Pilates Apparatus Explained: Reformer, Cadillac, Tower & Wunda Chair
When I first qualified as a Pilates instructor, my training was predominantly mat-based. I knew what a Reformer was, but if you'd asked me to explain the difference between a Cadillac, Tower and Wunda Chair, I'm not sure I could have!
If you're currently training to become a Pilates instructor, or you've recently qualified, you might feel the same.
The Pilates world extends far beyond the mat, and as you start working in different studios you'll probably hear instructors talking about Reformers, Towers, Cadillacs, Chairs and all sorts of other apparatus.
So, what actually are they? This isn't an exhaustive guide to Pilates apparatus. There are plenty of other wonderful pieces of equipment you may encounter as your Pilates education develops, including the Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Pilates Arc and other pieces of traditional and contemporary apparatus.
For now, we're keeping things simple and looking at four pieces you're increasingly likely to come across: the Reformer, Cadillac, Tower and Wunda Chair.
The Pilates Reformer
The Reformer is probably the most recognisable piece of Pilates apparatus today and certainly the one that has experienced the biggest boom in recent years.
It consists of a moving carriage connected to springs, together with a footbar, shoulder rests, straps and pulleys. One of the things that makes the Reformer so versatile is that the springs can provide both resistance and assistance, depending on the exercise.
You can work lying, sitting, kneeling and standing, and exercises can challenge strength, mobility, stability, balance, coordination and control.
If you've come from a matwork background, you'll recognise many of the same Pilates principles. But the addition of the moving carriage, springs and straps gives the body something very different to respond to. The springs and apparatus can also provide valuable feedback, helping clients understand where and how they're moving. And despite its current popularity, the Reformer certainly isn't a new fitness trend. It forms part of the wider system of apparatus developed by Joseph Pilates.
The Pilates Cadillac
The Cadillac traditionally also known as the Trapeze Table is considerably larger and perhaps the most dramatic-looking piece of Pilates apparatus.
It consists of a raised padded table surrounded by a metal frame. Springs, bars, straps and other attachments can be positioned around the frame to create an enormous repertoire of exercises.
The Cadillac can provide considerable support and assistance, which can make it incredibly useful when teaching movement and helping a client explore a particular connection or movement pattern.
But don't mistake supportive for easy. At the other end of the spectrum, you'll find some wonderfully challenging advanced repertoire, including exercises using the overhead frame and trapeze.
Because of its size and versatility, you're particularly likely to encounter a Cadillac in a fully equipped Pilates studio or within individual and small-group apparatus sessions.
The Pilates Tower
This is where things can initially become a little confusing because the Tower shares many features with the Cadillac. Rather than having the complete overhead frame of a Cadillac, the Tower concentrates springs, bars and attachment points onto an upright frame at one end of a mat or bed.
You'll find different versions. Some Towers are standalone units with their own mat or raised bed. Others are attached to a wall, while many modern studios use Reformer/Tower combinations, allowing one piece of equipment to be used for both Reformer and Tower work.
The Tower gives instructors access to much of the spring-based work associated with the Cadillac, but without the complete overhead framework. This means it doesn't offer all of the suspended and hanging repertoire available on a full Cadillac.
For a matwork instructor, Tower work can be particularly fun because you have a stable surface underneath you while springs introduce resistance, assistance and feedback from different directions.
It's another great example of how adding spring resistance can completely change the experience of a familiar movement.
The Wunda Chair
The Wunda Chair is one of the smallest pieces of traditional Pilates apparatus, but don't let its size fool you. At its simplest, it consists of a padded seat or platform with a spring-loaded pedal underneath. Depending on the style of Chair, you may also see split pedals and handles.
The spring settings can be changed depending on the exercise and the person using the apparatus.
Unlike the large surface of a Cadillac or the long moving carriage of a Reformer, the Chair gives you a relatively small base of support.
Exercises can be performed sitting, standing, kneeling and in a variety of positions around the Chair. The repertoire can challenge strength, balance, stability, coordination and control and some of the more advanced exercises are incredibly athletic.
Its compact footprint also makes the Wunda Chair a great piece of apparatus for modern Pilates studios.
We're already beginning to see Chair appearing alongside Reformer and Tower classes, and I suspect this is one piece of Pilates apparatus we're going to be seeing a lot more of.
Before You Move Onto the Bigger Apparatus...
Once you've qualified in matwork, you don't necessarily have to jump straight onto a Reformer.
It can be really useful to start by introducing some of the smaller pieces of Pilates equipment into your classes.
A mini ball, stability ball, resistance band or Pilates ring can completely change the feel of an exercise you're already familiar with.
Start with the classical movements you already feel confident teaching and explore what happens when you add resistance, support, instability or feedback through a small piece of equipment.
It's a great way to expand your repertoire while still working from the foundations you've developed during your matwork training. It can also help you become more confident adapting familiar exercises before progressing onto larger apparatus and undertaking further specialist training.
The equipment might change, but the Pilates principles and your understanding of movement remain at the heart of what you're teaching.
Do You Need to Train Separately on Each Piece of Pilates Apparatus?
If you hold a matwork qualification, that doesn't automatically mean you're trained to teach every piece of Pilates apparatus.
Although the fundamental principles of Pilates travel with us, each piece of apparatus introduces its own repertoire, spring settings, safety considerations, teaching techniques, progressions and regressions.
That's why appropriate additional education is important before you begin teaching on unfamiliar apparatus. But you absolutely don't need to learn everything at once.
Your matwork training gives you an incredibly valuable foundation. It develops your observation, cueing, programming and understanding of movement without relying on a machine to provide feedback or assistance. From there, your education can grow with your career.
For some instructors, Reformer might be the obvious next step. Later, you might become interested in Tower, Cadillac, Chair or another area of the Pilates repertoire entirely.
That's one of the things I love about teaching Pilates.
You never really finish learning it.
Reformer Teacher Training is Coming to Pilates Training Hub
And on that note, I have some exciting news. Reformer Teacher Training is coming to Pilates Training Hub in 2027.
If you're already a qualified Pilates instructor and you're thinking about expanding your teaching beyond matwork, this could be your next step.
I'll be sharing course dates, locations and full details soon.
And as Pilates Training Hub continues to grow, Reformer may not be the only apparatus training on the horizon…
Watch this space.
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