Every apparatus and accessory a professional Pilates studio needs, what each one does, and how to build your lineup so the studio grows with you.
A professional Pilates studio is built on four core apparatus: Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrel, plus a set of props (balls, resistance bands, magic circle, rollers and blocks). Functional stations are optional, but they widen your class menu and attract new audiences. Live manufactures the complete lineup, from the V1 Barrel and V4 Chair through the V5 Reformer family and V8 Cadillac to the V12 functional station, so you can equip the entire studio with one brand, one warranty and one support team.
Classical Pilates was designed around a small family of spring-based apparatus, and a century later that family still defines what a serious studio can offer. Each machine covers a different slice of the method, and together they let one space serve everyone from post-rehab clients to athletes.
| Apparatus | What it does | In the Live lineup |
|---|---|---|
| Reformer | The most versatile apparatus: full-body work on a spring-loaded carriage, from foundational repertoire to advanced strength and control. | V5 Reformer family: Classic, Mini, Plus and X |
| Cadillac | Strength, mobility and clinical work on a stable trapeze table: the go-to platform for rehab and assisted movement. | V8 Cadillac, in Classic and X versions |
| Chair | Strength, balance and stability in a compact footprint: big training value per square foot. | V4 Chair |
| Barrel | Spinal extension, articulation and mobility: the apparatus that opens what the modern desk posture closes. | V1 Barrel |
| Functional stations | Expand the repertoire beyond classical Pilates: conditioning, dynamic strength and group formats. | V12, V6 Runner and V2 Cross |
If you can only start with one apparatus type, start with reformers. They carry the widest repertoire, they anchor group class formats, and they are the machine most clients search for by name. The rest of the lineup then deepens what the studio can deliver.
Four configurations, Classic, Mini, Plus and X, so the same engineering fits a boutique room or a full group class floor. Heavy-duty frame, precision spring changes and a carriage ride your clients feel from the first session.
The clinical and strength anchor of the studio. A rigid tower, secure attachment points and smooth spring response make it the safest place to progress clients who need support, and challenge the ones who do not.
Compact, stable and demanding. The chair trains pressing strength, single-leg control and balance in a footprint small enough to multiply across the room.
Live's signature functional station. Three-dimensional movement, dynamic strength and conditioning formats that expand the studio beyond the classical repertoire and bring in audiences Pilates alone would not reach.
Props are inexpensive compared to apparatus, but they multiply what every machine can do and they carry your mat work. A well-stocked prop wall is the cheapest upgrade a studio can make.
Plan prop sets per station, not per studio. Every reformer position in a group class should have its own ring, band and ball within reach, so classes flow without interruptions.
Mixing brands is how most studios end up with three spring standards, two warranty policies and a room that looks assembled rather than designed. Buying the complete line from one manufacturer brings advantages you feel every day of operation:
Many successful studios open with a room of reformers and a solid prop wall, then add the Cadillac, Chair and Barrel as the schedule fills. That sequence works because the reformer alone sustains a full class menu while occupancy builds.
The mistake to avoid is buying entry-level equipment "for now". Commercial use is unforgiving: apparatus built for home use wears fast under eight to twelve sessions a day, and replacing it later costs more than buying professional-grade once. Phase the quantity, never the quality.
When you are ready to plan the lineup for your space, the Live team builds the configuration with you: room dimensions, class formats, target capacity and growth phases. Start the conversation through the quote form.
The core is Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrel, plus props such as balls, resistance bands and the magic circle. Functional stations like the Live V12 are optional but widen your class menu. Live manufactures this entire list, so a studio can be fully equipped by a single brand.
Yes. Many studios open with reformers, the most versatile apparatus, and add the Cadillac, Chair and Barrel as occupancy grows. Reformers alone sustain a complete class schedule while the business builds momentum.
Yes. A single-brand lineup standardizes the client experience, simplifies maintenance and service with one support team, keeps the studio visually coherent, and gives you a stronger position when negotiating a complete package. Live offers the full line, from the V1 Barrel to the V12.
Yes. Stations like the Live V12 expand the class repertoire with conditioning and dynamic strength formats, attracting audiences a classical-only studio would not reach, while staying true to quality of movement.
Yes. Live equips Pilates studios, physical therapy clinics, gyms and independent professionals, with factory-direct support. Request a quote through the site and the team will configure the right lineup for your space.
From the V1 Barrel to the V12: tell us about your space and our team will design the configuration, capacity plan and quote for your project.
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