Before I ever started my classical Pilates certification, I was already dipping my toes into that world—taking a class here, attending a workshop there. One of the workshops that really made an impression on me was a barrels workshop. It inspired me to go searching for a used Ladder Barrel. I didn’t have any luck finding one second-hand, so I started looking into buying one new.
That’s when I landed on the Gratz website. And since I was already going to be paying a significant amount for shipping, I figured, why not add another piece to the order? That’s how the Small Arm Chair—commonly known as the Baby Chair—ended up in my studio. Long story short, those shipping costs ended up pushing me to redo my entire studio with classical equipment. It just made sense to amortize the cost over more apparatuses!
At that point, I had tried to recreate the feel of the Baby Chair with my contemporary apparatuses. But it wasn’t quite the same. To my knowledge, no contemporary manufacturer makes a true version of it, and I’ve never seen it used in contemporary training. In a classical studio, though, the Small Arm Chair stands out for its lightest springs and its excellent feedback. It’s perfect for building the strength needed for exercises like the Swakate Series on the Reformer or the Standing Arm Springs Series on the Cadillac.
But don’t let the name “Baby Chair” fool you—it doesn’t mean the exercises are gentle or easy. While it can be used for foundational or rehabilitative Pilates, there are plenty of ways to increase the challenge: you can work with or away from the chair back (depending on the model), lift the back up instead of leaning it back, and play with positioning for less support and more instability. There’s still so much more to explore with it, and I know I’ve only scratched the surface.
I also love using the Baby Chair with special populations, like prenatal and postpartum clients. When I was pregnant myself, I used it regularly—it gave me the support I needed without compromising the quality or intensity of the workout. It’s an incredibly thoughtful tool for meeting clients where they are, while still offering them something deeply effective.
Recently, I fit in two workouts using the Baby Chair on @Pilatesology, both by the talented @coreloveculture (Nicole Smith). The intermediate class was a refreshing challenge—familiar material, but more demanding than I would usually push myself to do solo. Because let’s be honest: even as instructors, we sometimes hold back when we’re on our own!
The advanced class took it up a notch, incorporating the Rollback Bar in ways I hadn’t seen before. It was tough—and totally worth it. What really surprised me was how I could see adapting elements of that advanced work to help less experienced clients, too. It’s a reminder of how versatile and smart classical Pilates can be when it comes to progression.
All in all, the Small Arm Chair continues to surprise and challenge me. It’s earned its spot in my studio, and I’m excited to keep learning from it.
Interested in trying it out? Come explore classical Pilates in a private session in Montréal—you might just fall in love with the Baby Chair, too!
Discover more from Cadance Jazz & Pilates – Dance, Pilates & Barre Classes in Milton-Parc, Montreal
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
