Pilates in Place: 8 Ways to Replicate the Pilates Studio At Home
Due to Covid-19 quarantine, most of us have officially been out of our Pilates studios for months.
If we have learned anything, it is that you can take the Pilates people out of the studio, but… we are not going to stop moving.
First, major ‘shout out’ to everyone who is keeping up with your Pilates practice from home. How great has it been to share this time, albeit virtually, with our global Pilates brothers and sisters?
The Pilates community has really bonded through the “stay at home” initiative. Clients have gotten stronger and learned to work more independently, and teachers have been forced to develop new skills and even worked on their own self-practice. It’s not all bad.
And, we have all gotten a little more creative. We have learned that you don’t need Pilates apparatuses to do the work.
Here are some ways Pilates people are replicating the studio in their homes using household items.
Use the Dishwasher Door for Foot Work on the Reformer
Ashley Gilchrist, Great Falls Pilates in Great Falls Virginia (Northern VA)
Here’s how: Lying on the floor, just place your feet on the dishwasher handle or top of machine.
Use a heavy piece of furniture For the Short Box Series
Ashley Gilchrist, Great Falls Pilates in Great Falls Virginia (Northern VA)
Here’s how: Find a piece of furniture low to the ground where you can sneak your feet under as a “safety strap”. Find a few sofa cushions you can stack up for a short box height.
Use coin-filled socks to create ankle weights
Kunakshi Bafna, Mumbai, India
Here’s how: Provide an added challenge to any Leg Spring exercise simulation, or even stability by replicating the foot strap (which stabilizes the bottom leg) in Side-Lying legs by creating ankle weights with con-filled tube socks. (This is also a great way to replicate the foot strap on the Tower or Cadillac for Roll-Ups, Side-Lying Leg Springs and Neck Pull, or the safety strap on the Reformer for a Short Box Series simulation.)
Use stairs For the High Chair/Electric Chair
Erica Walters, Owner of Pilates Fit Studio in Louisville, KY
Here’s how: For a real “butt burner,” try Cross Over Pumping. (Just don’t do it at the top of stairs, she warns.) “Square hips, feet parallel, tap back foot down and up. Keep foot firmly planted on the stairs.”
Use Household items to spice up your mat work
Avél Juliette, a Pilates teacher in Hollywood, FL
Here’s how: Use a variety of household items to support mat work at home. Two of Avel’s favorites: a belt and giant beer bottles. She says you can use the belt throughout the entire mat workout. In the photo below, she is using it for Teaser to “lock into my lats and fire up my upper powerhouse.”
Use pot holders for the Long Stretch Series
Tara-Lyn Nunziata,The Studio Tara-Lyn Pilates, Montville NJ
Here's how: You was sliders under feet for the long stretch/up stretch/elephant.
Use a rolling pin for Cat on the Push Trough Bar
Kelly Adorno, Philadelphia, PA, Movement Source Pilates Studio
Here’s How: Begin kneeling or standing with the rolling pin on a table. Roll down with straight elbows as you allow the rolling pin to slide away from you. Rolling Pin remains still as you move through spinal extension, and flexion to reverse and come back up to your starting position.
Use a rolling pin for stomach massage
Kelly Adorno, Philadelphia, PA, Movement Source Pilates Studio
Here’s How: Stomach Massage: Begin with the rolling pin towards you toes and the knees bent in a Pilates V position. Inhale to extend legs, exhale to bend. Adjust the starting position of the rolling pin as needed to allow the rolling action to occur. *can be performed with arms back or arms forward.