You've got a dangerously hot selection to choose from, whether it's the infamous Pilates ring (Joe's OG prop) or that cute-looking but not-so-cute feeling Pilates ball. There's a whole menu of Pilates accessories that guarantee to leave you shaking.
Take a look at our favourite Pilates equipment for home mat workouts.
What Are Pilates Props?
Pilates props are small but mighty pieces of equipment designed to support, challenge or spice up your exercises. One minute, a prop is helping you find better alignment; the next, it's adding enough resistance to make those "final eight" pulses feel extremely personal. They can make movements more accessible, help you connect with the right muscles, or turn an exercise you know and love into one your glutes will remember for days.
The Most Common Pilates Exercise Props and Accessories Include:
- Pilates rings
- Small Pilates balls
- Resistance bands
- Yoga blocks
- Sliders
- Light hand or ankle weights
- Foam rollers
While you absolutely do not need to use props for Pilates to be effective (ask my Beach Pilates Dubai girlies), you most definitely use props to get creative with your ab series and make it one that'll have you questioning your life choices.
The Different Types of Pilates Equipment
1. The Pilates Ring
Also known as the magic circle, the Pilates ring is one of the only Pilates accessories that Joseph Pilates actually created, meaning everything else is contemporary! The Pilates ring can be placed in-between your thighs, ankles, hands, or forearms for a gentle squeeze to fire up muscles you never knew existed. The name may sound magical, but the inner-thigh burn is very real.
How to Use a Pilates Ring
One of my favourite ways to use the Pilates circle is by placing it between your thighs during glute bridges and maintaining light pressure as you lift and lower (add a squeeze to feel those inner thighs come alive). You can also hold it between your palms during core exercises to bring your arms and chest to the party.
2. The Small Pilates Ball
Cute, squishy, but absolutely not to be trusted. The small Pilates ball can offer support, challenge your stability or make a familiar exercise feel suspiciously harder.
How to Use a Pilates Ball
I personally LOVE using a Pilates ball during ab exercises. Simply place it behind your back, just where your bra strap sits, and take your usual ab workout to a whole other level. Another favourite that I love to teach is placing it between your knees during bridges (add a squeeze of the ball as you lift the hips up and thank me later).
Or try placing it beneath your pelvis or between your knees, thighs or ankles. Always remember to keep your movements slow and controlled; the goal is to challenge your balance, not roll dramatically off your mat.
3. Resistance Bands
Lightweight, versatile, and very good at pretending they won't hurt, resistance bands can add a little extra spice to almost any Pilates workout. They come as long open bands or smaller loops, with different resistance levels depending on how much shaking you're in the mood for.
How to Use Resistance Bands for Pilates
These props always make an appearance in my leg series. Place the band above the knees during bridges, clams, and side-lying leg exercises, and press gently outwards against the band to fire up your glutes. Your peachy booty awaits.
You don't need props for Pilates to be effective. You need them to make your ab series one you'll remember.
4. Yoga Blocks
Yoga may have claimed the name, but blocks are very welcome at the Pilates party too. They can offer extra support, bring the floor a little closer, or help you find better alignment without forcing your body into a position it isn't ready for.
How to Use Yoga Blocks for Pilates
Try placing your hands on blocks during roll-downs, planks or standing exercises if reaching the floor feels uncomfortable. I also love using a block beneath the hips during seated work to help create a taller spine. Or for a really spicy shoulder bridge series, place the block underneath your foot for a bit of extra height.
5. Pilates Sliders
Pilates sliders are small discs placed beneath your hands or feet to make movements glide across the floor. They may look innocent, but they add a serious stability challenge because you need to control the movement on the way out and, unfortunately, all the way back in too.
How to Use Pilates Sliders
I love using sliders for slow lunges, plank variations, and standing leg work. If you love reformer, then these can be used to mimic a few of your favourite exercises. Start with a small range of movement and focus on keeping your supporting side strong and stable.
