Allyson Whipple

Category: Pilates At Home

  • On Building: An Interview with John Cline

    This post concludes (for now) my four-part series on home equipment. I actually decided to record this interview rather than conduct it via email. John and I have so many great conversations, and I often wish I could record every one, so I always have the memories of the interesting or funny things someone said.

    I recorded this interview with the Voice Notes app on my iPad while I was visiting John in London, where he’s working for the month of May. It’s not my preferred setup, but it was nice to just capture a slice of what our morning coffee chats are like. Ultimately, I decided to post the audio of this interview, because I think people will get the most from listening to John talk. It runs just over 40 minutes; feel free to pause and come back to it as needed. I’ve also provided a transcript. I hope you enjoy!

    Given the length of the interview, I’ve opted to post the transcript as a PDF rather than make a giant page.

    equipment-interview-transcripDownload

    I hope you got some insights from this interview. If you have any questions for John or me, mention them in the comments!

  • So you want to build your own reformer

    As of this writing, I’ve now assisted my partner John in building three pieces of equipment: a reformer, a Pedi-pole, and a Cadillac. (Shout out to his mom, Linda, who has been the true helper ) I chose to go the DIY route in part because of the high price of large apparatus. Since John has taken on these projects for free, I’ve just been paying for materials. I’ve come away with some insights about the process. I will always be an advocate for DIY. When it comes to Pilates equipment, here are three things I think you should consider before giving it a go.

    1. I recommend having previous experience with woodworking or carpentry. So far, none of the projects my partner and I have attempted are beginner pieces. Even the Pedi-pole was deceptively tricky; while not an advanced project, I would say it required an intermediate skill level. A Cadillac might look simple, but building a structurally sound piece that can handle weight from a variety of bodies is a challenge that requires prior knowledge. And while I’ve found a number of intrepid DIY equipment builders that post instructions, the issue I’ve found over and over is that they make assumptions and skip steps. (No shame on them, though . . . writing technical instructions is a specialized skill as well!) That doesn’t mean they’re unusable, but it does mean you’ll have to rely on prior experience to fill in the gaps. (Confession: I have none of these skills. It’s all John. I get to do basic sawing, drilling, and finishing.) If you don’t have any experience, you’ll want to work with someone who does. (Though they might not be able to help you for free.)

    2. I recommend having access to workshop space with a variety of tools. John doesn’t have his basement workshop set up yet (in part because he’s been too busy building out my studio), so he’s had to drive out to his mom’s farm, where there’s plenty of space and a variety of hand and power tools. Whether you have a tricked-out garage (or a friend does), or you have access to a maker space, you’re going to need room to work, and you’re going to need tools. Don’t be surprised if you end up having to buy some new pieces. When building my Pedi-pole, John couldn’t find pre-threaded pipe at the correct height, so he ordered a thread cutter to do it himself. Fortunately, the world we live in makes it pretty easy to buy what you need, but the costs can add up. 

    3. Recognize it will take time (and probably longer than you think). You do save money when you build your own equipment . . . but what you’re really spending is time. For some people, the trade-off is totally worth it: it’s the only way they could afford equipment, and/or they genuinely enjoy the work itself. John spent probably 100 hours building my Cadillac, when all was said and done. (Though part of that did include driving to five different Lowe’s locations in three different counties because the conduit we wanted was out of stock.) There will be setbacks, there will be supply chain issues, and there will be mistakes. You might have to do things over. You might break something and need to repair it. I don’t say this to deter you. I love the DIY route, and I’m grateful I was able to take this path. I do want people to understand the challenge that comes with it. 

    For the final installment of this series, I’ll be publishing an interview with John about his experiences as my equipment maker. If you have a specific question for him, drop it in the comments! 

  • Tips for buying used Pilates equipment

    This post is the second in a four-part series about investing in home equipment as a Pilates practitioner. Future posts will take a deep dive into the DIY approach. 

    While most of my equipment is handmade, I’m also a fan of buying used when possible. For example, while I hope to own a classical Wunda chair within the next two years, right now, I have a contemporary low chair that I got for $50 on Facebook Marketplace. Even though it’s not my dream piece of equipment, it gets the job done, and was still in great shape when I got it. Buying used can help save money, and it’s also great for the environment, but there are things to keep in mind if you plan to furnish part or all of your home studio on the used market.

    Decide on your budget. Pilates equipment retains its value. Used equipment isn’t as expensive as new, but the fact that I got a Pilates chair in good shape for only $50 is amazing, and not a standard experience. While used prices have improved a little since they shot up in 2020, you can still expect to shell out four figures for a reformer that’s in good shape.

