Pilates Equipment Explained: Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrel
Updated: Oct 6
By Katherine, Lead Instructor, Certified Pilates Instructor
Pilates equipment falls into two groups: larger apparatus, most of them spring-based and many developed by Joseph Pilates (the reformer, Cadillac or trapeze table, Wunda chair, ladder barrel and spine corrector), and smaller props such as the ring, ball, band and foam roller. Each changes how resistance, support or balance challenge is delivered. None is required to begin, and a mat class is a reasonable way to start.
Key takeaways
The main apparatus are the reformer, Cadillac (trapeze table), Wunda chair, ladder barrel and spine corrector. Most use springs, so resistance can be adjusted.
Small props (a ring, ball, band or foam roller) add resistance, instability or feedback to mat work.
Many of the apparatus were developed by Joseph Pilates himself, so you will meet the same names, such as reformer and Cadillac, in many studios.
Studios differ in what they own. A bigger range of machines does not make a studio better; skilled instruction and equipment that suits you matter more.
Names such as "spine corrector" describe a design, not a promised result. No piece of equipment changes your posture or spine on its own; regular, well-taught practice matters.
What are the different types of Pilates equipment?
Pilates is taught in two broad ways. Mat Pilates uses gravity and your own body weight for resistance, while equipment-based Pilates uses spring-loaded apparatus such as the reformer (Better Health Channel). Within the equipment-based group there are five main apparatus, plus a set of small props that can be added to either format.
If you are new to the method, our guide to what Pilates is and how it works explains the principles that all of this equipment is built around.
What is the reformer?
The reformer is the best-known apparatus. The Pilates Method Alliance describes it as a bed-like frame with a moving carriage, springs and a footbar, used for full-body work built around controlled movement against varying resistance (Pilates Method Alliance). Changing the springs changes how hard an exercise feels.
For how the carriage, springs, straps and box work, and who it suits, see reformer Pilates: what it is and who it's for.
What is the Cadillac (trapeze table)?
The Cadillac, also called the trapeze table, is a raised platform surrounded by a metal frame. It has an overhead bar (the trapeze), springs and hanging loops. The Pilates Method Alliance describes it as combining the benefits of mat work with the added resistance of springs and bars, and as suited to stretching, strengthening and flexibility work (Pilates Method Alliance).
The same source notes that some rehabilitative exercises are performed on it under the supervision of a skilled professional, a reminder that apparatus like this is best learned with an instructor.
What is the Wunda chair?
The Wunda chair looks like a small bench or box with a spring-loaded pedal on one side. It is compact, but the Pilates Method Alliance says it challenges balance, stability and strength, with exercises that involve the core, legs and arms (Pilates Method Alliance).
Modern chairs vary. Merrithew, an equipment manufacturer, describes a split-pedal chair in which each pedal moves independently, allowing work in seated and standing positions and training that is not the same on each side (Merrithew).
What are the ladder barrel and the spine corrector?
Barrels are curved, padded pieces of equipment, and two forms are common:
Ladder barrel: a barrel attached to a ladder-like frame. The Pilates Method Alliance says its main focus is spinal flexibility, with the curve supporting and challenging the back during deep stretches and back extensions, and that it is also used for posture, balance and core work (Pilates Method Alliance).
Spine corrector (step barrel): a smaller barrel with a step or flat side, used to mobilize the spine, ease stiffness and strengthen the muscles around it (Pilates Method Alliance).
A note on the name: "spine corrector" is a historical product name, not a promise that the barrel corrects your spine. Any change in posture depends on regular, supervised practice. If you want the evidence on posture, see what Pilates can and cannot do for posture.
Which small props are used in Pilates?
Small props are lighter and easier to store than apparatus, so they show up in mat classes and at home. The descriptions below come from Merrithew, a Pilates equipment maker, so treat them as the manufacturer's account, not research findings.
Ring (fitness circle or magic circle): a flexible ring with handles or pads. It is placed between the hands, legs or ankles to challenge core engagement, activate the inner thighs and refine upper body alignment (Merrithew).
Ball: a mini stability ball placed behind the back, between the knees or under the pelvis to create instability that wakes up the deep stabilizer muscles (Merrithew).
