How the Studio Came Together

The equipment in this studio was not planned all at once. It was added over five years, piece by piece, each time the work made it clear that something was missing.

The First Purchase

The first piece I bought was a Balanced Body Centraline Wunda Chair in November 2020. The studios were closed due to COVID, I needed something to work on at home, and the Balanced Body was what I had trained on and taught with. It was a straightforward decision. The chair was compact, easy to move, and familiar. Looking back, it had limitations I only fully understood later — but at the time, it was the right call given what I knew.

Adding the Reformer

When I opened the studio, the reformer came next. Again, Balanced Body — same reasoning. Familiarity, training background, continuity. I used both pieces for some time.

Mixed Experience

My experience with both has been mixed. The equipment has weight parameters — the reformer carriage is rated to 159 kg (350 lbs), and the Centraline chair to 113 kg, as confirmed by Balanced Body in writing. There were also noise issues that appeared without warning during sessions — sudden sounds that disrupted the work. I contacted support and did not get a resolution. I reorganised parts of the studio to reduce the impact. The equipment is still in use.

Reassessing the Requirements

As client flow increased, I started seeing people who did not fit comfortably within those parameters — men weighing 120 kg or more, with a broader build. The chair and reformer were not serving that population adequately. That is when I started looking more carefully at what else was available.

BASI Systems — Wunda Chair

I came across BASI Systems. The Wunda Chair from BASI can accommodate a significantly wider weight range, and it has something called the F2 system — attachments that allow springs to be added to the sides of the chair. This changes the nature of the exercise entirely. A simple footwork series becomes a full-body exercise when the hands are also working through springs. That is what Pilates is meant to be. BASI had a reseller in India, which made procurement straightforward. That chair is now one of the most used pieces in the studio.

BASI Systems — Spine Corrector and Ladder Barrel

I added the BASI spine corrector and ladder barrel at the same time. The spine corrector also supports F2 attachments — arm circles done with springs rather than hand weights are a different exercise. The ladder barrel was the best available option at that point, and its design allowed the barrel width to be adjusted by hand rather than requiring four bolts to be loosened and retightened. That kind of practical consideration matters when you are adjusting equipment between clients.

The Cadillac — Legacy

The Cadillac came next. My shortlist was Legacy and Gratz. I spoke to people who had no connection to either company — contact details found through independent research, not through vendor referrals. Both came out consistently recommended. Gratz had a long waiting period. Legacy, based in Turkey, made more logistical sense — shorter shipping distance, lower overall cost. That decision has held up. The Legacy Cadillac is the most used piece in the studio. The support from Legacy has been the most thorough I have received from any equipment vendor — no question left unanswered, however basic.

The Wall Unit — Legacy

At one point I considered semi-private sessions. Space constraints made adding another reformer impractical, but a wall unit with a mat would cover around 95% of what the Cadillac offers and fit within the available space. I added the Legacy wall unit with that in mind. I never moved forward with semi-privates — I came to understand that private, one-on-one work is where I can deliver the work properly, and I have stayed with that. The wall unit is used for standing arm spring series and mat work. It was not a wasted purchase.

Ped-o-Pul and Baby Chair — Legacy

The last major additions were the Ped-o-Pul and the baby chair. I added them about two years into running the studio. The baby chair in particular is one of the most underused pieces of equipment in Pilates generally, which is a shame — it is one of the most effective tools for teaching foundational movement. I wish I had added it earlier.

Small Apparatus

Throughout all of this, I also accumulated the smaller apparatus — foot corrector, toe corrector, bean bag, neck stretcher, head cusions, neck pillows, posture and poise device, 2X4 board, Kuna Board, airplane boards, and the rest. These are not afterthoughts. They each have a specific function and a specific population they serve well.

In Closing

The studio now has approximately 90% of the apparatus Joseph Pilates developed. That did not happen in one purchase order or from one vendor. It happened because each piece was added when the work required it — not before, and not for the sake of having it.

That is the only logic I applied.