More Than a Reformer: A Look at the STOTT PILATES Equipment in My Studio

When most people think of Pilates equipment, they immediately picture the Reformer. And while I love the Reformer, it’s only one part of the Pilates equipment I use at The Mind Body Union.

My private Pilates studio in Carlsbad is equipped with a range of STOTT PILATES® apparatus, each designed to challenge and support the body in a slightly different way.

Having different pieces of equipment also means your Pilates session doesn’t have to look the same every time. I can choose the equipment—and the level of support or resistance—that best suits your body, your goals and how you're feeling that day.

The Reformer

The Reformer is probably the most recognizable piece of Pilates equipment, and for good reason.

Using a moving carriage, springs, straps and a footbar, the Reformer allows us to work on strength, mobility, balance, coordination and control in an incredible variety of positions.

Exercises can be performed lying down, sitting, kneeling or standing, and the spring resistance can be adjusted to make movements either more supportive or more challenging.

My studio has two Reformers, which means I can use them for both private and duet Pilates sessions.

The Reformer with Tower — Our “Half-Cadillac”

Both of my Reformers are also equipped with a Tower, which transforms them into what is often called a Half-Cadillac.

The Tower adds a vertical frame with springs, bars and straps, giving us a whole new range of exercises beyond traditional Reformer work. It allows us to work on strength, flexibility, spinal mobility, core control and stability, while also providing assistance or resistance depending on what your body needs.

I particularly love the Tower because it gives me even more ways to adapt a session to the individual. Springs can help support a movement while you're learning it—or add challenge as you become stronger.

Having the Tower attached to the Reformer also means we can move easily between Reformer and Cadillac-style exercises within the same session, giving us an incredible amount of variety without needing a full Cadillac.

The Stability Chair

Small but mighty!

The STOTT PILATES Stability Chair™ uses a spring-loaded pedal to create resistance and is fantastic for developing leg strength, core control, balance and stability.

Because the Chair has a smaller base of support than the Reformer, it can create a completely different challenge for the body.

I love incorporating Chair work for clients who want to improve functional strength and balance, as well as for active clients looking for an additional athletic challenge.

The Barrels

The barrels are some of the simplest-looking pieces of Pilates equipment, but they can make a huge difference to how a movement feels.

They help support the natural curves of the spine and can be used for stretching, spinal mobility, posture work and core exercises.

They're particularly useful when we want to open the front of the body, work on extension or explore movement with a little extra support.

One of my favorite pieces of equipment is the ladder barrel. I only have one, so typically this piece gets used for private sessions, and it allows me to teach all different aspects of spine mobility, but so much strength too. Ballet stretches on the ladder barrel are usually some of the favorite exercises for clients.

Small Props

Not everything we use in the studio is a large piece of equipment.

You'll also see plenty of smaller Pilates props, including balls, resistance bands, rings and other tools.

Sometimes the smallest prop can completely change an exercise. It might provide feedback to help you understand where your body should be working, offer support, or add an extra challenge.

Why Have So Much Equipment?

Because no two bodies are the same.

One of the things I love most about teaching Pilates is finding the right movement—and the right piece of equipment—for the person in front of me.

Some days we might spend most of your session on the Reformer. Another day we might move between the Reformer, Tower, Chair, barrels and mat. Often, we'll use several pieces of equipment within one session.

That's one of the advantages of working in a fully equipped private Pilates studio: the session can be built around you rather than asking your body to fit into a predetermined workout.

Whether your goal is to become stronger, move more freely, support an active lifestyle, improve posture and balance, or simply feel better in your body, the different pieces of STOTT PILATES equipment give us so many ways to get there.

Curious to Try It?

At The Mind Body Union, I offer private and duet Pilates sessions in my home studio in Carlsbad, California. And in some sessions, I can fit 4 young athletes in the studio. In these sessions, they will use all pieces of equipment.

You don't need to know what any of the equipment does before you arrive—that's my job! I'll introduce you to it gradually and choose exercises appropriate for your experience, goals and body.

You may come in thinking Pilates is all about the Reformer, but you'll quickly discover there's a whole lot more to explore.