Pilates et équipement
You may have heard of Pilates as a fitness class done on mats at your local fitness center, but did you know that Joseph Pilates invented an entire training system based on exercises on various pieces of equipment he designed to work the whole body?
Pilates fans know that it’s not a question of choosing between mat work and machine Pilates, because each piece of equipment, like the Cadillac, the tower and the chair, all has its own particular objectives. In fact, they complement each other perfectly.
I’m at work
The mat is the foundation of Pilates. Consisting of 34 exercises that first appeared in Joseph Pilates’ 1945 book “Return to Life through Contrology”, Pilates Matwork offers endless variations, but the bones of the original work – the emphasis on the center, conscious breathing and spinal mobility – are apparent. Mat work can be a challenging discipline in itself, and it’s the most accessible of Pilates exercises because all you need is a mat!
Under the guidance of a good teacher, who must ensure proper technique, you can enjoy all the benefits of Pilates Mat, as it is adaptable to all fitness levels and stages of life. You use only your own weight as resistance.
The reformer
The Reformer is probably the best-known and most popular piece of Pilates equipment. It consists of a platter, called a “Carriage”, which rests on a wooden frame with springs and pulleys that control resistance. This resistance makes the Reformer a highly effective form of exercise, as your muscles work against the resistance. A great advantage of the reformer is the ability to fine-tune resistance according to your body’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as tracking your progress in a way that can’t be achieved simply by working out on the mat.
The Reformer works the muscles in a balanced way, concentrically and eccentrically, without under-training or over-training any of them. Reformer training is suitable for most customers and offers an excellent, full-body workout.
The Cadillac
Named after the General Motors car that was a symbol of American prestige, Joseph Pilates’ original Cadillac closely resembled a hospital bed, with a frame at and above each mattress area. With its trapeze bars, springs and straps with hanging lint, the Cadillac may look like intimidating Pilates equipment, but it can challenge the body in many planes of movement. Some studios choose only to have tower units, but I love the Cadillac because you can sit, stand, lie, roll, hang upside down all while focusing on alignment without stressing your joints. This is a total-body strengthening workout.
The tower
It’s called the Tower of Power – a vertical unit that uses a variety of accessories – bars and springs that provide incredible neural feedback. As these springs hook in at different points, they allow the legs, arms and torso to work directly with the springs. Wherever you’re weaker or less agile, you’ll tremble! You’ll see and feel it.
Those who want to stretch and develop long, lean muscles love the Tour.
The stability chair
Originally called WundaChair, this equipment features a platform with pedals attached by springs to support body weight or create resistance. The chair is first and foremost a question of strength, as it involves lifting your own weight and numerous isometric contractions.
With a focus on lower-body strength and power, upper-body strength and core stability, it’s easy to see why many of our athletic customers appreciate a program that includes exercises on the Wunda chair.
The scale barrel
The Barrel is all about stretching out and having a supported base to open up your spine, in all directions! The Barrel helps counteract the common forward head position caused by modern lifestyles, and the wooden bars offer versatility for different users.
Here are some vintage images of Joseph Pilates doing his exercises on the Spine Corrector, the predecessor of the modern Ladder Barrel.