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What is a Pilates Chair?
The Pilates Chair is a versatile piece of equipment. The four main components of the pilates chair are:
- A compact hollow wooden box
- Detachable handles on either side of the box
- A padded seat
- A resistance pedal attached to the side with springs which can be adjusted to vary the difficulty of an exercise.
The chair is a fantastic addition to a pilates class or rehab instructors studio, whilst also being a great option if you’re looking to enhance your home mat pilates workouts but have limited space for a pilates reformer. Joseph Pilates originally designed the chair as he wanted a compact yet versatile piece of equipment that could fit in small new york apartments.
Types of Pilates Chairs
The pilates chair has many names. Let's break them down so we can avoid any confusion:
- The Wunda Chair - The term “wunda chair” is often used to refer to any pilates chair. It is more of a general name used when talking about the apparatus.
- Single Pedal Chair - This chair has one pedal that moves as a single unit.
- Double or Split Pedal Chair - This variation has two independent pedals which enables isolated movement with each foot or hand (imagine the pedal on the front of the chair is split down the middle into two). This model is great for exercises that require coordination and balance, as it engages different muscle groups on each side of the body. A split pedal pilates chair is also often used in rehabilitation routines as you can move the pedal with one hand or one foot to therefore target a weaker side.
- Combo Chair - This is the ultimate and most versatile of the two models previously mentioned. The Combo Chair combines both the single and split pedal functions. Often there is a clasp or a pole which connects the split pedals to become one.
- Fitness Chairs with Metal Frame - These are modern pilates chairs that are built from a lightweight yet durable metal frame. They are more portable than the traditional wooden design.
The Benefits of Using a Pilates Chair
- Improves spinal mobility - The pilates chair is a great tool for working on the rotation of your spine. The machine facilitates a repertoire of exercises that help to enhance spinal flexibility whilst also strengthening the spinal muscles. An example of an exercise is the “Swan”.
- Progress weight bearing status - The pilates chair is a great tool for progressing weight bearing status. The ability to adjust the resistance on the chair allows users to gradually increase strength whilst controlling the load placed on the body.
- Improves core strength and stability - Exercises such as the teaser and the frog facing out are brilliant exercises to improve core strength and stability. The controlled movements help to isolate and engage the core improving overall core strength and stability.
- Improves balance and coordination - The chair requires you to constantly engage your muscles to maintain control which helps to strengthen your body's stabiliser muscles. Many exercises require independent movement of different body parts which helps to improve motor skills and overall coordination.
- Compact and versatile - Its small footprint makes the chair easy to incorporate into any home or studio setting. Despite the small footprint, the pilates chair is very versatile. It serves a wide range of users from rehab clients to professional athletes and from beginners to advanced practitioners.
How Does Seated Pilates Work?
The functional design of the chair facilitates a variety of both seated and standing exercises and movements. The clean, open design allows for a myriad of exercises to develop strength, balance and flexibility.
An example of a basic seated exercise is the seated pedal press. When sitting on the chair and pressing down on the pedal with your feet, you engage the core, legs and glutes. This movement is excellent for strengthening the lower body while maintaining a stable upper body. The resistance from the springs can be adjusted to increase or decrease the difficulty of the movement.
Another example of a more advanced seated exercise is the teaser. This involves sitting on the chair with a double leg lift whilst your arms are behind you, pressing on the pedals. This focuses on upper body strength while also engaging your core for stability. The movement stretches and strengthens muscle groups not easily reached by more traditional techniques such as the reformer.
Can anyone use the Wunda Chair?
Yes. The Wunda Chair is brilliant for all levels of training. The adjustable tension allows newcomers to set the resistance very low, making the exercises more manageable. As practitioners get more experienced they can increase the resistance and transition to more intricate and demanding exercises that require significantly more strength and control.
How to make your exercises more challenging
There are a variety of ways to make your pilates chair routine more challenging. Here are some ideas:
- Increase the resistance - simply adjust the resistance of the springs to increase the level of difficulty of the workout
- Perform more advanced movements
- Increase the number of repetitions
- Increase the range of motion
- Add balance and core challenges
Different Uses For a Pilates Chair
Injury rehabilitation
The pilates chair is ideal for injury rehabilitation because the movements are low-impact. The adjustable springs also allow for gradual progression, making it suitable for rebuilding strength and mobility without overstraining the body.
Enhancing sports performance
The chair helps improve core strength and stability, which are essential for powerful, controlled movements in any sport. Its ability to target smaller stabilizer muscles and improve balance aids in injury prevention and functional strength.
Low impact exercise for young and old
As previously mentioned the movements performed on the pilates chair are low impact. This means it places minimal stress on joints. This makes it an excellent option for both young and older practitioners who desire an effective workout that doesn’t cause strain or injury.
Are you prepared to advance in your Pilates practice?
Think about looking for a Pilates machines for sale on our website. In addition to providing you with professional guidance to help you on your Pilates journey, we provide a range of chairs to fit your requirements and budget. You may feel Pilates' transformational power and realize your body's full potential with the correct equipment and devotion.
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