Intro to the Pilates Chair

Like the reformer, the Pilates chair is another of Joseph Pilates' resistance exercise machines. The Pilates chair is basically a box with one side that can be pressed down against the resistance of springs, like a large pedal. Sometimes the pedal portion is divided into two parts that can be worked independently.

Traditionally, the Pilates chairs are made of wood, with a padded top and pedal. The original chairs that Joseph Pilates designed actually did double-duty as furniture, converting into sitting chairs.

Though the basic design is simple, there are a myriad of exercises that can be performed on the Pilates chair. It is excellent for strengthening the core muscles, of course, and also the arms and legs. Exercises are done lying, sitting, and standing on the chair, as well as from positions to the sides of the chair. One can expect a lot of stability and flexibility work on the chair. It is truly a testament to the ingenuity of the Pilates method to see how many exercises can be done on the Pilates chair.

In the images to the left and below, Stott Pilates has provided examples of the variety of exercises that can be done on their stability (wunda) chair.

One assumes that the wunda chair got its name because it works wonders. My experience is that it does. While the exercise images here are of advanced moves, the chair is often used for simple strength and balance exercises, and beginner classes are the norm. Don't be afraid to give a "chair class" a try.

A class is always the best place to start. But once you get a working understanding of the basic Pilates movement principles, the chair could be a great addition to your home exercise routine. At a cost of $700 to over 1,000, they aren't cheap, but they are useful. Read Where to Buy Pilates Equipment and see the links below for resources for buying some of the new or classic models of the Pilates chair. Many of the manufacturers are offering DVDs for home training as well.