Joseph Pilates was both a gifted movement professional and an avid inventor. He combined these two talents in designing and building over 20 studio apparatus, about a dozen of which are still used in Pilates studios today. Here’s what you’ll find at the Tokul Pilates Studio, along with a bit about each piece’s personailty.
Reformer ~ Versatile & Supportive
Joseph Pilates’ iconic Universal Reformer is the most widely recognized piece of studio apparatus, as well as the most well-rounded and versatile. The Reformer can play a supportive, and even forgiving, role with beginners, but also is an amazing tool to challenge advanced students. It can provide a satisfying, whole-body training session for everyone and every body.
Trapeze Table / Tower / Cadillac ~ Mobility & Adaptability
A wonderful piece of equipment for beginners and those with limitations, many of the exercises on the Tower help with spinal mobilization and flexibility, while gently building core strength. The more advanced exercises build core strength in multiple planes of movement, yielding a stronger core and back.
Chair ~ Snappy & Athletic
The Pilates Chair is Snappy! Useful for building upper and lower body strength at all levels of ability, the advanced chair exercises require great balance, coordination and core stability. Whew!
Barrels ~ Flexibility & Flow
While the barrels are gentler on the student, many of the exercises also demand (and build) great strength and core stability.
“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.” ~ Joseph H. Pilates