Doing pilates at home is convenient and economical: you can train whenever you want and, in addition to purchasing the necessary equipment, you don’t have to pay any more.
Pilates can be made with just a few tools and you can even train at home. This is one of the many advantages of this discipline that in recent years has been very successful, winning fitness addicted and not.
It does not require a lot of physical effort and the very nature of the exercises means that it can be practiced not only in the gym.
If you have a hectic life and the course schedule does not match your schedule or you simply prefer to do pilates at home, with a minimum expense and a pinch of constancy you can get great results.
As Joseph Pilates, the inventor of this discipline, said: “In ten lessons you will feel the difference, in twenty lessons you will see the difference, in thirty lessons you will have a new body. This also applies to those who do Pilates at home. The exception is Gravity Pilates, which requires a specific structure.
What are the best Pilates tools to train at home?
There is a wide range of products in the sports equipment stores and online for pilates. It’s not easy to get around the many offers, especially if you’re at the beginning and don’t even know what to look for. These are the best pilates tools, you don’t have to buy them all (a lot depends on the exercises you choose to do):
- Pilates mat
- Pilates Ball
- Pilates roller
- Elastic bands
- Pilates ring
- Pilates mat
It is not a real tool but it is essential to perform all the exercises on the ground. These are the characteristics of a good pilates mat:
- Thickness of at least 6 mm, so as to cushion the impact of the exercises
- Non-slip
- Hypoallergenic
- Resistant
We recommend that you prefer mats equipped with straps for closure, you will avoid wrapping it with elastic bands or ropes not practical and if you decide to train outside the house is easier to carry.
Prefer those with a body alignment system: simple lines on the surface of the mat that are used to position your hands and feet in such a way as to maintain a correct position throughout the duration of the exercises.
Pilates Ball
A pilates ball is a perfect tool for losing weight, toning and stretching muscles. You can use it to train arms, high and low abs, buttocks and legs. It is a tool suitable for everyone, not bulky at all and that allows you to do many exercises on its own. Check that it is anti-explosion, resistant and hypoallergenic.
Pilates roller
The pilates roller or foam roller is among the tools a must for pilates makers. It is a cylinder made of polyurethane that performs three important functions: relaxes the muscles, stimulates the circulation and significantly reduces the amount of excess fluid in the body.
It is used to tone the muscles of the abdomen, legs, buttocks and arms. The exercises are quite simple, just stand on the roller and slide it on the areas of the body concerned with slow movements and light pressure. Combined with a balanced diet, Pilates works wonders.
Elastic bands for pilates
The elastic bands are great for losing weight, toning any part of the body and stretching the spine. Prefer natural latex bands and make sure your endurance is appropriate for your workout.
The higher the resistance, the greater the strength you will need to use to perform the exercises. If you are at the beginning, start with light resistance. Even the elastic bands are enough to do your pilates exercises and train completely. Of all the tools, it is certainly the smallest, which you can store comfortably in a drawer, another advantage not to be underestimated!
Pilates ring
Among the pilates tools is the most purchased of the moment. The pilates ring is a resistance circle with two handles that are used to strengthen and sculpt the muscles of the whole body. Thanks to the pilates ring you can increase the intensity of the exercises without stressing the muscles, thus avoiding any trauma and improving posture and breathing.
