{"id":762504,"date":"2026-04-30T00:20:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T00:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/762504\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T00:20:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T00:20:26","slug":"i-get-a-better-at-home-workout-with-these-pilates-weights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/762504\/","title":{"rendered":"I Get a Better At-Home Workout With These Pilates Weights"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Trust Me I Should Know<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Where someone with years of hard-won personal experience, and lots of trial and error, shares everything they\u2019ve learned. Read more here<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n

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Since I started incorporating Pilates<\/a> \u2014 both on a reformer in the studio and on a mat at home \u2014 into my weekly workout routine, I\u2019ve noticed a huge improvement in my flexibility and my abdominal strength. After reporting on the best Pilates mats<\/a> for at-home practice, I knew it was time to upgrade my own space with Pilates weights and props to challenge my entire body. \u201cAs a Pilates teacher, I always tell my clients that you don\u2019t need a lot of equipment to have a really effective practice at home,\u201d says certified instructor<\/a> Elma Panagaki<\/a>, who co-founded SIS Yoga Retreats. From basic hand weights to ankle and wrist weights, Pilates rings, and non-weighted balls, here are my favorites and the ones I\u2019ve been using in my own practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For beginners, Panagaki recommends light dumbbells around two to three pounds for arms, shoulders, back, and core. \u201cIn Pilates, we use light weights<\/a> and move slowly with control,\u201d Panagaki adds.<\/p>\n


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Available in two, three, or five pounds, these ergonomic weights from the Sculpt Society are supercomfortable to hold during an upper-body circuit. I\u2019m a fan of the smooth neoprene exterior, and the compact nature of these weights makes them ideal for targeted pulses designed to burn out my muscles.<\/p>\n


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\u201cThese are one-pound weights, which are really commonly used in classical Pilates,\u201d says Kelly Korn<\/a>, the founder and lead teacher at Bombshell Pilates<\/a>. Korn adds that they\u2019re also a nice neutral color \u2014 instead of an excessive hot pink \u2014 which can be difficult to find when it comes to hand weights.<\/p>\n


\n \"WeGym <\/p>\n

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Korn also loves the look of the WeGym weights. \u201cA colleague has a stack in her studio, and they\u2019re just good and functional,\u201d she told me.<\/p>\n


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I\u2019ve been using these Stakt weights, which can be adjusted to create two-, four-, or six-pound hand weights. Each set comes with two bases and four \u201cboosts\u201d that are two pounds each. These are my current go-to for high-repetition movements because the grip feels really nice in the hand, and the long capsule shape helps activate my entire arm.<\/p>\n


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I use these dumbbell bars at my local Pilates studio<\/a>. They\u2019re made from silicone and have a sturdy cast-iron core. I\u2019ll opt for the 15-pound beam for biceps curls and the 25-pound beam for squats or overhead presses.<\/p>\n

As for more advanced practitioners, Panagaki told me that you might benefit from investing in ankle weights or by using heavier hand weights around five pounds or more. \u201cWhen you focus on your breath and your alignment, even the smallest movements can feel really powerful,\u201d Panagaki adds.<\/p>\n


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I\u2019ve owned my Bala Bangles for over five years, and they are the same ones we use at my Pilates studio. They have a Velcro strap for a customizable fit on your ankles or wrists and are available in one- or two-pound options. I love to wear them during controlled movements, like slow-paced lunges or standing calf raises, or to engage my glutes during circuits of donkey kicks, fire hydrants, and bridges.<\/p>\n


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Similar to the Bala Bangles above, the Your Reformer weighted bands feature silicone blocks and an internal Velcro strap. At 0.45 kilograms (approximately one pound) per band, these ankle weights are on the lighter side, which I found helps them stay in place during mat Pilates exercises while still adding a bit of resistance.<\/p>\n


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The Uwraps from female-founded brand Equipt feature a fancy vegan leather exterior and are available in 1.5 or three pounds. I own the three-pound Uwraps and use them over my one-pound Bala Bangles when I want more of a burn. Instead of being made with leaky sand, these use metal balls, which mold to the wrist or ankle for better weight distribution and a non-bulky feel.<\/p>\n


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If you want to avoid Velcro ankle or wrist weights altogether, the Sculpt Society\u2019s metal buckle straps are extremely sturdy. During my testing, I found them to be just as easy to take on and off as their Velcro counterparts, and I love that the magnetic ends make them feel a tad more secure when I\u2019m doing faster pulses. The weighted blocks can also be removed to accommodate your preferred weight.<\/p>\n


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We use a similar Pilates ring to the BetterMe in my group reformer classes. It has nicely padded handles, which are curved for exercises where I\u2019m rhythmically pressing the ring in (squeezing it between the inner thighs or hands) or pushing it apart (usually at the ankles).<\/p>\n


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\"Very<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a less-expensive option, Gaiam also makes a magic circle that\u2019s under $20.<\/p>\n


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This non-weighted Pilates ball has a slightly textured surface for solid grip and requires no pump to inflate. It\u2019s also meant to easily inflate or deflate to your preferred squishiness level.<\/p>\n


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Here\u2019s a thicker ball that\u2019s still somewhat squishy. It\u2019s great for exercises where the ball is being placed under your heel, which creates instability to intensify your muscle engagement in the glutes, hamstrings, and core.<\/p>\n


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While normal resistance bands will work fine for banded squats or leg pull-aparts, I\u2019ve been testing Lekfit\u2019s resistance cuff and I must say, unlike the bands which often roll up your leg, this one actually stays put through an entire circuit.<\/p>\n

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