Reddit mentions: The best pilates equipment

Keeping in mind affordability and portability, a powerlifting spin (and that I’m on mobile, so sorry about formatting):

1. Dead Wedge. Fantastic for unloading/loading the bar when deadlifting heavy. I use mine every deadlift session (so, at least once a week) https://www.lift.net/product/dead-wedge-deadlift-jack-alternative/
   
   
2. A bar pad. Makes it easier to do hip thrusts without the bruises and pain. https://www.thexbands.com/products/hip-thrust-and-squat-barbell-pad?variant=7422385356863&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI45qX_e713gIVi5-zCh34lQ0lEAQYBSABEgL7yfD_BwE
   
   
3. Resistance bands, small or large. Small ones are great for accessory muscle activation activities. Large ones are great for their transportability - can do lots of stuff on the go - good mornings, overhead squats, bicep curls, scapula retractions... I’ve never used either of these brands, but as examples - Large: https://www.amazon.com/INTEY-Exercise-Resistance-Workout-Powerlifting/dp/B07226JDDD/ref=pd_aw_lpo_200_tr_img_2/133-4722036-0430309?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A7DYJRRWKMG0MEJ0CV5J, Small: https://www.amazon.com/Athleema-Resistance-Bands-Light-Medium/dp/B00LYY0YE8/ref=pd_aw_lpo_200_lp_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z099J78N6FSZRMEVEEVC
   
   
4. Liquid chalk. Great for rock climbing, lifting...anything when grip is essential. Also, may be allowed in gyms/areas when conventional chalk isn’t. Lots of different brands and types. Check out a comparison here: http://www.kingofthegym.com/best-liquid-chalk-for-lifting/
   
   
5. Hand care items; manicure gift certificate. Or, if you’re gonna go “all out,” a massage gift certificate.
   
   
6. A month of programming. My gym membership is expensive, since it’s a specialty gym. BUT my programming is through the Juggernaut site and is about $30/month - making it a more realistic possibility for friends/family.
   
   
7. Plate coasters. I got these as a stocking stuffer for my lifting partner. https://www.getrxd.com/getrxd-comp-plate-coasters.html?_vsrefdom=adwords&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk-6EuvX13gIVgeDICh3MBwjbEAQYASABEgI5AfD_BwE
   
   
8. Starting Strength, by Mark Rippetoe. I LOVE this book. I have a background in anatomy, so it’s right up my nerdy alley. If you have a lifting friend who is into the how and why, get them this. https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-Basic-Barbell-Training/dp/0982522738
   

So it actually took me about 2 years to get from barely able to do knee push ups to be able to 1 complete push up. I don't know if this is the best path, but I started out benching and then once I was able to bench more than half my weight I switched over to stair push ups and quickly moved to a real push up. I slowly worked my way up from just the bar (45lb) to being able to bench 85lb and I weighed about 150-155lb once I hit this point. My upper body was so weak that I just wanted to build up the strength. Then I started doing push ups 3 stairs up then worked my way down in about 3-4 weeks until I was able to do a complete push up. My BF says I could have just focused on the stairs and made the same goal. But the only pectoral focused exercise I do now are push ups since quitting the bench a few months ago. You could try the chest press at a gym, but free weight compounds (bench and push ups) are best.

But I definitely understand where you're coming from with the pull ups in public. You just have to focus on yourself and your own goals. You deserve to do what you want and reach your goals! But TBH, if you can't do a push up, you probably can't do a pull up. I've been doing the lat pull down for a couple of years and switched to assisted pull ups a couple weeks ago. There are machines at gyms where you can adjust how much the part you stand/kneel on supports you or you can use long resistance bands (I borrow the ones at the gym I go to but these are an example of what they look like). You just have to loop the band over the pull up bar and then get your feet on it and they will help you practice the form of the pull up while still using assistance.

I don't have them, but if you have any interest in climbing and grip strength you might like these ring-like object with climbing board additions. Here a review by training pal.

I have a set of resistance bands like this one (some random off name brand)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07226JDDD/ref=twister_B07CWRNJNH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

It's pretty cheap and it's the piece of equipment I use the most after my rings. I use them for shoulder dislocates, band pull aparts, face pulls, band resisted sumo deadlifts, band resisted pushups, band assisted planche work, etc. I paid something like 35€ for 4 different bands IIRC

Paralletes are nice to have if you want to increase the range of motion pike pushups (you can also just use stairs though)

I had olympic weights with a rack and bench for over a decade, but I rarely used them. Even after I started using them regularly I never made as many gains as I did with a pull up bar and resistance bands. Going from 0 dead hang pull ups to many without a resistance band is a wonderful feeling! Seeing great progress in very short time is such a great motivator. I used the following progressions in combination with the pull up bar and resistance band, as needed.

• Dead Hang
  
• Flexed Arm Hang
  
• Negative Pull-up
  
• Body row

I like these loop bands - INTEY Pull up Assist Band Exercise Resistance Bands for Workout Body Stretch Powerlifting Set of 4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07226JDDD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WYixDbD6DZA6M

As well as these mini bands - Flex Active Sports Resistance Loop Bands - Set of 5 Fitness Exercise Bands for Fitness Workouts - Stretching and Physical Therapy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OAC8IY4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4ZixDbJN381PK

For the big loops, I use mainly the red one, sometimes black. I’m super weak though lol.

