A good Pilates studio has all the major pieces of Pilates equipment. There should be a Trapeze table, also called the Cadillac; Reformer; Pilates Chair, also called a Wunda Chair; Ladder Barrel; and Spine Corrector. If it truly is a full-functioning Pilates studio, there should be all those pieces of equipment, according to Dr. Karyn Staples PT PhD and Pilates Expert, the owner of ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio.

Some studios have one of each. Those are good for one-on-one Pilates instruction. At ProHealth, though, we have multiples of each piece of equipment. This allows us to offer duets, trios and even small group classes.

What else should a Pilates studio have?

A Pilates studio should also offer Mat classes or Mat work that goes alongside the equipment work. Joseph Pilates started with his Mat work and then came up with the ideas for the equipment to assist to make the Mat work possible. The Pilates equipment allows people’s bodies to have the resistance to move with and against ultimately returning back to the Mat work. During a Pilates session in the studio, there is a flow to incorporating the Mat work with the equipment as appropriate for each individual client.

What if I’m new to Pilates?

Dr. Staples explained that a lot of people have tried Pilates Mat work over the years—perhaps on a video, or YouTube or even in a class somewhere and they think “It’s really hard.” That’s where, Staples says, the beauty of a fully equipped studio makes sense for people. “We have the spectrum of working with the rehab clientele to make sure that they are able to start moving against the spring resistance and assistance. And then we also have a more advanced client who can work with a heavier resistance that matches what Joseph Pilates did on his equipment. That enables us to work with anybody and everybody.”

The equipment makes people feel like they’re doing something more. It allows feedback and helps people to start moving who were fearful of movement or weren’t even sure how to begin. And then really it allows a body to move better, be better and perform better.

A great Pilates studio should have this full range of equipment – not all studios have this. Joseph Pilates created all these pieces to build layers of movement throughout the whole system. At ProHealth, we want you to experience that range of motion available through all of Pilates by trying different classes. Do you enjoy a Reformer class? Why not try a Circuit Class to experience different pieces of equipment? Or come to a Mat Class. Or try Private Pilates, where you go through the entire studio. Being able to combine classes makes full use of the entire system that Joseph Pilates created for us.