My favourite Pilates equipment

The beauty of Pilates is that it can be done from anywhere, and your practice can be elevated with the addition of a few simple items. In this blog I wanted to share my top recommendations to elevate your Pilates game.

Please be aware this article contains affilliate links, I earn a small commission if you purchase through them. It does not cost you anything, and they are all genuine recommendations.

Pilates Mat

In my opinion, the brand Yogi Bare is ELITE. I wholeheartedly recommend them for your pilates practice. There are a few of the LMP Pilates mats left, which were designed by Lottie Murphy, a pilates instructor specifically for Pilates use. Think extra soft cushioning and amazing grip for a sweaty workout. This a particularly heavy mat, so I wouldn’t recommend this one if you’re carrying it to class. Fantastic for use at home, though.

If you are toting your mat to class, I suggest their Ever Grip Paws mats, which comes with a handy bag to carry it in. Again, it’s extremely grippy which is great if like me, you get a sweaty at the mere mention of exercise. It’s not quite as padded at the LMP mat, so it’s lighter to carry, not to mention it comes in some beautiful colours. I have mine in the colour ‘warm sand’.

If you’re looking for something extremely travel-friendly, they also have their Teddy travel mats. Grippy and super lightweight, folding up really nice and small, also a great option if you’re working on an already comfortable floor, like soft carpet, and are just looking for hygiene and grip.

Use code “ebpilates” at the checkout for 15% off at Yogibare!

Therabands

Therabands are a great addition to your Pilates toolbox. So versatile, lightweight, and they take up next to no space, folding up small for storage when you aren’t using them. They’re a wonderful way to add resistance to your exercises. The Theraband set that I’ve linked here are the ones I use at home, I’ve had them for over a year and they are still going strong!

Fitness Circle

You’ll find fitness circles in most Pilates studios. They are a brilliant piece of equipment to elevate your Pilates workout. I have a Merrithew fitness circle at home, and we also use them in the studio where I teach, they are a little pricier than other brands but they are high quality. If you’re looking for more affordable options, you can find them here.

The fitness circle can be used to add resistance to your workout, as well as help you with your body-awareness and alignment.

Grippy socks

I don’t know what I’d do if grippy socks hadn’t been invented. Honestly I probably wouldn’t do Pilates. As someone with hyperhidrosis, grippy socks have been a game changer. Even if you don’t sweat a lot, these socks add the extra traction on the soles of your feet to allow you to really get the most out of your workout. The brand Toesox are great quality, and as the name suggests, has individual toes to allow you to articulate them independently, which is really beneficial to your practice. Personally, I like my toesox with the full toe covered, but they also offer half-toe options for those who prefer to show off their pedicure.

Pilates ball

Another very versatile addition to your collection is the Pilates ball. Unfortunately I can’t find the one I own specifically, but I’ve measured it and it’s 23cm. These ones in particular come in some lovely colurs depending on your aesthetic. The ball can be used for so many things, place between your knees to help with inner thigh connection and alignment of the knees, use for adding some extra challenge to balance work, use to help you get further into stretches… the possibilities are honestly endless!

Ankle/Wrist Weights

I have the Bala brand wrist weights, but you can find much more affordable options here. Secure them around your ankles or wrists to really up the ante in your workout. Even though they are pretty light, you’ll feel the extra challenge almost immediately! If you’re new to Pilates, you may want to work your way up to using weights, just bodyweight can be challenge enough! If you don’t want to purchase weights, you may be able to just hold cans of beans in a lot of upper body work.

Yourself!

Of course, you don’t need ANY equipment for a great Pilates workout, just your own body, but I highly recommend adding any of the above items if you’re looking to elevate your Pilates experience.

Thank you so much for reading this blog, I hope to see you on the mat soon. 💛