I also use a door anchor with those a lot!

For the mini bands, I like having all the resistance levels because I’m a fan of drop sets when using them.

You may want to look into investing in something like this . It's the same I used in physical therapy but about 1/3 the cost. It's the size of a chair and you can target every part of your body and get a strong workout. The springs provide resistance and consistency throughout the motion to help cushion your joints. It's extremely low impact and yet you feel a burn fast.

I have similar issues to you and this chair has really helped. I keep it near the tv and use it instead of the couch when watching futurama reruns. Good luck and keep at it!

I got it all from amazon:

pullup bar

resistance bands

gymnast rings

i actually hang my rings from the pullup bar. my setup isn't optimal, but its the best i could do in my house. my house is 2 floors, and the main hallway goes all the way to the top of the 2nd floor, so i could hang it there and not worry about anything above my head (so, yeah, my pullup bar is in the middle of a hallway right as you come in my house. the bar extends into the middle of the walkway, so if i don't tidy things up, you just have stuff dangling down).

my pullup bar is high enough that i have to jump up to reach. this gives me the space to be able to do do an l sit muscle up without bonking my head on the bar. if i try to skin the cat with advanced tuck, then my feet are going to hit the wall that leads to the stairs upstairs, so normally i'll just do front lever progressions and then turn around and do back.

honestly the worst part is trying to find a place to put the pullup bar.

You're welcome. If you enjoy the workouts and want to continue with Pilates, you might want to invest in a Magic Circle. It's a handy prop to help understand the correct muscles to fire during the exercises, any cheap one will do, here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/Stamina-AeroPilates-Circle-Reformer-Workouts/dp/B000W09NYM/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=magic+circle&qid=1570040463&s=gateway&sr=8-4

In the studio I would have you working on a Wunda Chair to work on leg alignment, which cost about $1000, but there's a nock-off version called a Malibu Chair that sell for $20 used and it's really good. There's lots of tutorials to follow on Pilatesology.com

You don't ever have to step into a gym, but you can do a lot with exercise bands and 20 minutes every day or two.
Having more muscle mass will make weight loss easier. IF will also raise your growth hormone, which may make building the muscle a little easier.

I got a set off of amazon that have been working pretty well so far, but I haven't progressed to a lighter band yet (only a few weeks). https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07226JDDD?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title
I have enjoyed using bands one day, and doing negatives another.

I've had this one for two years and it's worked out great for me:

https://www.amazon.com/STOTT-Pilates-Deluxe-Mat/dp/B00GSMFI4C

They also have a 10mm version which would be easier to carry back and forth to class, I think.

Sounds ridiculous but I've been doing abduction/adduction with a pilates ring (you can get any model, just linked first one I saw) before I squat and it makes my hips feel so much better. I probably couldn't hit depth without it at this point. (tore hip labrum and we started using this in my physical therapy and I fell in love. I use it every workout now as a warmup).

I've got this band set and it's been great. Solid addition to my home gym.

The bands i got for at home workouts. They come with a bag too. I like these long ones because you can loop them around to make them half the size if you do something like squats with extra glute resistance.
INTEY Pull up Assist Band Exercise Resistance Bands for Workout Body Stretch Powerlifting Set of 4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07226JDDD/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_fArPCbXFGEXDZ

If you have access to workout bands that people use to help with pull-ups/stretching (like these ) you can loop it around the rail at the furthest forward point that the seat rollers should go.

Maybe you could buy them some pilates rings and get them to play along with you?

How long until we see Chinese knockoffs of the peripheral?

But seriously though, can one simply purchase a Palates Ring and retro fit the Joycon onto it?

WE have a set very similar to these
https://www.amazon.com/INTEY-Exercise-Resistance-Workout-Powerlifting/dp/B07226JDDD/ref=sr_1_12?crid=2NB3US1B5MKMT&dchild=1&keywords=resistent+workout+bands&qid=1569953985&s=gateway&sprefix=resiste%2Caps%2C265&sr=8-12

https://www.amazon.com/INTEY-Exercise-Resistance-Workout-Powerlifting/dp/B07226JDDD

2 sets of them.

I mean I have these.

https://www.amazon.com/INTEY-Exercise-Resistance-Workout-Powerlifting/dp/B07226JDDD

Pilates ring/hoop

Barbell bench press.

Another option would be take a resistance band like these and wrap it around your back when you press to give you more resistance with the dumbbells

This is an example.

You could also use mechanical advantage dropsets. Start the set with the bench at an incline and go to failure or close to it, then drop the bench flat and finish it with the same weight.

Buying apparatus and heading out on your own could be counterproductive and possibly dangerous. There are reasons why there are so many junk reformers on Craigslist. Maybe you could start with a $25 [magic circle](https://www.amazon.com/Stamina-05-0020B-Pilates-Magic-Circle/dp/B000W09NYM
) and pay close attention to Alisa on Pilatesology.

Pilates has a proud history of hilariously named BDSM equipment. Check out the REFORMER. Then we'll break you down with the SPLIT CHAIR. And when you're crying in agony and begging for it to stop, you'll be ready for the motherfucking CADILLAC.