Pilates Ring.. Do you use it?

[CharM]

Nope. I got mine at Goodwill a few years ago, used it a few times after a kind VFer gave me a circle workout (which i then passed on to someone else), but then let it sit on my wall collecting dust. It looks cute on my wall, though. Lol

[fuzzie]

Yes! I use mine to hold my stability ball or barre balls

[tytbody]

Originally Posted by fuzzie

Yes! I use mine to hold my stability ball or barre balls

Cool Love it.

[TinaT]

Maybe I won't worry too much about finding workouts to go with it. I do have one, so maybe if I use it once in a while it will justify keeping it. I'm trying to think differently this year in how I approach fitness.

[KayB]

Originally Posted by fuzzie

Yes! I use mine to hold my stability ball or barre balls

Me too. Keeps my stability ball from running wild. Never used it in a workout.

[tytbody]

Did you Find Bernadetts on Amazon? It did come up under her name.

[alisoncooks]

I keep mine just around for the Pure Barre Lowry Lofts (though I also have that KV pilates dvd -- never use it). And I haven't used my Lowry Lofts in ages.... But my kids like to play with it!

[RedPanda]

I wouldn't say that a Pilates ball can necessarily replace all the exercises which use a Pilates ring.

I think Bernadette Giorgi's Pilates Circle Challenge utlises the circle really well; the workout is graceful yet challenging. For this workout, a stability ball would be too large and a Pilates mini-ball would be too small.

As already mentioned, Bernadette's Just B Live Pilates Express incorporates a good Pilates Circle segment.

Another good DVD which incorporates the circle is Spin Pilates Ring and Roller. This one uses the circle for resistance and stretching for the upper body - it really sneaks up on you!

[Gancho Girl]

Originally Posted by fuzzie

Yes! I use mine to hold my stability ball or barre balls

Mine does that too.

Although since starting Pilates teacher training, I do use it more. It was something my teacher said about not using the ring to "fry" the big top layer of muscles (by squeezing the hell out of the ring), but instead to use controlled movements to engage the smaller muscles... it took the dread factor out. So the way I use it is now very different.

I'm planning to start using it with one of my private Pilates clients, both to help her form (using it for ab curl and the like) and also to work those smaller muscles in the lower body.

[fuzzie]

Originally Posted by Gancho Girl

Although since starting Pilates teacher training, I do use it more. It was something my teacher said about not using the ring to "fry" the big top layer of muscles (by squeezing the hell out of the ring), but instead to use controlled movements to engage the smaller muscles... it took the dread factor out. So the way I use it is now very different.

Now that's interesting! I like the idea of using the ring to maintain proper alignment and muscle engagement without all that squeezing (I feel the same way about using the ball in barre workouts too - the squeezing just seems like an easy way to make the workout "killer" without any real purpose or creativity).