| There are endless options for exercise videos and | | | | versatile pieces of exercise equipment, and is a bridge |
| equipment that you can buy to use in your home, if | | | | between exercise and physical therapy. |
| you are trying to shed weight and shape up. However, | | | | The Cadillac is a raised horizontal table-top surrounded |
| care must be taken that you do not concentrate on | | | | by a four-poster frame on which various bars, straps, |
| just one part of your body. | | | | springs and levers are fixed. Standard models include |
| The most popular of all equipment is the Pilates | | | | a push-through bar (which can be sprung from above |
| Reformer. It is a sophisticated system of springs, | | | | or below), a roll-down bar, a trapeze or cross bar, arm |
| straps and pulleys. You can perform more than 100 | | | | springs, leg springs, thigh and ankle cuffs and even |
| exercises on this versatile piece of equipment. | | | | fuzzy hanging loops. |
| There is a gliding platform on which one can sit, kneel, | | | | Several manufacturers have combined the Reformer |
| stand or lie on the front, back or side. There is a foot | | | | and Cadillac to make hybrid models. |
| bar which is pushed and pulled by the user using the | | | | There is also Pilates Chair, also known as the Wunda |
| arms, legs, wrists and ankles to slide back and forth | | | | Chair, for carrying out more than 75 exercises involving |
| along the rails in a controlled manner. | | | | push-up-like moves with the arms. The price of a basic |
| The Pilates Reformer is recommended for establishing | | | | Pilates Chair starts at around $700 but can be more |
| torso stability and postural alignment. The adjustable | | | | than $1200. |
| springs allow for progressive resistance, which helps to | | | | Pilates Ladder Barrels, consisting of ladder-like rungs |
| lengthen and strengthen the muscles. | | | | and a rounded barrel-like surface, enable a multitude of |
| The Reformer is a fixture in Pilates studios and gyms | | | | stretching, strengthening and flexibility exercises. |
| as well as places like rehabilitation clinics. A more | | | | Professional-quality ladder barrels come in the $900 to |
| economical, compact, and portable model such as the | | | | $1500 range. |
| Allegro is available to cater towards group classes. | | | | For mat workouts, there are Pilates Arc Barrels, which |
| Prices are in the $2000-$4000 range for various | | | | are upholstered arches that help support the back and |
| models of quality Reformers. | | | | shoulders. They are great rehabilitative tools for those |
| Another popular piece of equipment is the Pilates | | | | recovering from stress, tension or injury. They range in |
| Cadillac, which is also known as 'The Rack' and | | | | price from $130 to $230. |
| 'Trapeze Table." It is one of the most effective and | | | | |