performance!

Back Support

A padded, chair-like cushion that supports the back when sitting in an upright position. Excellent for those who are recovering from back injuries, or whom just simply have a weak back. Great for women in their third trimester of pregnancy!

Rings

Used primarily to strengthen inner thighs and engage transverse abdominals. Although it can be used to add variety to many Pilates exercises. Clients tend to refer to this tool with a huge grin, "No, not the ring!"

Physio-Ball

The principles of Pilates are applied to the Physio-Ball. Variety, fluidity and refinement of Pilates are enhanced and taken to new levels with the instability of the ball.

Why Springs?

Encourage strength and control
Promote stretching and flexibility
Safe and Low-Impact
When lifting weights the resistance remains constant. There is nothing to help you with the exercise, or to encourage control of the movement. The weight is lifted and gravity pulls it back down, leaving you to fend for yourself. No help. No protection. Just force.
A spring, on the other hand, provides assistance, acting as muscles we don't yet have - one of the reasons Pilates is used as a form of rehabilitation. And, what's remarkable about the spring is its ability to provide assistance in one direction and resistance in the opposite direction, creating what we call: eccentric resistance.
This eccentric resistance the spring offers is very unpredictable, and is unlike the pull of gravity that the body is accustomed to. The further a spring is stretched, the more resistance it provides and the more concentration it takes to accommodate. As the muscles adapt, they must exhibit a great deal of control to keep the movement smooth and the body in alignment.
This slow controlled movement will help to avoid any overloading to your joints and/or muscles, and allows for an extremely safe and non-impact work-out. It is for this reason the Pilates apparatus is highly recommended for older adults who are trying to stay strong or for those who are recovering from an injury. And is where Pilates gets its reputation for being a great way to both lengthen and strengthen your muscles - in fitness and rehabilitation.
In fact, many physical therapists are now incorporating Pilates Apparatus into their programs and/or are eagerly seeking information about it. They too see the ingenuity of the spring's ability to re-teach normal movement patterns, or re-train a muscle that is not being used appropriately, or at all, for that matter.
Another attribute of the spring is the energy and flowing stretch it makes available to us. Our muscles have mechanisms that can protect us from overstretching them, but that can sometimes limit our ability to gain flexibility. The spring tricks this system of inhibition and allows muscles to gently stretch more effectively, thus, increasing flexibility.
During the second phase of a movement, the tension is decreased and the spring recoils, causing the muscle to relax - allowing the joint to go into a position of stretch for that same muscle. This technique works because muscles stretch more readily immediately after contraction.
The beauty of the spring is that while strengthening and/or lengthening one muscle group, you are learning to resist and strengthen another muscle group at the same time, activating muscles you didn't even know existed, or perhaps haven't felt (or used) in a very long time.
This sort of control and concentration creates tremendous body awareness and overall strength. With springs, you will begin to feel and educate yourself how the body is supposed to move. And take this knowledge with you after your Pilates session has ended.