Band: a flexible resistance band that can provide support or add resistance for the arms, legs, shoulders, hips, wrists and ankles (Merrithew).
Foam roller: a cylinder used in Pilates as an unstable surface. Merrithew explains that because it is naturally unstable, the core muscles must work harder to keep you balanced (Merrithew).
Where did Pilates equipment come from?
Joseph Pilates developed much of this equipment himself. Alongside the reformer, he developed the trapeze table, Wunda chair, magic circle and ladder barrel, among other devices (National Pilates Certification Program). His chair patent, filed in 1931 and granted in 1934, describes a spring-equipped piece of furniture that could be used as a chair or flipped over and used as exercise equipment (Google Patents). The biography and the reformer's own history are covered in the guides linked above, so we leave them there.
Which equipment should you choose?
You do not have to choose all of it. For most people, the more useful question is not which machine but who is guiding you on it. The Better Health Channel says that, although books and online videos are available, you should seek instruction from a qualified Pilates teacher or physiotherapist to get the best results, and seek professional advice, such as from your doctor, before you start if you have a pre-existing injury or medical condition, have had recent surgery, are pregnant or have not exercised for a long time, among other situations (Better Health Channel).
Our Markham studio teaches mat and reformer Pilates; this post covers the wider family so you can recognize the other equipment elsewhere. On the reformer, adjustable springs let an instructor adapt the same exercise to people at different starting points, and our small group class is limited to three people so that kind of individual adjustment is possible. If you are unsure whether to start on the mat or the machine, our comparison of reformer and mat Pilates lays out the trade-offs.
Trying the reformer at our Markham studio
If you would like to try the equipment we teach on, our Small Group Pilates Class is a reformer class (maximum 3 people, 55 min, drop-ins welcome), so your instructor can set up the springs for you and watch how you move. You can see the options and book at our classes page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cadillac the same as a reformer?
No. Both use springs, but they are different apparatus. A reformer has a moving carriage that slides along rails, while a Cadillac is a raised platform inside a metal frame with an overhead bar and hanging springs and loops. Joseph Pilates developed both.
Which Pilates equipment is best for beginners?
There is no single best option, because the right choice depends on your goals, any injuries and the instruction available. A mat class, a small group reformer class or a private session can all be good starting points. What matters most is that an instructor sets up the equipment and watches your form. Our guide to Pilates for beginners covers how to start.
Do I need to buy equipment to do Pilates?
No. Mat Pilates needs only your body weight and a mat, and a band or small ball can be added if you like. For what works at home, see our guide to Pilates at home.
Does the spine corrector correct your spine?
No. The name is historical. The barrel is a curved support used to mobilize and strengthen the spine and surrounding muscles, and any benefit comes from regular practice with good instruction, not from the equipment alone. If you have a diagnosed spine condition, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist before using it.
Sources
Pilates Method Alliance (n.d.). Beginner's Guide to Pilates Equipment: From Reformer to Cadillac and Beyond. Pilates Method Alliance. https://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/pma-blog/beginners-guide-to-pilates-equipment-from-reformer-to-cadillac-and-beyond-ptk3h-wefkb-4zr2w-df5ff-789hg
Pilates Method Alliance (n.d.). History of Pilates. National Pilates Certification Program. https://nationalpilatescertificationprogram.org/PMA/About/History-of-Pilates/
Pilates, J. H. (1934). Chair. US Patent 1,969,901 (filed August 29, 1931; granted August 14, 1934). Google Patents. https://patents.google.com/patent/US1969901A/en
Merrithew (2025). Pilates Starter Kit: Your Guide to Essential Merrithew Tools for Full Body Workouts. Merrithew. https://www.merrithew.com/blog/post/2025-07-31/pilates-starter-kit-your-guide-to-essential-merrithew-tools-for-full-body-workouts
Merrithew (2019). Switch Up Your Client's Workout with Fitness Props. Merrithew. https://www.merrithew.com/blog/post/2019-07-15/switch-up-your-clients-workout-with-fitness-props
Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government, Australia (n.d.). Pilates, Health Benefits. Department of Health, State Government of Victoria. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/pilates-health-benefits
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