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The Pilates Chair is one of the smaller pieces of Pilates Equipment that has been created and although it may be small it sure is mighty! Some might say that perfectly describes our owner at Pilates by Ness! At our beautiful Denver Pilates studio, we use an evolved version of the original ‘Wunda Chair’ called the ‘Pilates Combo Chair’ and it is easily the strongest and most stable chair on the market! Our clients have a true love/hate relationship with the Pilates Chair because of its ability to target areas not as easily reached by other pieces of Pilates equipment.
The Pilates Chair has only a few resemblances to an actual sitting chair. There is a rectangular padded seat which is where you will often find yourself seated in a traditional upright position. However, this padded seat has many different uses, you can also kneel, lay on your stomach, on your side, or even stand on it!
The height of the seat also makes it ideal to back up to a Pilates Cadillac to increase the surface area of the chair. Using the Cadillac would make the chair more attractive to a beginner mover. In front of the rectangular seat is a padded ‘split foot pedal’ with a wooden dowel holding them together. The original 'Wunda Chair' has a foot pedal but it didn’t have the capability to split. Who knew something so simple could add so much versatility? We have Polestar Pilates founder, Brent Anderson PhD, PT, OCS to thank for this innovative upgrade. Splitting the pedal allows for variations of exercises that can improve upon the rotational and reciprocal movement of your arms and legs. Each pedal has two springs, one light and one heavy giving it the most options for resistance or assistance than any other chair on the market. We use the term ‘Foot Pedal’ lightly because, like most components of Pilates equipment, it has many uses. You will find yourself using the pedal with your hands almost as much as you use it with your feet. There are two, heavy round metal posts on either side of the chair that have padded handles, these handles are easily removable when necessary. It also has a set of wheels attached to the backside for easy transport anywhere in the studio.
The Pilates Chair is most commonly used with a more experienced or intermediate mover but as with everything in Pilates, there are modifications for all levels of student. This piece of equipment is much smaller when not coupled with the Pilates Cadillac, therefore it provides less feedback to the mover. Less feedback means you have to rely more on your own body awareness to create the movements necessary for the exercise. Creating more body awareness is a huge benefit that comes with a consistent practice of Pilates because once you are more body aware, the more you will see changes in your day-to-day life! Body awareness is one of our number one priorities in teaching at Pilates by Ness.
Pilates is so much more than just practicing exercises and forgetting them as soon as class is over, it’s teaching functional movement to help you improve your life outside of the studio. We are able to teach every type of functional movement you desire to live your lives whether it’s a basic sit-to-stand movement, or how to properly run a marathon. We are able to do this with our knowledge base as instructors and with the different apparatuses in the studio. No two movers are identical in the way that they move and that is important to us. This is how we incorporate equipment into your program. We promise to keep your sessions fun, engaging, and unique to your needs and personal goals.