6. Light Hand and Ankle Weights
Light hand and ankle weights add extra resistance to familiar Pilates exercises, helping to challenge your arms, shoulders, glutes, and legs. The important word here is light. Pilates is about control, not choosing the heaviest weights available and hoping your form survives. With more repetitions those light weights actually start feeling quite heavy, trust us on this!
How to Use Weights in Pilates
One of my favourite ways to use hand weights is during standing or seated arm sequences, while ankle weights can add a little extra burn to side-lying leg work and glute exercises. Learn the movement without weights first, then add them once you can maintain your alignment, breathing, and control.
7. The Foam Roller
The foam roller may currently be living underneath your sofa, but it can do much more than come out for the occasional post-workout roll. In Pilates, it can support mobility, provide feedback on your alignment, or add instability to challenge your balance and core.
How to Use a Foam Roller for Pilates
Try lying lengthways along the roller with your head and pelvis supported, then add gentle arm movements or slow marches. Your core will have to work overtime to keep you steady. Keep the movements small and controlled: the goal is stability, not an accidental audition for the circus.
Do You Need Props to Do Pilates?
Absolutely not. A mat and your own body weight are enough for an effective Pilates workout, as the original 34 mat exercises proved long before any of this existed. Props are optional tools that can add variety to your usual routine, but they're absolutely not a requirement, a shortcut, or proof that you're doing "proper" Pilates.
Which Pilates Prop Is Best for Beginners?
The best beginner prop depends on what you want from your workout, but a small Pilates ball or light resistance band is a great place to start. Both are affordable, easy to store, and can be used in plenty of exercises.
A Pilates ring is another versatile option if you enjoy inner-thigh, arm and core work. Whichever prop you choose, begin with simple exercises and lighter resistance.
How to Choose the Right Pilates Props
Before adding anything to your basket, think about your goals, experience level and where you'll be using it. You can choose Pilates exercise equipment:
- For extra resistance: try a Pilates ring or resistance bands.
- For support and positioning: choose a small ball or yoga blocks.
- For balance and core stability: consider sliders or a foam roller.
- For added strength work: use light hand or ankle weights.
- For home workouts: start with one or two compact props you will genuinely use.
If you have an injury, are pregnant, or aren't sure whether a prop is suitable for you, check with a qualified healthcare professional or Pilates instructor who will be able to advise an alternative for your concerns.
Pilates Props FAQs
What Is the Ring Used in Pilates Called?
The ring is usually called a Pilates ring or magic circle. It provides light-to-moderate resistance and can be used between the hands, thighs, knees or ankles during mat Pilates exercises.
Is a Pilates Ring Good for Beginners?
Yes. A Pilates ring can help beginners understand where to engage and add resistance without using heavy equipment. Start with gentle pressure and focus on keeping the rest of your body aligned.
Can You Use a Yoga Block for Pilates?
Absolutely! Yoga blocks can provide support, reduce the distance between your body and the floor, and make certain Pilates exercises feel more comfortable. Pilates and yoga are allowed to share, no matter what anyone says.
How Do You Clean Pilates Props?
While you should always follow the manufacturer's care instructions, as materials vary, many props can be wiped with a soft damp cloth and a mild cleaning solution, then left to air-dry fully.
Avoid soaking resistance bands or inflatable balls unless their instructions say it is safe.
Are Pilates Props Suitable for Beach Pilates Classes?
Some are. Rings, balls and resistance bands are easy to carry and can add variety to an outdoor Pilates class.
Ready to Add Something New to Your Mat?
Pilates props can make familiar mat Pilates classes feel completely new, whether they're helping you find better alignment or introducing your glutes to a level of shaking they hadn't previously experienced. Start with one prop, keep the resistance manageable, and remember that control will always matter more than looking impressive.
And if you'd rather let someone else plan the exercises and tell you when the pulses are nearly over, join us for a Beach Pilates Dubai class. Come for the movement, stay for the coffee. Look out for our next Pilates events over on our events page or Instagram.
We can't wait to meet you on the mat. Stay up to date with the latest conversations over on our Pilates Blog.