    Familiarize yourself with a standard equipment setup. Most Pilates teachers are diligent about maintaining their equipment, but even with careful tending, things can become lost or broken over time. I find this is especially true of equipment that has been in gyms rather than dedicated Pilates studios. Know what kinds of accessories, springs, or other components should be included. There’s nothing wrong with buying a Cadillac that’s missing a roll-back bar, but you don’t want to pay top dollar for an incomplete apparatus.

    Be willing to do some maintenance and/or repairs. I recommend that if you are buying any spring-based apparatus used, you replace the springs before using it. (The exception would be if the seller can verify they replaced them recently.) Springs are a consumable part, and you need them to be in good condition. Wooden equipment might need to be oiled; cracked vinyl might need to be replaced. If you are willing and able to put in a little effort, you might get a better price on equipment that needs some TLC. The chair I bought needed new springs and to have the foam on the foot bar replaced, but even with that work, I still got an amazing deal.

    Take your time. Since Pilates equipment holds its value so well, even used pieces should be considered investments. Let yourself be patient as you search for the right piece. It’s better to have your time and find something that really meets your needs than to have equipment you don’t love. My contemporary chair might not be my dream piece, but I still enjoy working out on it. When I do get the classical chair of my dreams, I still plan to keep this one.

    Inspect before you commit. I do not recommend prepaying for used equipment without looking at it first. You want to be able to touch it and look the whole thing over, especially if you’re shelling out for a full-fledged reformer or Cadillac. This principle works the other way as well. I almost passed on my contemporary chair because the photos were not great. But it was nearby and so inexpensive that it was worth checking out, and I’m glad I did. Not everyone knows how to put together a polished sales listing, but that doesn’t mean the equipment isn’t quality.

    While the next two posts focus on the DIY approach, I am happy to talk more about buying used equipment, or anything else related to building a home studio. Drop your questions on home equipment below, and I’ll turn them into future articles!

  • So you’re considering buying a reformer

    This post is the first in a four-part series about investing in home equipment as a Pilates practitioner. Future posts will cover navigating the secondhand equipment market, as well as advice about taking the DIY route. 

    If you start getting serious about your Pilates practice, you’ll probably consider buying home equipment, usually a reformer. But a quick online search indicates that even lower-cost reformers, towers, and barrels designed for home use are still a substantial financial investment for most people. If you’re going to commit not just to the cost, but to the space equipment can take up in your house, you want to be ready. However, not everyone is clear on how to tell if they’re prepared to take that step. In my opinion, there is one factor that is the first step toward your home equipment purchase.

    You might be surprised that I don’t consider price the primary factor in whether or not you’re ready to invest in home equipment. After all, Pilates equipment is notoriously expensive, and often out of reach to the average home practitioner. However, while your financial situation is without a doubt crucial when considering when, how, or what to buy, it doesn’t have any bearing on whether or not you’re actually ready to make that investment. You can be living paycheck to paycheck and still mentally, if not financially, ready to make the investment. You can also be a millionaire, able to build yourself a fully-equipped home studio, but not actually be prepared for what equipment ownership means. 

    In my opinion, the best way to determine whether or not you are ready to invest in home equipment is whether or not you have a regular home practice. What that looks like is up to you. Maybe you have a self-guided practice, going through the classical mat series or some contemporary programming. Maybe you do video-led sessions on sites like pilatesanytime.com or onlinepilatesclasses.com. Maybe you do a little of both. What matters is that you show up in your home workout space consistently. It doesn’t matter if that’s two days a week or five; it doesn’t matter whether you work out for 20 minutes or an hour. What matters is that you have carved out some kind of consistent home practice that you stick to more often than not. 

    I believe that personal practice is the key factor for readiness because, if you don’t feel motivated to work out at home before you invest in equipment, no shiny reformer or tricked-out Cadillac is going to motivate you. Look at all the treadmills and ellipticals that become towel racks. Look at all the Peloton bikes that were purchased in 2020 and then went unused once people could go to in-person spin classes again. It’s not the apparatus that inspires you to get up and work out regularly; it’s the way the practice makes you feel, and your inner desire to keep refining and improving. 

    One of the lessons I’ve learned in my personal fitness life is to be sure before I buy that I’ll use something, especially when that something has a price tag. It’s more than just telling myself I’ll use it; I have to be able to visualize when and how I’ll put that object to good use. Fortunately, if you have an established home practice, it will be easy for you to figure out how and when you’re going to use that shiny new reformer or Wunda chair. You know the investment will be worth it, because you’ve already given yourself the foundation of consistent home practice on days when you’re not taking a class or working one-on-one with an instructor. So if you find yourself eyeing some serious Pilates equipment online, take stock of what your practice currently looks like, and define the specific ways the equipment will serve your home practice. Then you can begin to work out budgets, space requirements, and other factors before making a final decision.

    While I’ve initially configured this as a four-part series, I love talking about home equipment, and am happy to create further posts on the subject. Drop your questions on home equipment below, and I’ll turn them into future articles!