Over the last several decades, traditional exercises such as weight lifting and jogging have had to share the spotlight with alternate practices that are growing in popularity. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, Pilates is a method of exercise that concentrates on developing the core of the body, that is, the muscles in the torso of the body, in order to improve posture and strengthen the body. Because of this focus, Pilates has grown popular with physical therapists as well as fitness experts.
Because you can practice Pilates in your home gym as well as in a professional studio, this form of exercise may be worth adding to your routine. However, the equipment you choose can vary from a full Pilates machine, called a reformer, to a simple gym mat and a few accessories. What you choose in the equipment you use to practice Pilates in your home gym depends on what sort of workout you're looking for and what your price range is.
Reformers
Reformers are specialized pieces of gym equipment, which work on resistance to help strengthen the body, and use springs and ropes to help support some of the Pilates activities. These items find their way into home gyms for Pilates because the support it provides can make some of the exercises more comfortable to perform and the resistance provides and mechanical means to help increase strength. Because they are designed specifically for Pilates, these are probably a great choice if you plan to do Pilates in your home gym.
However, the price tag for a reformer, which can easily set you back a grand or more, is a barrier for those with limited incomes and also not a great idea if you're just getting started with Pilates. If you want to use a reformer and are still new to this form of exercise, it's probably cheaper to go to your local Pilates studio than to buy a reformer to do Pilates in your home gym.
Mats
Mats aren't as precise as reformers, since a mat is merely there to keep your body comfortable and uninjured while performing exercises. However, the simplicity of this fitness activity means that you can still be effective if you perform Pilates in your home gym on a mat instead of a reformer. There are additional pieces of equipment that will enhance your Pilates experience using a mat, but even with the purchase of a mat and several pieces of small equipment, such as exercise balls, you'll still pay much less than you would purchasing a reformer.
One of the big advantages to mats, besides the price, is that they're also much more portable than a reformer. Unlike the big equipment that makes up a reformer, a mat can be folded or rolled up and taken with you on the road, which means that not only can you do Pilates in your home gym, but in your office, or in the hotel you're vacationing in, or while visiting relatives, and so on. Even should you choose to purchase a reformer, it might be wise to buy a mat so that even when you don't have your home gym for Pilates, you can still do the exercise you want.
