The Wonders of the Wunda Chair

The Wonders of the Wunda Chair

 

The Wunda chair (in German Wunda means wonder) is a powerful piece of equipment that was designed by Joseph Pilates as a portable home exercise machine.

Originally, the chair was made for the small New York City apartments and could be converted easily between chair and exercise equipment. The chair was small and simple, with a seat, pedal and springs attached to the pedals to adjust desired resistance.

Joseph Pilates used the chair to rehabilitate lower body injuries as well as challenging advanced students with more aerobic, full body exercises. The chair challenges the symmetry of the body while developing strength and balance.

While some exercises are performed sitting on the top and pressing the pedal down, other exercises van be done lying on the floor, standing up, hands on the pedals and standing on the seat among other positions, so don’t mistaken the name, Pilates chair – there is much more to it than a sit down workout.

Many stretching exercises can be done on the chair, including calves, hamstrings, gluteus, back, shoulders and arms. While Joe’s background in gymnastics reflects in some of the chair exercises, it also offers big variety of functional exercises for standing, balancing on one leg and more.

Over the years the chair has changed a lot in shape and materials and the chairs today are light weighted, bigger, higher and some have split pedal which allows reciprocal action of the limbs, as in walking and climbing.

The adjustable spring resistance along with the big variety of exercises makes the chair suitable for any need and any body, regardless their fitness level. From the injured student to the most advance one, everybody will find the work on the chair challenging, functional and fun!