Most of the recommended Pilates exercise equipment will help make your workout more fun and effective as you improve your health and sculpt your body. However, with so many choices available to improve Pilates fitness, where do you start?

In fact to maximize the benefits of Pilates workouts, Pilates fitness equipment is essential.  However before running out to buy a Pilates machine like the Pilates reformer, the  Pilates cadillac or the Pilates barrel there is a variety of smaller pilates fitness equipment which is effective and a lot less money.

The Pilates Mat should be your first purchase. The Pilates mat is thicker than a yoga mat so be sure to check the thickness is 1/2 inch. Your knees and spiwill definitely thank you! Also buy quality; you want your mat to last a long time. Having a nice cushion allows you to focus on your moves rather than feelings of discomfort.A Pilates mat should be one-half inch thick. Pilates mats need to provide more padding from the floor than yoga mats provide for rolling exercises.

Although not standard Pilates fitness equipment; the Pilates exercise ball has become part of recent routines. They are used in all kinds of balancing and strengthening exercises.  Pilates exercise balls are a fun way to increase core strength when used properly. When Joseph Pilates developed his system the Pilates exercise ball and the Pilates band were not part of the routine. When I was introduced to  the exercise ball it was referred to as a Swiss ball. The Pilates exercise ball is inexpensive and a must have addition to your Pilates exercise equipment. As well as being a great addition to your workout; it can be used as an office chair. Simply sitting on the ball requires you to engage your core to maintain your balance and targets the smaller, inaccessible muscles.

  

Using a Pilates band not only makes the exercise routine more fun it also boosts resistance. Pilates is all about resistance. The great thing about the Pilates band is it takes up almost no space and can be thrown in your suitcase when travelling.

The Pilates circle, aka magic circle, exercise ring, or Pilates ring are very versatile. Usually made of flexible metal or soft rubber and are around 15 inches in diameter with padded handles inside and out. The Pilates circles provide resistance and are popular for toning the arms, chest, hips and thighs. Resistance comes into play when the sides of the magic circle are squeezed. The Pilates circles is great as a focused muscle toner and can be used to target hard t workd areas like the inner and outer thing. The Pilates magic circle was part of the orginal Pilates system developed by Joseph Pilates. The Pilates circle isn’t meant to give a lot of resistance; rather it gives gentle to moderate resistance. It’s a great addition because you can target areas that otherwise get missed and can make strengthening and toning exercises more challenging.

While the Pilates circle is not essential Pilates fitness equipment it is a great addition because it is affordable and is small and compact and is there fore great for travel. Many people swear that the bands and rings help tone muscles faster. They are preferred over other pieces of Pilates fitness equipment since they take up little space.

If you are planning on doing Pilates exercise from home then a DVD is a must. There are many excellent Pilates DVDs on the market. Choose according to your skill level and complete the entire routine to get the maximum benefit. Most people have several Pilates DVDs so they can keep variety in their workout.

 

Pilates fitness equipment is essential for getting the most benefit from your Pilates workout. I would strongly recommend getting instruction from a certified Pilates instructor and taking classes at your local gym to be sure you are performing the moves correctly.