Some of the favorite props all in one place that make for great gifts!

Massage & Recovery Tools

Gaiam Restore Pressure Point Muscle Roller Massage Stick

It looks painful but it feels wonderful.  Releases and massage muscles.  Keep one under your desk to rejuvenated your feet.

RENPHO Thermacool Massage Gun Deep Tissue with Heat and Cold Heads

FSA and HSA Eligible Percussion Muscle Deep Tissue Massage Gun Portable with Bluetooth, Electric Handheld Massager Gun, Active+ Thermacool.

Buy on Amazon

Hyperice Products

 

Hyperice on Amzon

 

Hand held devices see all the options.
Hyperice’s Hypersphere Vibrating Therapy Ball

Hyperice’s Massaging Roller, the “Viper”

Viper 3

Viper Go, Portable version
Viper by Huperice
No longer made but you can find on some website through Google searches: Viper 2
Hyperice's Viper 2.0

A good Alternative to the Hyperice

RENPHO Massage Gun, Deep Tissue Massager Gun with Adjustable Arm, Upgrade Percussion Muscle Massage Gun for Athletes
RENPHO Massage Gun, Deep Tissue Massager Gun with Adjustable Arm

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Brain Speed BallBrain Speed Ball

Developed by Trent McEntire, McEntire Pilates. See Home Workouts for speed ball games.
Brain speed ball work is appropriate for every person, any level, athlete or seniors as well as kids.
Purchase from Begin Again:

Purchase
Buy the Brain Speed Ball

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Dr Teal's Epsom SaltsDr Teal’s, our favorite brand of Epsom Salts

I’ve found that the best price for this brand is often at Ulta.com.  My favorite for soreness is the Detox with Ginger and Clay.  Use 1-2 cups per bath (yes, that’s a lot).

Dr. Teal's on Amazon

 

Books

 

Breath Exercised Sports Gene
Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding The Sports Gene Book

Gertie Balls: Mini Exercise Ball

A great prop for any Pilates workout and barre.  Virginia often refers to these as the 9″ balls.

Pro Body

Pilates Prop Ball
With the Pump
Without the Pump

Franklin Brand Balls

Back up brands:


If other brands are sold out:

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Dumbells & Ankle Weights

Free Weights from Amazon
They come in every variety…

 

Amazon’s set with a stand: sets of 2lb, 3lb, 5lb
With the above link you can also access neoprene pairs of weights from 1lbs through 20lbs.

 

Nice C Weights: Adjustable Dumbbells, Neoprene 10-in-1 Options

2.3 to 4.5 lbs each weight.
The ratings are good but I’ve not tried them.  I like the concept and saving space.

 

Hand weights from amazonJFIT Dumbbell Hand Weight Pairs and Sets

Neoprene and Vinyl Dumbbell Pairs Options or 7 Neoprene Dumbbell Rack Set Options – Premium Non-Slip, Color Coded Hex Shaped Hand Weights

Virginia’s Favorite and also sold at the Sports Basement:
JFIT Neoprene D Grip Dumbbells – Premium Non-Slip, Hand Weights, Ergonomic Design

Sold as single weights, 1 – 5LBs.
 
 
 

Ankle Weights

Sportneer Adjustable Weights

Adjustable Ankle Weights Ankle/Wrist Weights (1 Pair) with Adjustable Strap (2lbs, 3lbs, 4lbs, 6lbs, 8lbs & 10lbs).  You can change the weight of each between 2lbs to 10lbs.

Bala

The designer brand that is really quite lovely and quite pricey.
1lb set
2lb set
 

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Balls & Spikey Balls

You’ll find that you want to start with a bigger softer ball (tennis ball).  As your muscles and fascia loosen up, you’ll find you can tolerate and like the spiker and stiffer balls.  Also, your feet might want one consistency but say your back or IT Band needs another consistency.  So having a variety ends up being what most clients want for long-term maintenance. Tennis balls and lacrosse balls also can work quite well.

