The best Pilates equipment for practicing at home, according to experts

I have long been transfixed by pilates — the smooth transitions between movements, the lithe yet strong muscles and how everything looked like a dance — which is what the best pilates equipment should ultimately help you obtain. In fact, when I first saw the infomercial for the Mari Windsor Pilates DVD when I was 10 years old, I begged my mom to buy it for me the same way most kids ask for a puppy.

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Over 20 years later, Pilates continues to be the foundation of my personal training practice where I coach clients to stabilize their core through a range of full-body movements using a combination of low weights and high repetitions for an accessible full-body workout at home. There’s so much to love about Pilates, but getting started at home on your own can feel daunting (and no, you won’t need a pricey reformer to get a great workout). Here’s everything you need to know to begin one of the most rewarding workouts you can feel good about.

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What is Pilates?

“Pilates is a core workout utilizing your full body to not only lengthen but improve core strength and posture, says Denise Chakoian, certified personal trainer and founder of CORE Cycle.Fitness.Lagree. So while a Pilates workout might be heavy in planks and sit-up variations, it simultaneously recruits other muscle groups to offer an efficient workout that requires less of a time commitment. This makes Pilates ideal for those working out at home in both small spaces and even smaller windows of time (we’re looking at you, busy parents and students).

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According to AJ Mason, a certified trainer at Studio SWEAT onDemand, Pilates is generally divided into three groups: “Mat Pilates, which are primarily bodyweight exercises done on a yoga mat; wall Pilates, which is great for beginners and those with knee or back issues; and reformer workouts, which are done on gliding, spring-guided machines.”

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What is the difference between mat pilates and reformer pilates?

While a trip to the reformer Pilates studio does indeed make for an ideal pre-Sunday brunch activity, using weight resistance for a more challenging workout, the cost can add up quickly. That’s what makes at-home mat Pilates workouts, which primarily uses bodyweight, ideal for squeezing in between Zoom meetings, study sessions and an endless list of errands.

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Convenience aside, it delivers next-level health benefits. “The first would be posture,” says Chakoian. “As we get older, our bodies tend to develop postural issues in the spine. Strengthening the core [which includes the lower back, hips and glutes] helps the spine and its posture as we grow older.” She adds that as we age, our balance tends to degrade as well. “Pilates focuses on balance through movements that challenge the core stabilizers,” she says. Think: one-legged movements to challenge your proprioceptors (that mind-muscle connection) or moves performed on uneven surfaces to activate those stabilizer muscles, like planks or squat pulses on a BOSU ball. Strengthening your core — along with those oft-overlooked stabilizer muscles — can all contribute to injury-prevention in everyday life.

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The best part about Pilates? It’s a natural mood booster. “All that hard work you do during the workout does a great job of circulating oxygen and blood flow, which releases those yummy dopamine and endorphin chemicals that boost your energy and your mood,” says Mason.

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Tips for beginning Pilates at home

No matter which Pilates variation you choose, the expert advice remains the same: “The most important thing is to breathe with every exercise. The breath is the most important part that differentiates Pilates from any other exercise,” says Joan Breibart, inventor of the Tye4x Pilates Wearable Reformer and owner of PhysicalMind Institute. Additionally, while music has been proven to assist with exercise responses, that’s not quite the case with Pilates whether you’re practicing at home or in a studio, according to Breibart. “Try to ignore the music if they are playing any. Music doesn’t help your concentration,” she says. For instructor-led workouts, keep clothing color top of mind too. Breibart recommends wearing light-colored clothing to boost your visibility against the often-dark mat.

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Best pilates equipment

To look and feel your best, here’s the expert-approved gear you need to get started on your Pilates journey.

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