The Pilates Props I Actually Use — and Why
I love a Pilates prop—but I don't believe you need a closet full of equipment to have a good workout.
The props I reach for most aren't necessarily the fanciest ones. They're the ones that can completely change the feedback, intention, or challenge of an exercise without making movement unnecessarily complicated.
Whether you're building a home Pilates setup, you're an instructor looking for new tools, or you just want to know what's actually worth buying, these are the props I find myself coming back to again and again.
1. Toning Balls
If I were building a prop collection from scratch, I'd start here.
I love light toning balls because they're versatile without being overwhelming. A 1–3 lb ball might not sound like much, but add it to a slow, controlled sequence and you'll understand very quickly.
One reason I often prefer them to light dumbbells for Pilates-style movement is the grip. Instead of wrapping your hand around a dumbbell handle, a small toning ball can sit more naturally in the palm. That changes how you interact with the weight and can make movements that involve reaching, rotation, or flowing between positions feel less restricted by the shape of the equipment.
That doesn't make a toning ball universally "better" than a dumbbell—dumbbells are designed to be gripped securely and are the better tool for plenty of strength exercises. But when I'm adding a small amount of external load to Pilates-style movement, I often prefer the freedom of the ball.
I use them for upper-body work, standing sequences, core work, coordination challenges, and adding load without completely changing the exercise.
SHOP: 2 & 3 lb toning ball set
2. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are probably one of the best cost-to-versatility purchases you can make. They're also easy to travel with, which makes them one of my favorite options for virtual sessions and at-home workouts.
Not all resistance bands do the same job, which is why I keep a few different styles around.
Short loop bands are simple, inexpensive, and incredibly versatile. I use them around the thighs, ankles, feet, wrists, and even the hands depending on the exercise. They’re especially useful when I want to add external feedback or resistance without adding weight.
Long resistance bands give you much more freedom with positioning. You can shorten your grip to increase tension, use them for upper- or lower-body work, or incorporate them into mobility and stretching. If you're building a home prop collection on a budget, a basic set of long bands is one of the most useful things you can buy.
Fabric bands are my pick when I want heavier resistance without a band rolling, digging in, or sliding around as much. The WeGym bands come in three resistance levels and use a thicker fabric construction designed to stay put, which makes them especially nice for standing work, bridges, squats, and lower-body strength exercises.
SHOP: Short loop resistance bands • Long resistance bands • WeGym fabric resistance bands
3. Pilates Ball
Do not underestimate the little inflatable ball.
It can go behind the back, between the thighs, underneath a hand, underneath the pelvis, between the ankles—the list goes on. Sometimes I use it to create instability. Other times, I use it for the exact opposite reason: to give the body additional feedback and help someone understand where they're moving from. And no, squeezing it as hard as humanly possible between your thighs is not a requirement.
Yes, I own more than one kind of Pilates ball — because they actually serve slightly different purposes.
A firmer Pilates ball, like the WeGym ball, gives you more structure and support. I like this style when I'm using the ball as a surface to press into, create instability, support positioning, or challenge balance and control. The WeGym version has a matte, micro-textured surface designed for grip and a relatively durable construction, so it makes sense for something that will get a lot of use.
But sometimes I specifically don't want a firm ball.
A softer, squishier ball can be easier to grip between the knees, thighs, ankles, or hands because it conforms to the body instead of constantly trying to escape. I especially like having this option when the goal is feedback and connection rather than creating a huge stability challenge. You can also slightly under-inflate a ball to make it softer and easier to hold.
Neither is necessarily "better." I like having both because changing something as simple as the firmness of the ball can completely change how a familiar exercise feels.
SHOP: WeGym Pilates ball • Soft Pilates ball
4. Yoga Blocks
They're simple, inexpensive and endlessly useful.
Yoga blocks aren't just for yoga. They're one of those basic props that can quietly make a movement setup much better.
I use blocks for support, modifying range of motion, changing the starting position of an exercise, creating feedback, and making certain positions more accessible. They're also useful when I'm working with someone whose mobility or proportions make the "standard" setup less than ideal.
I prefer a dense, solid block like the WeGym blocks when I want something that feels really stable under load. If you're primarily looking for a block for stretching, mobility, or occasional home workouts, though, you absolutely do not need to spend much. A basic foam yoga block does the job and is a great budget-friendly option.
SHOP: WeGym yoga blocks • Foam yoga blocks
5. A Heavier Weight
Light weights have their place in Pilates, but so does actual load.
As Pilates and strength training continue to overlap, I like having access to something heavier for exercises where increasing resistance makes sense. Depending on the movement, that could mean dumbbells, a medicine ball, or a weighted ring.
The important part isn't using a specific trendy prop. It's choosing a load and shape that actually work for the exercise you're trying to perform.
Sometimes the simplest option is the best one. Hex dumbbells are inexpensive, easy to find in different weights, and versatile enough for everything from traditional strength exercises to loaded Pilates-inspired movement. I especially like the hex shape because you can set them down without them rolling away — a very underrated feature in a small workout space. You don't need the prettiest dumbbells on the internet for them to work. If you're building a home setup, I'd prioritize getting useful weight increments over buying an expensive matching set.
A medicine ball gives you something dumbbells don't: a load you can comfortably hold with both hands and move around the body. I like the Retrospec Core Medicine Ball because it comes in a large range of weights and has a grippy exterior, making it useful for squats, lunges, carries, rotational patterns, core work, balance exercises, and plenty of other full-body movements.
One important distinction: this particular medicine ball isn't a slam ball, so I wouldn't use it for repeated floor slams.
The Bala Power Ring essentially sits somewhere between a dumbbell and a kettlebell. Its circular design gives you multiple places to grip it, so you can press it, hold it close to the body, carry it, squat with it, or use it for certain swinging movements. Bala currently makes it in 5, 8, and 10 lb options. This is definitely the splurge option, but it's also one of the more interesting ways to add weight to a Pilates or strength workout. I wouldn't call it a complete replacement for a traditional kettlebell — the shape and weight distribution are different — but for lighter strength work, it's a really versatile option, especially if you want one prop that can be held in several different ways.
SHOP: Hex dumbbells • Retrospec medicine ball • Bala Power Ring
If I could only buy three...
For someone practicing at home, I'd start with:
Toning balls + resistance bands + an inflatable Pilates ball.
They're relatively inexpensive, don't require much storage, and give you a huge number of possibilities.
The biggest thing to remember with props: more complicated doesn't automatically mean more effective.
Most of these are incredibly simple pieces of equipment, and that's exactly why I like them. A ball, band, block, or a few pounds of external load can change the feedback or challenge of an exercise without turning it into an entirely different movement.
I'd rather own a small collection of props I can use a hundred different ways than a closet full of equipment I only know what to do with once.
Shop My Pilates Edit
I'm constantly testing and collecting props for my own practice, my clients, and the KCRUZER MOVEMENT studio. I'll keep this page updated with the equipment that actually earns a place in my rotation.
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