The Best Pilates Equipment – The Original Pilates Machines by Joseph Pilates

You’ve probably heard of Pilates but did you know Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in the late 1800′s? He was fairly sickly as a child and so devoted his life to increasing his physical fitness and health. In 1925 he moved to America and found followers in the local dance community of New York. He designed certain machines and equipment to help them with their training and injuries.

The Pilates Reformer – An incredible piece of machinery and one that will definately improve your Pilates workout. You can perform all manner of various exercises. What better way to learn Pilates than with the equipment developed by Joseph Pilates himself? There are a number of cheaper options such as the Pilates Power Gym but they do not have the versatility of the Reformer.

The Magic Circle – Also created by Joseph Pilates. There’s a entire array of workout routines and many excellent DVD’s, such as those produced by Stott, which focus on using the Magic Circle exercises. You can workout your arms or thighs with ease. It comes with handles and a comfy grip. The Magic Circle is used in a lot of Pilates programs from beginner to advanced.

If you still haven’t made a decision what kind of Pilates equipment you would like to use you can always visit your local gym and give some of them a try. This way you can decide whether it really gives you the workout you expect. It’s not that one piece of equipment is better than the others it’s just that they will work the body in different ways. Whatever you choose you will find a plethora of exercises and routines for you to train with.

The Pilates Power Gym and Stability Chair

Joseph Pilates, the designer of the well known Pilates exercises created his system to increase conditioning. After moving to New York he had his studio with a local dance theatre. It was very early on as a result of illness that he decided to learn all he could about the human body. He developed a number of pieces of equipment to help with training and rehabilitation. This article will have a look at some of the more well known Pilates equipment.

The Pilates Power Gym is a built like the Pilates reformer but it is a modernized version. Sleek design and easy to put away for storage. The goal of the Pilates Power Gym was to let average folks execute some with the best workouts from the reformer. It’s perfect for lengthening the muscles in your arms and legs. Even large people can fit on the bench but extremely tall people may feel a bit constricted and may not get a full extension. There are resistance knobs on the side which can be easily changed to give you a varied workout. One end of the machine lifts up so you can work on an incline also.

If you are looking for more of a leg workout then the stability chair is for you. It will tone, lengthen and strengthen your legs and abs. It is great for achieving muscle balance in your legs and thighs. Resistance bands play a role in giving you a more challenging workout. The pedals can be pushed or pulled giving you a fuller workout.

Detailed instruction on tips on how to use your device is usually helpful. In case you acquire it new you would expect to find and illustrated guide for every exercise, or much better yet, a Pilates DVD. I recommend looking for a few other routines as well so you can vary your regime and keep interested in your workouts.