Why I love to use Small Equipment in my Pilates classes

The power of using Small Equipment in Pilates lies in Maximising Results with Minimal Gear.

Pilates is renowned for its ability to transform bodies through precise, controlled movements. Many people associate Pilates either with no equipment (the original 34 exercises that don’t use any equipment at all), or with other large Pilates studio equipment – such as the reformer, ladder and barrel. However, some of the most effective Pilates workouts use small, portable equipment that delivers impressive results. Let's explore how these modest tools can make a major impact on your Pilates practice.

Small Equipment, Big Benefits

Small Pilates equipment offers several advantages over larger apparatus. These tools are cost-effective, space-efficient, and versatile enough to enhance nearly any Pilates exercise. They're perfect for using in class, at home or whilst you are travelling. Below are some of the most commonly used pieces of small equipment.

The Magic Circle (Pilates Ring)

This flexible ring with padded handles provides gentle resistance that challenges your muscles in unique ways. When placed between your thighs during bridge poses, it activates the inner thighs and pelvic floor. Used between your hands during chest exercises, it engages the upper body and core simultaneously.

Resistance Bands

These lightweight, stretchy bands add variable resistance to traditional Pilates movements. They're excellent for increasing the intensity of exercises without adding impact. Bands are particularly effective for strengthening the arms and legs while maintaining the Pilates principles of control and precision.

Small Pilates Ball

This squishy ball (typically 9-12 inches in diameter) creates instability that forces your core to work harder during exercises. Place it under your sacrum during exercises to challenge balance, or between your knees during the hundred to engage inner thighs while protecting your neck and shoulders.

Enhanced Mind-Body Awareness

Small equipment amplifies the mind-body connection that makes Pilates so effective. These tools provide immediate tactile feedback, helping you identify and correct imbalances in your body. The subtle resistance they offer requires focused attention and precision—core principles of effective Pilates practice.

Versatility for All Fitness Levels

One of the greatest benefits of small Pilates equipment is its adaptability. Beginners can use these tools to better understand proper form and positioning (or to provide some support to make an exercise easier whilst you build the strength required to do the exercise without that support), while more advanced practitioners can leverage the same equipment to intensify familiar exercises. This scalability makes small equipment appropriate for virtually anyone.

Practical for Home Practice/ travel

Not everyone has space (and the money!) for bigger equipment such as a reformer at home. Small equipment allows you to enjoy many benefits of a full Pilates studio session in your living room. A quality mat and a few well-chosen pieces of equipment are all you need to maintain consistency in your practice. This is one of the reasons that I like you to keep some of the equipment at home so that if you are practicing from home using the weekly video I provide of that week’s session, then you can get the maximum benefits from your workout. It’s also practical to take your Pilates ball or resistance band with you when you travel, meaning you don’t have to let your Pilates practice lapse when you are away from home.

enhanced benefits

Small Pilates equipment proves that effective fitness tools don't need to be complicated or expensive. These modest props enhance traditional mat exercises, intensify your workout, and deepen your connection to the fundamental principles of Pilates. By incorporating these versatile tools into our classes, you'll discover new dimensions to familiar exercises and continue progressing in your practice regardless of your setting.

Small equipment offers an accessible pathway to the core benefits that have made Pilates a timeless approach to fitness and well-being.

Whilst you absolutely can do all of the exercises without the small equipment, the equipment will enhance the benefits that you get. And if you are going to a lot of effort doing the exercises, then you want to get the maximum benefits – right!