If taking a series of Pilates studio classes has inspired you to take your Pilates workouts to the next level solo then you'll be amazed at home much you can accomplish at home with the best Pilates home exercises and the best Pilates exercise equipment for at home workouts. This is one of the best ways to experience the method of movement that Joseph Pilates wrote about in his book Return to Life Through Contrology.

Build Strength with Pilates Performer Exercise - Our personal training studio has a very small but state-of-the-art Pilates studio (similar to the one in the first video). It has all the best Pilates exercise equipment including Pilates chairs and barrels, springboards, Centerline Cadillac and various reformers plus tons of accessories too. It's pretty impressive and at first glance it may seem like a studio experience like this can not be duplicated at home but after reading a few of Ellie Herman's Pilates Workbooks I found that anybody can perform studio quality Pilates workouts at home with the right props and equipment. One of those pieces of equipment is the Pilates Performer a compact piece of home equipment that allows you to perform all of the original Pilates exercise moves that Joseph Pilates developed back in 1925.

The great thing about the Performer is that it feels just like a studio reformer but costs a fraction of the price that studios pay for their equipment and it comes with DVD workouts so you know exactly how to get started and most importantly how to continue progressing as your body gets stronger. Watch the second video for Pilates sample exercises on the Performer.

Diversify with Pilates Band Exercise & Exercise Mat Pilates
Because Joseph Pilates suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever as a child he spent most of his life studying the body and looking for ways to improve his strength. Pilates was involved in yoga, qigong, bodybuilding, boxing, diving, and circus performance so his system of movement was most definitely not intended just for machines. Pilates band exercise and mat Pilates exercises that challenge the body without help from a machine should also be part of your at home Pilates workouts and the best resource for this is Ellie Herman's Pilates Props Workbook. Herman's book is chock full of all the best Pilates exercise moves that will be a great compliment to your Performer workout or to your studio classes if you choose to continue with those part time. The pictures and instructions in this book are exceptional and very easy to follow.

Reinforce with Pilates Ball Exercises & Other Accessories
Pilates with a stability ball or fitness ball is also a very important component of at home Pilates workouts because the ball is one of the best tools to reinforce spinal flexion/extension with Pilates exercises that would normally be performed on Pilates barrels, arcs, and chairs. Other accessories that can help you create the Pilates studio experience at home include foam rollers, balance discs, small weighted balls, and yoga blocks.

DVD's and books that focus on the original method of contrology are also a must in order to get the best results and to avoid injuries too. Keep in mind that new Pilates gadgets and hybrid Pilates workouts can be fun to try from time to time but if you are serious about taking your body to the next level with Pilates it's important to stick with the original method of movement that Joseph Pilates himself developed.
Get a Pilates body at home with the Stamina AeroPilates Performer 4500 and Ellie Herman's Pilates Workbooks