Beyond the Mat Pilates Essentials: All You'll Need To Push It To The Next Level

Looking to advance beyond the mat? Utilizing a few key pieces of equipment will dramatically enhance your normal pilates routine. Just add a little resistance! A theraband or magic circle are inexpensive tools that will sculpt even longer, leaner muscles, and offer a fun alternative to classic mat exercises. Here are the “most bang for your buck” pieces of equipment that every pilates fanatic should have in their closet.

1. Foam Roller: If your looking to strengthen your core, improve balance and alignment, and even give yourself a (much needed!) massage, this is a great tool for you. Foam rollers are amazingly versatile and are available in several lengths, widths and densities to accommodate hundreds of exercises. Beyond the various core strengthening exercises that can be performed on the roller, my favorite aspect is the fabulous ability to give yourself a massage. Simply by using your own body weight and rolling back and forth on a given muscle, you can loosen up tight muscles and the fascia that incases them. I personally use the 6″x36″ Full Foller (Foam Roller) because it offers the most surface area, allowing you to practice all the exercises you can dream of with only one apparatus. When it comes to longevity, the more dense the foam, the longer the roller will last. You can even buy a vibrant fabric cover for your roller to prevent even more wear and tear. Average price? Only $25 bucks!! Can’t beat that.

2. Magic Circle: Dubbed the “ring of fire” for good reason!… the magic circle is an essential tool that can be incorporated into almost every classic pilates mat exercise. This apparatus will have your inner thighs screaming in no time. I love to use the circle to tone the shoulders and strengthen those pesky inner and outer thighs. If you decide to purchase this must have, try to snag a package deal that comes with an instructional DVD like the Stamina Pilates Magic Circle with Workout DVD.

3. Therabands: These amazing latex bands come in 8 different colors and levels of resistance. Add them to your current stretching and strength training to increase range of motion and firm up those hard to tone areas. Utilized extensively in physical therapy programs, therabands are awesome for strengthening small and delicate muscles like those of the rotator cuff muscles and ankles. Start with the lower resistance band (yellow) and work your way up to heavy (blue). What’s great about therabands is the ability to increase the resistance as you get stronger so your workout or pilates routine will never plateau. Try some of your own creative exercises and stretches! The sky’s the limit. As a dancer, I love these bands for stretching the hamstrings and strengthening my feet and ankles. Plus, not only are Therabands cheap, but you can take them everywhere with you. Just toss one in your gym bag or purse. Allergic to latex? No problem, Thera-band makes latex free bands. Buying tip: purchase the bands in long lengths to get the most for your money…Thera-Band Exercise Bands – Latex. For more fun ways to use therabands check out Eric Franklin’s conditioning book.

Hope you discovered some new tools to incorporate into your workout beyond the average mat and exercise ball. Be sure to check back soon for videos showcasing all of these amazing pieces of equipment!