Have you met the Wunda Chair yet?

Walk into most Pilates studios and it's the Reformer that usually gets all the attention. But at The Pilates Approach you'll find a small, boxy piece of equipment that I think is one of the most underrated in the studio: the Wunda Chair.

Joseph Pilates originally designed the chair as a piece of furniture for small New York apartments; something you could sit on during the day and exercise on at night. It looks simple, but don't be fooled. A spring-loaded pedal that can split in two, a compact frame, and a seat to sit, stand, kneel or lie on give you a surprising number of ways to move.

What I love most about the chair is that so much of the repertoire is performed upright. On the mat, Reformer and Cadillac, you're mostly supported by a surface. On the chair, you're often sitting, standing or balancing on one leg, using the pedal and springs to challenge you or support you. It asks the whole body to work together, there are more elements to control.

With four springs, two different tensions, and four setting options per spring, the load is the most adjustable of all the apparatus, so the chair can be as gentle or as challenging as you need. An easier setting can support a movement you're still learning, while a harder one can make a familiar exercise feel brand new. Sometimes adding tension is assistive, other times it adds challenge.

The Wunda Chair is often considered the most challenging apparatus in the studio. Being so small, there's nowhere to hide. Some of the classic Wunda Chair exercises are very demanding (I'm looking at you, pikes and step-ups), but for the same reason it's all the more satisfying when you master them.

I still remember my first couple of sessions on the chair, nearly 20 years ago now. I was not a fan in the early days, and sighed inwardly whenever my teacher said it was a chair day. But the chair rewards persistence. Each session, something clicks. You hold the balance a little longer, the pedal moves with more control, and an exercise that felt impossible last month starts to feel doable. That progress feels earned, and the confidence you build carries into everything else you do.

If you're curious to try it, I'd love to introduce you to the chair. Be patient with yourself, keep showing up, and you'll be amazed at what you can do.