Over the past few years, the Reformer has become the face of Pilates, and it’s often the first thing people think of when they hear the word. The reformer has become a standard piece of equipment in most gyms and has even made an appearance in Berlin Fashion Week.
But Pilates is so much more than just one piece of equipment, it’s a complete system designed to strengthen, balance, and restore the body.
While the reformer is an incredible piece of equipment, Pilates was designed as a system using many pieces of equipment including the Mat, Chair, Barrel, Cadillac, Ped-o-Pull, and Reformer. Together, they form a full-body practice that develops control, coordination, and awareness by challenging you in a multitude of positions and orientations. Any neurologist will tell you that the brain loves novelty, and switching it up is key to keeping you challenged and progressing.
The complete Pilates system:
MAT
When it comes to Pilates, everything starts with the Mat. It’s the foundation of the entire method, relying solely on your body weight to build strength, improve posture, and deepen core engagement. Mat Pilates is a powerful way to connect with your body and develop lasting body awareness. It’s suitable for all fitness levels, with exercises that can be layered or simplified depending on how your body feels each day. The Mat is where it all begins.
CHAIR
Chair’s compact design makes it incredibly versatile, it can be used for balance work, powerful strength training, or gentle rehabilitation. It helps you find stability in different ranges of motion and translates beautifully into how you move and hold yourself in daily life.
BARREL
Dynamic, flowing movement meets one of Pilates’ most versatile and underrated pieces of equipment, the Barrel, also known as the Spine Corrector. This powerful tool offers endless possibilities to strengthen your core and improve spinal mobility. Its unique curved shape is ideal for bending, twisting, and rolling, allowing your body to move with both freedom and control. With no springs to adjust, transitions are quick and seamless, making it perfect for a continuous, playful flow that keeps you moving and engaged from start to finish.
CADILLAC
Much like a Reformer, the Cadillac also uses springs to provide either added resistance or support, depending on how they’re used. The Cadillac offers a wide range of options thanks to its versatile attachments, such as the push-through bar and trapeze bar, making it ideal for more advanced exercises, including hanging movements. Its elevated height also makes it an excellent choice for individuals with mobility challenges, allowing them to perform Pilates exercises without needing to get down close to the floor.
PED-O-PUL
The Ped-o-Pull is one of Pilates’ more subtle but incredibly effective tools. Using a combination of springs and handles, it brings the work off the floor and into standing positions, challenging your balance, alignment, and coordination. It’s perfect for developing a strong, centred core while translating Pilates principles into upright, functional movement. The Ped-o-Pull will help you connect breath, core, and body awareness from the ground up.
THE SYSTEM
When you start to combine different pieces of apparatus, you begin to understand Pilates as it was originally intended, not just a collection of exercises, but a connected, evolving system designed to support the body as a whole. Each piece of equipment challenges your strength, flexibility, and coordination in different ways, yet they all share the same principles of control, precision, and mindful movement.
By moving between different apparatus, you cultivate a more complete understanding of your body: how it responds, adapts, and moves most efficiently. You notice improvements in posture, alignment, and coordination, as well as a newfound ease and confidence in everyday movement. This is the essence of Pilates, a system that evolves with you, guiding your body forward with curiosity, intelligence, and balance.
