No Pilates Mat? No Problem!

Equipment Swaps for Online Pilates (or Yogilates) Classes

Getting right to it! Here are some creative swaps and prop recommendations for our online Pilates/ Yogilates classes:

Pilates Mat

Pilates mats are typically a little thicker than yoga mats. the thickness provides extra cushion for the side-lying series. It should be noted that standing exercises on a thicker mat will be harder to balance on.

This can be great if you need to strengthen your foot for more stability. However, if creating foot and ankle stability is a new endeavor, I personally would recommend to wait to add this to your repertoire as there are other foundational exercises for foot stability to start with (I showcase some of them in my Fluid Mobility classes) before introducing unstable surfaces.

If you are ready for unstable surfaces, then go for it! Pilates mats are great place to start, as the instability of surface is very minor. All that being said Pilates Mats are not bad, its always about where you are in your journey!

There are many options out there by the material the mats are made from to the amount of grip/ slip.

Whatever you have / prefer is great!

Swaps:

• Yoga Mat

• Barre sox, socks with grippy bottoms

Bender Ball

Typically, I love using the bender ball in our Pilates classes. It takes the strain off on the hip flexors in the abs series and helps us keep safe in the lower back among providing other benefits.

The Bender ball is like a small 9" stability ball with some give. This is different from the Pilates balls with the sand in them.

Swaps:

• A child's play ball around that size would work

• A Pillow is a great substitute (I've also used a couch cushion for some movements in private sessions).

• A soft yoga block for some movements

Hand Weights

For our Pilates classes we sometimes use light hand weights for the arm section (whatever you deem light that you can do at least 2 sets of 12- 15 reps with).

Swaps:

• 2 Water bottles - a 16-oz bottle is about a pound of weight

• 2 Soup cans - 15-oz can weighs about a pound. 28-oz can weighs about 1.75 pounds.

• Exercise Bands

• Pilates Ball (the ones with the sand in them- see in photo above)

• No equipment? Move with mindfulness. Focus and squeeze the target muscle for extra resistance.

Read Part Three: No Yoga Mat? No Problem! (Equipment Swaps for Online Yoga Classes)

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Reminders:

• As always, be mindful as you move and use caution with your swaps. We want the props to enhance our fitness, not cause roadblocks or injury.

• Most of, if not all of our online mind-body classes can be done without any equipment.

• If you are doing a swap for any online Zoom class, be sure to tell the instructor what you have during check in, so they can show you how to use that particular swap as we move throughout class.

• Don't let anything stop you from doing something good for yourself!

Do you have any helpful / creative swap Ideas?

Share in the comment section!