Looking for a unique service to offer your members, that also differentiates your club from your competitors? The Pilates Chair is an efficient piece of equipment that combines elements of the popular mind-body exercise with overall strength conditioning. Some experts believe the Pilates Chair will be the “next big thing” in group exercise for health clubs that want to stay on the cuttingedge of fitness.
Nora St. John, co-owner of Turning Point Studios in Walnut Creek, CA, has taught many Chair classes and thinks it is an ideal fit for health and fitness clubs. “It is a perfect piece of equipment for a club. It doesn’t take up much space and it offers a serious workout for even your most fit members,” says St. John.
Small but Challenging…
On average, Pilates Chairs stand just over two feet tall with a footprint of approximately five square feet. Designed to stretch and strengthen muscle groups not easily reached by more traditional techniques and equipment, it consists of a seat and a footbar with attached springs. Members sit, lie or stand on the Chair, or the floor, and push the footbar with their hands or feet. Over 28 different exercise categories for the Chair focus on: core strength; leg strength; shoulder girdle; mobility and strength, and functional movements such as standing, climbing, pushing and lifting.
The Pilates Chair is considered to be the most challenging piece of Pilates equipment in terms of building strength in the legs and shoulders. Exercises on the Pilates Chair are great for skiers, runners, tennis players, golfers and for clients looking to increase power in the upper body for throwing, lifting and racquet sports.
“In terms of exercise, the Chair is more athletic than a Reformer. Whereas the latter deals more with flexibility and coordination, the Chair is more physically challenging and will get your clients sweating,” says St. John.
In a 20 x 20 room, a club can easily fit a dozen Chairs with room to spare. Many Chairs are now equipped with wheels that make portability and storage a breeze. It is a great alternative for clubs that want to offer equipment-based Pilates but may not have the room for Reformers.
Extremely Versatile
Many instructors rave about the Chair’s versatility. Pilates Chair workouts can be easily combined with bands or mat work. Members can do abdominals on the mat, stand up and work on the Chair, then return to mat exercises. These transitions between mat and equipment can be slightly faster with the Chair than a Reformer, because the Reformer’s sliding carriage, ropes and springs require that you take a bit more time to safely climb on and off.
You can also target Chair classes to specific segments of your club’s membership. This gets people with common interests together, and is usually popular from both an exercise and social aspect. Workouts designed for skiers, runners, bicyclists, or basketball players are examples of specialty Chair classes your club might offer.
Chair workouts are also good for attracting men – a group that has been a little slow to catch on to Pilates at some clubs.
Valentin, owner of The Pilates Body by Valentin in Dublin, CA, started a men’s Chair class two years ago. Demand has grown so large that she now has to offer multiple sessions. “The Chair is a great way to get men into your Pilates program. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and the men in my class have formed a great camaraderie,” she says.
Quick Education for Instructors
Instructor education is always important – particularly in Pilates. But Chair exercises have fewer nuances than those for Reformer, and a solid educational program can be accomplished in just a weekend. “After that, your instructors should be ready to go – especially if they have a Pilates background,” says St. John. “They will be able to teach the whole Chair repertoire including different programs for different skill levels.”
An Additional Revenue Stream…
The Pilates Chair is considered specialty equipment and – as with other equipment-based Pilates programs – participants have shown their willingness to pay extra for this service. Do a good job of marketing your program, and Chair classes can be a great addition to your revenue stream.
For savvy clubs, offering Chair classes is an easy way to add a new profitgenerating service to your portfolio. And, by providing programming your members cannot yet easily find elsewhere, you’ll also have the advantage of getting the jump on your competitors and standing out from the crowd.
Ken Endelman is the Founder and CEO of Balanced Body, Inc. He can be contacted at 1.800.PILATES, or visitwww.pilates.com
