Not a lot of people know the origin of Pilates. The founder, named literary Jordan Pilates, created the new system of exercise in the early 20th century emphasizing controlled movements, breathing, and proper posture. The exercise strengthens your core, makes you more flexible and agile, improves circulation, and regulates your stress levels. The whole idea has a deep philosophical background and the idea is to keep the body and spirit healthy. If you’re new to Pilates or have been doing it for a few years now, you’ve probably noticed how certain props help you achieve better results over time. The props essentially help you achieve a more detailed workout with better long-term effects. In the text below, we’ll discuss some essential must-have Pilates props to enhance your workout.
Pilates Ring (Magic Circle)
Usually made from rubber or metal with two handles on the sides, the pilates ring, or magic ring, as some know it, is an amazing prop that engages several different muscle groups at the same time. The ring provides resistance with every movement and activates the muscles of the chest, arms, thighs, and core. You can activate your glutes and other things with the ring. The exercise is simple. You put the ring between your ankles and start pressing it until you feel the fire in your muscles. Pressing it with your arms activates your inner chest, arms, forearms, and core while the body is trying to hold its balance. The number of different exercises that the ring allows you to do makes it possible for you to do a full-body workout with minimal effort while at home.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands have long been known and used by bodybuilders and calisthenics. Their versatility makes them an essential prop everyone should have. Now, in terms of the exercise you can do, well, it’s up to your imagination, as the sky’s the limit. Seated cable rows and chest flies, you can do squats with the bands creating extra resistance, making it harder to get up and down. Arms, legs, glutes, and the whole upper body, and they’re usually big enough to fit into your bag wherever you go. You can use it as leverage while trying to do pull-ups, plus it creates extra resistance while doing push-ups as well. The best part is that you can carry them around wherever and whenever you go somewhere. It fits into your bag easily and different bands promise you different levels of resistance for a more versatile workout.
Pilates Reformer
Speaking of versatility, when it comes to the best-known Pilates prop with the highest number possible, we believe nothing comes as close as the Pilates reformer. This unique and frankly universal piece of equipment allows you to engage the whole body while putting an extra emphasis on agility, flexibility, strength, and your core. As the folks at https://pilatesmatters.com/ explain, it enhances your flexibility while simultaneously defining and strengthening your whole body. It’s hard to describe it, but the secret to its unparalleled benefits is mostly due to the sliding carriage with adjustable springs that provide varying levels of resistance. It’s a must if you plan on getting serious with Pilates. It’s a universal machine which makes it easy to do many exercises, and its universality makes the machine pay itself off.
Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are usually meant more for stability and keeping balance, as they provide a great platform to hold on to while doing various exercises which can be a bit heavy on the joints while also being hard for people who don’t have a developed core. They’re easy to use, made from a lightweight material, and come in various colors. Plus, another advantage is their size; they’re compact and can be stored even in small apartments. Yoga blocks are perfect if you’re still in the developing phase, trying to create a strong core while finding it hard to hold your balance. It simply provides the needed extra support while doing many different exercises.
Foam Roller
Foam rollers are perfect for relaxing the muscles and prompting more blood circulation. They’re also amazing for removing stubborn fat deposits in certain areas and are great for some core exercises that require you to hold your balance.
How to use it? Simple, you’ll use it before and after the workout. Take the foam roller beneath your leg, one after the other, and roll it up and down trying to enhance blood flow and break down any sore muscles from your last workout. Do the same thing after the workout and you’ll see a big difference tomorrow.
Pilates Ball
You’ve probably seen them in every gym, yoga class, and even in your workplace as well. The famous balls are amazing for the core, balance, and coordination. It’s also great for people with lower back problems and while simply holding it, it can engage the muscles of the arms and chest. It’s inflatable, making it easy to carry wherever you go. Many people with lower back problems found the Pilates ball perfect. It simply is a prop that teaches you how to hold your balance while doing many difficult exercises. Smaller balls are usually used to strengthen the thighs and glutes. A number of exercises require you to put the pull in between your legs and squeeze it while holding the whole body in one firm position. The ball is creating resistance, engaging many different muscles.
Pilates is a great way to engage the whole body and put some stress on your muscles while engaging your whole body and making them more flexible and agile. The props are essential and promise you a variety of exercises you can try. The best thing when it comes to props is the ability to do a whole workout at home within a certain timeframe and with ease. Every single one of the props is multifunctional, they’re money savers in the long run and they promise you an amazing engagement of the whole body. But the most important thing is to understand the whole idea behind Pilates, spiritual tranquility while keeping the body healthy and strong.
