If you’ve been on the internet within the past few years, you’ve probably come across fitness and wellness girls raving about Pilates classes. From GRWM videos to studio tours, the Pilates lifestyle screams That Girl. And yes, the hype got through to me. However, after researching various Pilates studios near me, I realized that their memberships come at a hefty price. That’s just the beginning. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that in addition to membership, you need a bunch of matching outfits, Stanley Cups, and special grip socks for each day of the week.
So, yeah, I’m not going to join the glamorous ranks of studio Pilates girls. However, Pilates is a great workout and you can easily get a similar experience at home. Try mat Pilates. Mat Pilates eliminates the reformer machines typically used in studios and replaces them with a mat, simple Pilates equipment, and body weight. Anything that you probably already have lying around your apartment or that can be shipped in just two days.
If you’re ready to transition from studio classes to at-home sessions, first, welcome to the club! Second, start here. Below, we’ve rounded up the best Pilates equipment you can add to your home studio to help you look forward to your daily mat sessions.
How to do Pilates at home
There’s no shortage of options for doing Pilates workouts at home, including free and paid apps, short TikTok routines, and free YouTube videos. Below, our editors have outlined some of their favorite resources to help you get started with Pilates at home.
- If you want a guided schedule: “FORM” by Sami Clark (Read our app review here!), $28/month or $120/year
- If you want to choose from a huge library of on-demand workouts: obe fitness$24.99/month or $169.99/year
- If you’ve never tried Pilates before and want to give it a try, here’s how. @MoveWithNicole on YouTube
Everything you need for Pilates at home
Stacht
In addition to the typical yoga mat benefits (supportive cushioning to cushion the impact of floor workouts and grippy material to keep you in place), this foldable yoga mat from Stakt offers even more support during your workout. They offer lots of support and are easy to customize your experience, whether you’re doing planks or need more cushioning under your knees or wrists.
Available in 7 colors
Target | All in Motion
If you want to level up your at-home Pilates routine, add a set of lighter weights to make it more challenging. This set from Target comes with 3-pound, 5-pound, and 8-pound weights, so you can use heavier weights for glute training and lighter weights for arms. You can also start with something light and move up as you get stronger.
Amazon |Rose
Take your home workout to the next level by incorporating Bala’s 1 pound wrist weights. They are comfortable to wear and easy to put on and take off when changing movements. You don’t have to worry about holding weights, you can wear it on your wrist to train your arms, or on your ankle to train your lower body. These serve as built-in extra pushes that you’ll actually look forward to using.
Available in 3 colors
Amazon | Home Gym
This 10-pound weight exercise ring is high quality, easy to hold, and has a balanced weight to help with movements like crunches, chest presses, core training, and more. Use this weight ring during your mat Pilates session to improve your balance and endurance.
Amazon |Rose
As you increase your flexibility, it can be difficult to maintain certain stretches and movements at first. One of the best ways to help your body during these movements is to place a supportive yoga block on the floor.
Available in 4 colors
lululemon
Using a foam roller under your feet when doing mat Pilates movements on your back and hands can have a similar effect as a reformer. When using a foam roller, you should mimic the movements of a reformer and focus on balance. This option from Lululemon comes with two rollers: one for massaging your arms and legs, and another for relieving tension in your back.
Available in 3 colors
rose
Placing a slider under your feet during a plank movement mimics the experience of a reformer and takes your core exercise to the next level. Bala’s sliding discs are made from dense, supportive foam, so you’ll be fully supported during use.
Available in 3 colors
Amazon | Alta
Resistance bands are an easy way to add challenge to Pilates movements like leg lifts and raises. These resistance bands from Amazon are durable, don’t slip up and down, and come in three different difficulty levels.
Amazon | Pafal
If you’re used to reformers and are intimidated by the thought of doing without one, this Pilates ab board is basically the closest thing to that experience at home. It’s compact and allows you to perform traditional Pilates movements like lunges, planks, and arm extensions. You can read the Wellness Editor’s review here.
Available in 2 colors
Amazon | Gaiam
Even if you’re not used to it yet, there are many ways to have a home improvement experience using household equipment. In case we haven’t said anything already, this Pilates bar is designed to help you recreate the movements of the reformers wherever you are. While holding the bar over your chest, place your feet in the stirrups at the ends of the two resistance bands and guide your body through various movements.
Amazon | Iuga
When I expect a sweaty training session, I like to put a yoga towel on my mat. This yoga towel grips your mat securely, is highly absorbent, and has a non-slip surface to ensure it stays in place during your workout. The set also comes with a hand towel in case you need a quick wipe down between movements, and an empty sprayer that you can fill with water and spritz on the towel if you need more traction. A bottle is also included.
Available in 5 colors
move to active
Grip socks are required when using the Pilates Reformer, but I like to wear them when training on a yoga mat. It stays firmly in place, so you don’t have to worry about slipping or losing your footing while stretching. As a bonus, Move Active’s grip socks are moisture-wicking (shout out to you sweaty girls!) and come in a variety of on-trend styles, which is always a win in my book.
meet the author
Bella Gil, Commercial Editor Associate
With shopping literally her full-time job, Bella is dedicated to making sure she spends her hard-earned money on products she’ll love. She spends her days testing, researching, and writing about a wide range of topics, from beauty products to rug cleaners and everything in between.
