Which apparatus are we talking about?

Reformer Pilates can sound like a very confusing class at first.

A bed, a chair, straps, springs and plenty of other words whose connection to exercise seems completely random.

We're here to bring a little order to the chaos, tell you about the equipment at our studio – and even give you a peek at a new apparatus joining us very soon!

Reformer

Our beloved Pilates bed, or "reformer", is an exercise machine designed by Joseph Pilates, the founder of the Pilates method. It's a versatile, effective apparatus that offers a unique and challenging workout. The reformer is made of a sliding carriage with adjustable resistance, a set of springs, ropes and pulleys.

The reformer is very popular among Pilates clients because it has so many benefits – improving posture, versatile exercises, adjusting the difficulty to each person, and more.

The Wunda Chair

The Wunda Chair (from German: "wonder chair") was developed and designed by Joseph Pilates as a piece of furniture that would turn into a home training device, based on the idea that "every home needs a chair". His goal was to give his clients a way to practise Pilates at home too.

The exercises you can do on it are the closest to everyday activities – and yet using it requires precision and engages many muscles throughout the body.

The Cadillac

If you thought we meant a luxury car, think again! The Cadillac, also called the "trapeze table", offers a very wide range of exercises and allows three-dimensional movement. From gentle spring-supported movements to challenging acrobatic exercises, the Cadillac's design builds strength, flexibility and coordination, improves movement and prevents injuries.

Some exercises also focus on aligning the spine, improving posture and reducing back pain.

Spring board

The spring board is a Pilates apparatus invented by Elyse Hardman in the USA. It's a wooden board mounted on the wall, with springs, straps and ropes of different resistance attached to it, and the workout is done in different positions against the wall.

Like every Pilates workout, working on the spring board requires concentration and core engagement, and can be adapted to different levels.

The Ladder Barrel

The ladder barrel allows a variety of stretching, flexibility and strengthening exercises that can't be done on other apparatus. It's especially popular among dancers, since it's designed mainly for flexibility work.

The Step Barrel, also known as the "Spine Corrector"

The traditional step barrel was invented by Clara Pilates, Joseph Pilates's wife.

It's an accessory suited to a wide range of floor exercises, or as an addition to the reformer. The step is an important addition that allows exercises for strengthening and lengthening the muscles, stretching the back and strengthening the spine.

And the most exciting part – very soon we'll see it up close, right here at the studio!

So now that we've seen the different apparatus used for Pilates around the world, you can see why it's a whole discipline! They're all different, look different and serve us in different ways – but they have one thing in common: they all help us strengthen our core, increase our flexibility and keep our body strong and stable!