6 essentials for getting a great pilates workout at home
Skip the reformer: This gear will help you get stronger at home.
Credit:
Getty Images / Mikolette
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
If you’re a fan of pilates, you’ve probably taken a reformer class with one of those large machines that look like a bed frame with cables attached. Using one might make you feel like you’re getting a better workout, but you don’t need a reformer for this type of exercise. The right gear makes it easy to practice mat-based pilates at home.
Like yoga, there are different types of pilates classes you can take. Many involve the repetition of slow, controlled movements that engage your core, such as leg circles, hundreds, and leg kicks, to build strength. Though the reformer makes these movements more challenging via spring-based resistance, pilates can easily be performed on a mat using only your bodyweight, and modified with resistance bands or light dumbbells as you get stronger. If you’re thinking of adding pilates to your workout routine, these six essential items can help you get started at home.
Related content
feature
An app to guide you through your sessions
The right app can inspire you to move.
A fitness app with an ample selection of pilates classes and motivating instructors is a great way to add variety to your workouts and keep them challenging. Some of our favorite workout apps, such as Nike Training Club and Alo Moves, have robust selections of pilates workouts for you to dive into.
We named Nike Training Club our favorite workout app thanks to its fun classes, upbeat instructors, and motivating features that inspire you to crush your fitness goals. Alo Moves, our favorite yoga app, also offers a range of fun and challenging pilates workouts taught by motivating and helpful instructors.
A mat to make floor work comfortable
A pilates mat will provide extra cushion for your joints.
Most home workouts require some sort of floor padding like a yoga mat to cushion and support your movements. However, adequate padding is especially important for pilates workouts, where you’ll spend a good amount of time on the floor.
Pilates mats are more cushioned than typical yoga mats, as there’s less balancing on one leg and more time spent on your tailbone or on all fours where your knees would prefer more padding. One popular option is the BalanceFrom GoFit Pilates Mat available on Amazon. This mat has a 4.6-star rating with more than 6,000 reviews, and reviewers say it’s ultra comfortable on their joints during floor workouts.
Get the BalanceFrom GoFit Pilates Mat from Amazon starting at $17.36
Ankle weights to increase resistance
Ankle weights are an easy way to add resistance to your workout.
Once you master the movements of mat-based pilates classes, you may want to consider a pair of light weights for added resistance. Ankle weights are a great add-on for movements like leg lifts, side kicks, or toe taps, and they keep you hands-free so you can seamlessly transition from movement to movement.
The Bala Bangles are a modern, stylish pair of weights available in a variety of trendy colors, and can be worn on your ankles or wrists during arm and leg exercises. They’re comfortable, easy to use, and stay in place throughout workouts.
Get the Bala Bangles from Amazon starting at $49
Resistance bands to modify your workout’s difficulty
Resistance bands are easy to use to challenge yourself.
Small, lightweight, and easy to store, mini-bands can help you get more out of each workout. They can be used for clam shells, glute bridges, or band pull-aparts, and can be worn during other pilates moves for an added challenge to help you gain strength.
For a basic set of mini-bands with varying resistance, try the Fit Simplify set from Amazon. These rubber resistance bands have a 4.5-star rating and more than 105,500 reviews. Sold in sets of five, reviewers claim they are great for a variety of exercises and hold up well over time.
For a set of cloth resistance bands that won’t bunch up around your legs the way rubber ones tend to, try the Walito resistance band set. These bands have a 4.7-star rating on Amazon with more than 19,000 reviews. In addition to adding serious resistance to workouts, reviewers say these three bands are comfortable to exercise in.
- Get the Fit Simplify resistance bands from Amazon for $12.95
- Get the Walito resistance bands from Amazon for $12.99
A supportive sports bra to keep you comfortable
A supportive sports bra will keep you comfortable as you move through different exercises.
An essential piece of gear for any workout session, you ideally want a sports bra that is supportive yet chafe-free. One well-reviewed option is the Athleta Exhale bra. The bra comes in sizes XXS to XL in cup sizes A to C, and sizes XXS to 3X in cup sizes D to DD+. Reviewers say this bra is soft and comfortable, and provides gentle support for low-impact workouts.
Sliders to mimic the reformer’s motion
Sliders help mimic the motion of a pilates reformer.
On a pilates reformer, the bench slides back and forth, allowing you to crunch and extend to work your core. Though we love the Balanced Body MOTR for its ability to mimic the reformer at home, a less expensive option is to get a pair of sliders. These discs go beneath your hands or feet to create less resistance with the floor, allowing you to imitate the reformer’s motion, but they take up much less space and cost way less.
A solid pick is the Synergee core slider pack from Amazon, which has a 4.5-star rating and more than 15,400 reviews. Reviewers say these sliders work well on multiple surfaces, and left their abs feeling sore for days after each workout.
Get the Synergee core sliders from Amazon starting at $9.86
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.