5 Pilates Sidekicks for an At Home Workout

Stretch-Eze Band

The Stretch-Eze is a different kind of resistance band. It's a wide nylon and lycra swath of cloth that is sewn into a long oval shape. It can be used for resistance exercises and to facilitate different types of stretching, including PNF stretching.

In a Pilates setting, the Stretch-Eze can be used for alignment training and also offers extra support in challenging exercises, such as the ​​roll-up and the rollover.

The product also has a partner workout DVD and a companion manual.

Stretch Out Strap

A simple but useful concept, the Stretch Out Strap is an elaboration on a regular yoga strap. The nylon strap has loops woven in at intervals for the hands or feet.

It can be used to enhance and stabilize stretches and is also useful for giving visual and tactile feedback on how the body is organizing itself in an exercise.

For example, if you hold the Stretch Out Strap between your hands during an exercise like Pilates Saw, it gives your brain information about how your arms are moving through space and relating back to your core.

The Stretch Out Strap is available in different lengths and can be purchased along with a DVD, exercise manual, and training posters.

Tye-4

Tye-4 resistance training is quite unique. It uses bungee cords on a chest harness which loop at the end for the hands and feet. Originally developed for standing Pilates exercises, bungees provide resistance during all kinds of movement.

Tye-4 has been available for a while, but it became more popular when The Method Pilates began to provide information on how to use the product.

The Orbit

The Orbit may look like a skateboard, but the fun and the challenging product is actually a great Pilates tool. There are countless ways to create core strength and stability with the small rolling platform.

The Orbit's surface is padded and there are castors on the bottom that let it roll in any direction. Your job, of course, is to control that. Think Ab wheel on steroids.

The Orbit is a ​popular product from Balanced Body, which has a loyal group of followers and offers a collection of workshops and training programs.

CoreFitnessRoller

The CoreFitnessRoller is a somewhat bigger investment than other equipment on this list, but it offers a lot of workout options.

Endorsed by Rael Isacowitz, this piece of equipment seems like something that might come about if a foam roller and a Pilates reformer got married.

There are straps attached to a very firm roller shape base that provides resistance (the levels of which can be adjusted).

The roller can be used for balance and strength exercises done standing, kneeling, sitting, and lying down.