Club Pilates classes use a range of specialized equipment designed to support, challenge, and adapt to every body. Understanding each piece before your first class can help you walk in feeling confident and prepared.
The Pilates Reformer
The Reformer is the signature piece of equipment at the center of most Club Pilates class formats. It consists of a sliding carriage connected to a set of springs, which create adjustable resistance as you push and pull the carriage along a track. Unlike gravity-based exercises, the Reformer lets you move through exercises lying down, kneeling, sitting, standing or in quadruped, building strength while protecting your joints. The spring system allows instructors to increase or decrease resistance with ease, making the same exercise accessible to a first-time member and a seasoned athlete alike. Because it engages the whole body with every movement, the Reformer supports full-body, low-impact training that defines the Club Pilates method. It is the foundation for building strength, flexibility, and control from your very first class.
Other Key Equipment
Beyond the Reformer, Club Pilates studios feature several apparatus that round out a complete practice.
The Springboard: A wall-mounted apparatus with adjustable spring resistance, the Springboard creates dynamic, full-body workouts that build strength, improve posture, and increase mobility. Its vertical design challenges balance and stability while allowing for endless exercise variety in a compact space.
The Chair: A compact apparatus with a spring-loaded pedal, the Chair builds functional strength and balance in a smaller footprint, making it a favorite for standing work that mirrors real-life movement.
The Magic Circle: A lightweight, flexible ring, the Magic Circle adds resistance to Mat and Reformer exercises alike, helping isolate and activate specific muscle groups.
The Cadillac: A raised platform with a bar and spring attachments, the Cadillac supports deep stretching and targeted strength work, often used for more advanced or therapeutic exercises.
Barrels: Including the Spine Corrector and Ladder Barrel, barrels support the spine and open the chest, helping members improve posture and spinal mobility.
Each of these pieces complements the Reformer rather than replacing it, and members typically encounter them as class formats progress in intensity and specificity. Beginners may start with Reformer-focused formats before instructors introduce the Springboard or Chair to deepen strength and precision. For those seeking specialized apparatuses like the Cadillac and Barrels, these are reserved exclusively for private training sessions in the studio's private room.
Together, this equipment allows Club Pilates to offer a wide range of class formats that address every fitness level and goal.
First Class Free
Experience the Reformer and other Club Pilates equipment firsthand. Book your free Intro Class today at clubpilates.com.
