From resistance bands to squat-proof leggings: the pilates kit you need – and what you can do without

Whether you’re practising reformer in a studio or planking in a village hall, here’s the pilates gear that’s actually worth buying, chosen by the experts

• The best massage guns: tried and tested relief for sore, tired muscles

Joseph Pilates had a saying: “If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.” As someone who’d worked rehabilitating first world war soldiers, he knew his stuff. His eponymous exercise method is a global phenomenon. In 2024, it was the fitness subscription service ClassPass’s most booked exercise for a second consecutive year.

Classical pilates involves low-impact, controlled exercises that strengthen and balance the body, from the core outwards, and improve flexibility. It’s done on a mat – often with small props – or on apparatus that adds resistance.