How to Use Pilates Equipment
Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, who developed the idea of different equipment and exercises for soldiers who were injured during World War I. He developed ways for those who were unable to get up and move around to still be able to exercise in bed and keep their muscles toned and strong. Millions of people have since used Pilates techniques and have seen how their bodies can be reshaped. There are different models of Pilates equipment that can be used depending on how much room you have in your home and how much time you want to spend on exercising. The larger the equipment, the more exercises you will be able to do.
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Instructions
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Use the Pilates Cadillac, which is also known as the trapeze table. There are approximately 80 different exercises that can be done using the Pilates Cadillac. It has a cushioned table that you can either sit or lie down on. Arm and leg springs and pulleys hang from two metal bars positioned above the table. One exercise is to lie down on the table and pull yourself up with the handles on the metal bars. You can maneuver the pulleys and straps to different areas of the metal bars, depending on whether you are sitting or lying down. A trapeze bar can be attached to the side of the metal bars or hang from above.
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Place the Half Cadillac wall unit up on the wall or lean it up against the wall. It was developed to use less room than the Pilates Cadillac, but it works similarly by toning and strengthening muscles of the body in the torso, arms, legs and back. Pull down the mat that is attached to the bar and do simple movements, such as holding onto the bar and bending the knees either together or separated. Go as low as you can and bring yourself upright by holding onto the bar. This also helps keep your back straight. There are also two attachments to the bar that you can use for hands and legs while lying down on the mat.
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Work and strengthen hard-to-reach areas of the body located in the torso, back and shoulders with the Spine Corrector Barrel and Ladder Barrel. The Spine Corrector Barrel is made of wood and has a cushioned round slope on top. It focuses on aligning the spine, and by strengthening other muscles, it improves your posture. You sit on the lower part of the Spine Corrector Barrel and lean back so that the roundness of the barrel is against your back. The Ladder Barrel allows more advanced moves to align the spine and strengthen muscles. With the ladder, you can stand up against the barrel and put one leg onto a step of the ladder. You can start out on the lowest level step and increase to the higher level step to increase flexibility and agility.
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Get resistance from the Magic Circle. This is simply a flexible metal ring that you place around your waist to increase resistance to your exercises. This is to increase toning and strengthening to your muscles.
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Utilize the Pilates ball. This is a large rubber ball that you place your stomach or back on. It helps align the spine and strengthen muscles on the back and stomach, allowing less stress on these particular muscles. It takes up less room than the other equipment and is one of the least expensive. There are also small Pilates balls available that can be placed directly on the lower part of the back and relieve stress on stomach and lower-back muscles.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose the Pilates equipment that you will have enough room for. Use the one that also helps you enjoy the exercises, or change it up to other equipment to make sure you do not get bored and end up stopping Pilates altogether.
