The Pilates Magic Circle

What a great name! So much of the Pilates equipment has strange, slightly unappealing names like reformer, foot corrector and barrel, it is fun to have a good one like Magic Circle. (Wunda chair is good too, but I'll leave that for another day.)

Magic circles, also known as exercise rings, magic rings, fitness circles and many other like descriptions, are very popular pieces of exercise equipment these days. You may have seen them in different info-mercials with gorgeous people toning their arms, butts and thighs with them. Well, the fact is that they work quite well for that. Magic circles are also very good for providing light resistance to help train specific muscles to stay active during exercises, and as feedback for the neuromuscular system as to where the body is in space.

As light weight and portable pieces of resistance exercise equipment, a magic circle is an effective and convenient addition to the home studio or the traveler's suitcase. Due to their popularity, there is now a confusing array of brands and styles of magic circles available. Many come with instructional DVDs as well. If you are thinking of buying a magic circle, alias fitness, circle, exercise ring, fitness ring, etc..., take a look at a brief Magic Circle Buyers Guide that I have put together to offer some insight into what you might want to know and look for before you buy:
Before You Buy a Magic Circle

The next few exercises in the Exercise of the Week series are going to be magic circle exercises, so check back in for that, and/or sign up to get the exercise of the week sent to you in the Free Pilates Newsletter. By the way, this weeks exercise of the week is Imprinting.
Get the full instructions for Imprinting

_{Photo: the Stott Pilates Fitness Circle Lite, STOTT PILATES photography © Merrithew Corporation}