Endless Pursuit of Mastery on the Wunda Chair
The Wunda Chair is not for the faint of heart. It’s a mental and physical challenge, requiring real strength, focus, endurance, and a touch of willpower. Designed for both in-studio and at-home use, the Wunda Chair breeds independence amongst all levels and abilities. Its small platform and heavy pedal require complete control and precision. With every exercise, the Wunda Chair transforms from an apparatus into a teacher itself- demanding patience, practice, and the courage to pursue mastery.
The Original Pilates Home Studio
The Wunda Chair’s composition mimics many of Pilates’ inventions - a sturdy wooden frame complete with curved and straight edges, and springs to offer varying levels of resistance and support. Its compact structure doubles as a functioning chair suitable for any home. Simply unhook the springs, flip the chair over, and you’re left with a slanted seat and straight back that promote proper alignment and posture.
This dual-purpose design gave Pilates students a way to continue their practice beyond the studio walls. In the summer months, Joseph Pilates was known to encourage his clients to purchase a Wunda Chair so they could keep moving at home. The Wunda Chair brought accessibility beyond matwork to at-home workouts and encouraged independence and ownership of one’s Pilates practice.
Today, the Gratz Pilates Wunda Chair carries forward Joe’s vision. Compact yet endlessly versatile, it remains a full Pilates studio in a single apparatus- truly wonderful.
Utilizing the Wunda Chair
The Wunda Chair’s repertoire is vast. Utilize it for an entire session for an energizing, well-rounded workout, or sprinkle a handful of exercises in to address specific needs. Use it at the end of a session for a strong finish, or for a quick workout when you’re short on time. Many of its exercises mirror the Reformer and Matwork, though without a codified order.
As challenging as the Wunda Chair can be (more on that later), it’s not reserved for seasoned movers alone. Bring a beginner to the Wunda Chair to strengthen their feet and hips. Take Footwork for example - here beginners learn how to connect their legs to their powerhouse, while stabilizing the spine upon lifting the pedal. This mobility and stability is seen all throughout the beginner system and later put to the test in exercises like Stomach Massage on the Reformer.
For intermediate practitioners, the Wunda Chair bridges the gap between the Reformer and the Mat. Larger ranges of motion, multi-joint exercises, and extension of the spine are introduced, expanding both strength and coordination. For advanced movers, the Wunda Chair becomes a playground- venturing off balance, teetering upside down, and at times defying gravity.
As versatile and rewarding as the Wunda Chair can be, it also carries a reputation: Joe’s students (and many teachers since) have agreed it’s among the toughest pieces he ever created.
The Challenge of the Wunda Chair
Jay Grimes said it best: “I think the Wunda Chair is by far the hardest of all the apparatus Joe invented.” The Wunda Chair is unsupportive - and that’s the point. The small surface of the chair and pedal leave little physical contact with the apparatus itself. On the Reformer, Mat, and Barrels, practitioners are able to lie down and receive ample feedback and support. There is very little lying down on the Wunda Chair, and when you do, the surface area is so small that there is barely enough room for the pelvis and torso.
Many of the exercises are performed with only the extremities in contact with the chair, forcing the mover to recruit their powerhouse while stabilizing their joints to initiate the movement - a true challenge! Balance is an additional crucial component of the Wunda Chair. A handful of unilateral exercises both seated and standing require proper balance while moving the pedal up and down. These principles of stability and balance are put to the test with advanced exercises like Single Arm Pull Up, Mountain Climbers, and Star, to name a few.
Stand Out Exercises on the Wunda Chair
Push Down
So many exercises in the Pilates system live inside the Push Down at the Wunda Chair. The wrap of the legs in Pilates Stance nods to Footwork, The Hundred, and Frog, while the articulation of the spine echoes the Roll Up and Roll Over. The pumping of the arms recalls Shaving- only upside down- while the rounded spine mirrors Elephant on the Reformer. Mechanically, the Push Down reinforces lumbopelvic rhythm and scapular stability- skills too often lost, yet crucial to master.
The Push Down is a celebration of many exercises in one, and a direct reflection of the truth that Pilates is a system! It’s beautiful to teach, to observe, and to practice. Dare I say, it’s my favorite.
Mermaid Kneeling
Mermaid Kneeling looks graceful from the outside, but it’s a sneaky strength-builder that demands full-body connection before you even begin to bend. Connecting the movement of the arms to the powerhouse is no easy feat. Add a moving surface and it only gets more difficult. That and more are present in Mermaid Kneeling at the Wunda Chair. The real trick is in the connection to the pedal. A stable wrist, elbow, and shoulder prompt engagement at the abdominals and back to mobilize the spring. The goal is maintaining that connection as you expand into a side bend.
There’s a lot to think about for a relatively little movement, yet the payoff is big. You are rewarded with length at the waist, the front of the hip, and the lower back. It's a craveable exercise, seemingly simple in form, yet fairly complex in practice.
Push Up - Feet on Pedal
The ultimate test! As if push ups weren’t challenging enough - add a small moving pedal for the feet to balance on. Why not! The actual push up is just part of the exercise. Layer in a mount and dismount that passes through a handstand position to travel in and out of the push up itself. The key is keeping the torso steady and the ankles strong, much like Long Stretch on the Reformer. Altogether, Push Up with Feet on the Pedal is the victory lap of the Wunda Chair- an unapologetic test of control, power, and grit; and a pathway to a dynamic, capable, resilient body.
My Wunda Chair Story
If I were forced to pick a favorite apparatus, the Wunda Chair would be it. It’s edgy, somewhat complicated, and requires a spirit of curiosity to approach. The modern dancer in me craves large ranges of motion, circular pathways, and a touch of danger, and the Wunda Chair delivers just that. I secured my Wunda Chair during the pandemic from a beloved studio that had closed. It resided in my living room for 5 years and was the ultimate conversation starter among guests. I used it as Joe had intended - as exercise and furniture. It kept me company during the pandemic, and it kept me patient as I eagerly awaited the arrival of my Gratz Pilates equipment for the opening of my business, Physical Studios. Today my cherry red Wunda Chair lives happily under a beautiful window in my Pilates studio located in Highland Park, Los Angeles.
The Wunda Chair reveals your weaknesses and imbalances, yet at the same time reminds you of your strength. It’s hard not to leave a Wunda Chair workout empowered- thinking “yeah I just did that,” even if it wasn’t all perfect. The Wunda Chair is an invitation to try again, to keep at it, and to never stop practicing.
A Practice Partner for Life
Bring the ultimate home studio to your living room with the Gratz Pilates Wunda Chair. It’s more than just a piece of equipment; it’s a practice partner that challenges your strength, sharpens your focus, and grows with you over time.
About
Taylor Kinsey has been practicing movement for as long as she can remember. She was first introduced to Pilates while earning her BFA in dance at The Boston Conservatory. Shortly after graduating she obtained her comprehensive Pilates certification from Alycea Ungaro’s Real Pilates program and moved to Los Angeles where she taught under Saul Choza of Winsor Choza Pilates for five years. Under Saul’s mentorship and guidance she found her voice as a teacher, and grew a deep love for the Pilates system.
In 2024 Taylor opened Physical Studios — a private Pilates studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles. She’s passionate about helping her clients reimagine their physical capabilities through the Pilates method. Her years of movement training enable her to deliver true results to her clients whether they are engaging in exercise for the first time or deepening their current practice.
Taylor is a lifelong learner. She is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and is always deep into research studies, podcasts, and books surrounding the human body and biomechanics. For more of Taylor’s writing and work, follow her on Instagram.