In the past I have posted several articles discussing matwork and keeping the exercises new and exciting without sacrificing the integrity of the method. A great way to keep things fresh is to incorporate a small piece of apparatus into your workout. This can definitely be a love/hate relationship for some clients. One of the best ways to mix up the mat without diluting the method is to incorporate the Pilates ring also known as the magic circle.
Recently, I had the pleasure of being able to test out a new Zenzu Pilates ring compliments of Americas Nutrition. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this product and the price tag that went with it! Those of us professionals in the Pilates field are well aware of how overly priced equipment can be. The machines are thousands of dollars and even a Pilates ring can run up to $65.
I have used other rings on the market which are comparable in price (23.99) and I find that I prefer this brand due to it's strong resistance level. I've found that other rings of similar quality lack a heavy resistance level and it is easy to bend the ring right in half. I like the fact that it took some effort on my behalf to squeeze the ring with my biceps or inner thighs muscles as I was performing certain exercises. Another cool feature is that the foam handles make it a little more comfortable to use....especially when doing the lower body work. The ring also comes with a little exercise chart to get you started.
The Zenzu Pilates Ring can be found at Americas Nutrition as well as other health and fitness products.