Pinky Balls by Balanced Body

  • SMALL MASSAGE BALL: Our small rubber ball measures 2.5″ (7 cm). It is often used as a massage ball for feet, but it can also be used for other target areas, such as the shoulders, neck, hips, and hands. It can help improve standing posture and gait.
  • DURABLE & COMFORTABLE: Our strong ball massager is made out of hard rubber, making it extremely durable. Plus, the hard natural rubber helps to provide intense pressure to those extra-stubborn spots that hold lots of tension.
  • DESIGNED FOR ACTIVE LIFESTYLES: Our mini massager ball is well suited for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who have sore or tense muscles. Spice up your home-gym equipment and daily routine with this hard rubber ball.
  • TRAVEL MASSAGE BALL: Due to its small and lightweight design, this self-massaging tool can easily be moved. No matter where you go, your Pilates exercise routine won’t get off track because you can take this ball with you when you travel.
  • BALANCED BODY: Balanced Body is dedicated to providing Pilates-based education and equipment that empowers users to be mindful of movement, make healthy lifestyle changes, and ultimately find balance.

FitNext Massage Balls

Feet, Back, Neck, Hands – Spiky Body Massager Rollers for Plantar Fasciitis, Deep Tissue, Muscle Relief, Trigger Point Therapy.

  • SPIKY MASSAGE BALL SET – includes 3 balls with hard, medium and soft spikes of varying length for different exercises and therapy
  • RELIEVES PAIN AND TENSION – exercise roller balls massage your body, reach deep tissue, target trigger points and relax sore muscles
  • UNIVERSAL MASSAGE TOOLS – with more than 200 pressure points they can be used as foot balls, back rollers, neck, shoulder and hand massagers
  • DURABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT – 3.15 inch exercise roller balls are extremely portable and can be carried anywhere you need them
  • RELATED – foam roller, plantar fasciitis ball, therapy ball for hands, vibrating massager, rolling spike ball, spiked fascia roller, stiff neck relief, lacrosse therapy ball

 

“Gumball” bouncy balls

  • Just ask Virginia for one.

 

 

 

 


 

 

Yamuna Body Rolling Foot Wakers

  • Stimulates the feet and improves circulation
  • Versatile, convenient and easy to use
  • Compact, portable and perfect for travel
  • Used for people with fallen arches, plantar fascitis, sore feet, reflexology, bunions and hammertoes
  • Kit contains 2 Yamuna Foot Wakers and instructional DVD

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Grip Socks: ToeSox & Tavi Noir

When doing Pilates work I highly recommend having socks with grips on the bottom.  Your feet will be less likely too slide and it will increase your proprecieption of your feet.

Below is my favorite brand and I actually carry these at the Begin Again Studio.  I really like the separate toes as it provides more grip and awareness + sensory feedback for “getting into” your feet.

 

Toe Socks by ToeSox

Grip Socks by Tavi Noir Barre Sock
(pad under the ball of the foot)
 

 

 

 

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Therabands

Virginia uses bands made by Theraband and a few others. Make sure to take care of them and keep them out of the sun. Replace when they show wear.

Heavy Therabands for home pilates and barre workouts
Pilates Therbands light to medium

Band Accessories:

Pilates at home workouts

From Amazon:

Heavy Resistance 3 pack of 5′ theraband set from Amazon
bands are only about 5 feet each
Low to Medium Resistance 3 pack of 5′ Theraband set from Amazon

Special 8′ bands cut by Virginia

Great for her classes to do all the roll down and leg work. Normal Amazon bands are too short.

Medium 9’ Green Band Heavy 9’ Blue Band

Circular Band Options

Virginia uses these in most leg oriented workouts. They are also fantastic for shoulder girdle work.

Perform Better Exercise bands
Versatile 5 band set Heaviest band set by Perform Better Versatile 3 band set

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White Standard Foam RollerFoam Rollers

White Models: Just a good ole standard foam roller for most people to lie on head to tail.
1/2 circle of the white density
Blue Models: much quite softer: all length’s, full circular rollers, & 1/2 rollers

Blacks Models: much firmer foam rollers. Not for the faint of heart.

Either model, I recommend the 30-36″ lengths so you can lay on them with the foam roller supporting you from your head to tail bone.

White Standard Firmness

White Firm Half Roller

36″ Full size

 White Firm Half Roller

Softer Blue Rollers by OPTP

Blue soft foam roller for exercise
36″ Full Circle
36″ Half circle roller

Black Roller: High Density/Firm

Foam Rollers: Hard foam

Hyperice’s Massaging Roller, the “Viper” 2.0

Yoga Bolsters
A softer alternative to Foam Rollers

This is a great alternative to foam rollers as we can’t all tolerate them: the bolster pillow that is lonog and thing we use in the studio.
(25 x 6 x 3 inches)
Non-amazon pillow at a good price

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