The Pilates chair is one of the apparatus you’ll find walking into a Pilates studio. Created by the founder of the method, Joseph Pilates, it’s a fun piece of equipment that will elevate exercises you’ve learned on mat and probably tried on the reformer as well. Like all Pilates apparatus, it can be used for beginner students through advanced and have almost endless possibilities to keep you both mentally and physically engaged. 

If you’ve been checking out this smaller piece of Pilates equipment, then keep reading. We’ll discuss how effective the Pilates chair is, what to do with the Pilates chair and which muscles it works.

Does the Pilates chair work?

The Pilates Chair gives an effective, low-impact and challenging workout. Pilates uses body weight plus springs for resistance, helping to shape lean muscle mass and increase flexibility and balance. 

Exercises on the Pilates Chair range from beginner to advanced. However, it’s important to have a basic foundation in healthy Pilates technique to get the most out of the workout and avoid injury. 

Pilates done for an hour, three times a week, will deliver optimal results. A Pilates workout solely on the chair may be aggressive for beginners. Rather, incorporate two or three chair exercises to conclude your mat or reformer workout. With increased strength and confidence, add more chair exercises per workout. 

What do you do with a Pilates chair?

The Pilates chair is a fun, versatile and challenging piece of Pilates apparatus. Like with all Pilates apparatus, exercises you first learn on the mat can also be done on the chair. Depending on the exercise, the level and location of the challenge may change.

For example, the Hundred starts on the mat. After mastering solid technique, you can do the Hundred on the chair. Moving the Hundred from the mat to the chair will add difficulty. Balancing on the smaller chair base, instead of the mat, challenges core muscles. Factor in the increased height, your mental focus will be heighted as well.

Chair exercises can be done seated, standing on the floor and on the chair, as well as laying down. 

What muscles does Pilates chair work?

The Pilates chair is a low-impact core workout. Depending on the exercises done, the chair may also target the lower and upper body. A Pilates chair is excellent for improving balance. Several exercises can be done holding onto handles for assistance. With practice and repetition, standing exercises can be done without assistance. This firsther challenges core and lower body muscles for stability.

The muscles being challenged will also vary on the spring tension. Under each chair are two springs, similar to what you find on the reformer. The spring tension can be adjusted depending on how many used and how it’s set. For example, less spring tension during footwork on the chair puts the emphasis on core stability. Increasing the tension immediately adds resistance into the legs. This is similar to how spring tension adjustments work on the reformer.ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates in Peachtree City, GA offers Pilates chairs during private and group equipment classes. The chair is often incorporated into the Circuit classes, in addition to the reformer and tower. If you’d like to experience the Pilates chair for yourself, please visit /schedule/.

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