Pilates Combo Chair: What to Expect
If you’ve never heard of the Pilates Combo Chair before, you might be wondering what on earth it is. The Pilates Combo Chair (derived from the original Wunda Chair) is a specialist piece of Pilates equipment that is arriving soon to Breathing Space, Dublin 8.
Whilst the Pilates Combo Chair can look intimidating at first, it’s actually a really versatile piece of equipment that is suitable for different bodies and experience levels. We’re bringing the Pilates Combo Chair to Breathing Space because it can support your practice in a variety of ways to build:
Strength
Balance
Mobility
Functional movement
In this blog we’re going to explain what the Pilates Combo Chair is, how it works, and what to expect in a 1:1 session.
What is a Pilates Combo Chair?
It’s a brilliant piece of Pilates equipment because it is so versatile. It has a padded seat, adjustable springs for resistance, and a split foot pedal system, which all enable it to be used for hundreds of exercises in standing, sitting, kneeling, and lying positions - hence the ‘combo’ in the name. The Pilates Combo Chair can be used to support both gentle rehabilitation-style work, and more strength focused exercises.
How the Pilates Combo Chair Works?
Spring Resistance
The springs can be adjusted to vary the level of resistance. You can adjust the springs for lighter support when you’re working on mobility and control, or set them to a heavier resistance for strength and stability work.
Controlled Movement
Your Pilates instructor can guide you through a variety of exercises using the Combo Chair to develop precision, alignment, and breath control as you move. Small, precise, slower movements can feel surprisingly challenging using the Pilates Combo Chair.
Balance and Stability
The Pilates Combo Chair is a great piece of equipment for finding creative ways to develop (and challenge) your balance and coordination. Your instructor can also use the Combo Chair to guide you through movements that encourage your deep stabilising muscles to work together, helping you create a sense of strength and stability.
What to Expect from a Pilates Combo Chair Session
Just like a Mat or Reformer Pilates 1:1 session, your instructor will guide you through a structured, well-rounded session using the Pilates Combo Chair. They will typically guide you through
A warm-up and mobility sequence to introduce gentle spinal mobility, movements for the shoulder and hip joints, and bring breath awareness to your movements.
Strength and stability work through core-focused movement, postural support work, strengthening exercises for the major muscle groups in the upper and lower body
Standing exercises, single-leg stability work, and controlled transitions between positions to develop balance and coordination
A cool-down that includes appropriate stretches, breath-led recovery, and encourages relaxation
What the Pilates Combo Chair is Good For
Core Strength
The Pilates Combo Chair is a fantastic piece of equipment for training deep abdominal and postural muscles because it encourages integrated, whole-body movements and support.
Posture and Alignment
The focus on posture and alignment through small but precise movements makes training with the Pilates Combo Chair ideal for desk-based workers, people with postural tension, and people seeking to build a more nuanced awareness of their body and movement.
The Pilates Combo Chair targets glute and leg power, making it famous for its “bottom-up” strength that can have a lasting effect on your posture.
Functional Movement
One of the great things about the Combo Chair is that the exercises and movements often mimic real-life activities, making it a great training tool for functional movement. With the Combo Chair you might find yourself standing, stepping, reaching and rotating, just as you do in day to day life, but with added challenges and resistance.
The Pilates Combo Chair can also be used for sports-specific training. You can use it to mimic the movements of climbing stairs, hiking, and skiing.
Balance and Coordination
Improving balance and coordination is important for many people, whether you’re an older adult, an athlete, or simply want to work on their balance, coordination, stability and control. The Pilates Combo Chair offers endless ways and opportunities to develop balance and coordination, so there’s no chance of getting bored with your movement practice.
Low-Impact Strength Training
Like Mat or Reformer Pilates, movements using the Pilates Combo Chair are low impact, which means this exercise is sustainable, gentle on your joints, while still helping you build strength over time.
Who is the Pilates Combo Chair Suitable For?
As we’ve already explored, an experienced Pilates instructor using the Combo Chair in 1:1 sessions can provide you with a wide variety of movement options. This makes the Combo Chair an ideal piece of equipment for anyone seeking an adaptable movement practice that meets you where you are and supports an individual and personalised movement practice.
1:1 Pilates Combo Chair sessions may best suit:
People returning from injury
Experienced Pilates practitioners seeking new ways to experience and develop their practice
Anyone who enjoys a movement practice with variety
People looking for low-impact strength work
Additional guidance or advice on suitability may be required before booking a 1:1 Pilates Combo Chair session if you are:
Recovering from a recent or acute injury
Completely new to movement or returning after a long break from your movement practice
Managing significant balance issues
Pregnant or post-partum (at Breathing Space we have instructors specifically trained to work with pregnant and postpartum clients)
Living with certain chronic health conditions
As always, if you are unsure, speak to us before booking a Combo Chair session at Breathing Space, Dublin 8.
How Does the Pilates Combo Chair Compare to Reformer Pilates?
If you’re familiar with Reformer Pilates, there will be movements that you recognise with the Pilates Combo Chair. There are some differences that you’ll probably notice.
You might sense a more upright, functional-feeling when using the Combo Chair, with movements more focused on building strength and balance. It has a smaller base of support than a Reformer, so this increases the challenge of some movements.
The Reformer facilitates more gliding movements patterns than the Combo Chair, giving a smoother and more flowing feeling. The Reformer is a larger piece of equipment with a bigger base of support, and more options.
Both the Combo Chair and the Reformer use spring resistance and controlled movement principles, so the Combo Chair is a natural next step for your practice, whether you are looking for more variety or a new challenge.
What the Research Says About Pilates Equipment Training?
It’s well-established that mat and equipment-based Pilates can improve core strength, support balance and posture, enhance functional movement, and increase body awareness. But there are some specific benefits for equipment-based Pilates, whether you’re using the Reformer or the Combo Chair.
Using equipment allows you to adjust the level or resistance for each movement, which helps you notice changes or progress over time. For many people, the equipment offers more feedback during movement compared with a mat-based class. This is helpful for developing body awareness, including proprioception (understanding where your body is in space).
A randomised controlled trial found that equipment-based Pilates was more effective than mat Pilates for people with chronic nonspecific lower back pain in terms of reducing a fear of movement and increasing their range of movement.
Tips For Your First Combo Chair Session at Breathing Space, Dublin 8
At Breathing Space, Dublin 8 we offer 1:1 Combo Chair Sessions. Here are some top tips to make the most of your first session:
Wear comfortable movement-friendly clothing
Let your instructor know about any injuries, concerns or questions at the start of your session
Expect slower, more controlled movement that a gym workout
Focus on quality movements, rather than “getting it right”
Don’t be surprised if small movements feel surprisingly challenging
Conclusion
As we always say at Breathing Space, one modality or movement practice isn’t better than the other. It’s never “this or that” but “this AND that”. The same applies with equipment-based Pilates. It can be a great compliment to your mat-based practice, sports you play, or your regular gym and Yoga classes.
The Pilates Combo Chair is a versatile, supportive, and adaptable piece of equipment that can bring variety and new challenges to your movement practice. It can help you build strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness through low-impact movement.
If you’re curious to try the Pilates Combo Chair at Breathing Space, Dublin 8, we offer 1:1 sessions, individually or in bundles. It could be the perfect new challenge you need to re-motivate yourself or re-spark your love for your movement practice.
