I've been hooked on Pilates for over 14 years. I was introduced to this form of exercise as a therapy to strengthen my core when I developed back problems following the birth of my first child. While I love to do Pilates at a studio, live classes can be very expensive and sometimes it's easier to exercise at my house. Thanks to the MOTR by Balanced Body, I can stay healthy and fit by doing Pilates at home. And so can you! Read my review to learn why it's worth doing MOTR Pilates at home.
Pilates at Home with MOTR exercise equipment (Photo courtesy of Balanced Body)
This review is brought to you in partnership with Balanced Body and Mom It Forward.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a system of exercises, often using special equipment, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, posture, and mental awareness. Many physical therapists use Pilates to help rehabilitate injured athletes, dancers, and regular folks like me.
Balanced Body believes that movement changes people's lives. Founded in 1976, the company is the leading resource for Pilates and mindful movement equipment.
Pilates with MOTR by Balanced Body (Photo courtesy of Balanced Body)
What do I need for Pilates at home?
Home gyms are big, bulky and ain't nobody got room for that! But Balanced Body's MOTR (MOre Than a Roller), is a complete home gym in a manageable 43-inch cylinder. It combines a foam roller with the challenge of three levels of resistance, easily adjusted with the click of a button. I store my MOTR underneath my bed, and can easily do workouts in my bedroom or family room.
Bicep curls with MOTR (Photo credit: Travel Mamas)
Is Pilates expensive?
Group Pilates classes can cost $30+ per session. Meanwhile, private lessons are even more expensive at $50 – $100+ per hour. And, traditional Pilates equipment, like a reformer, can cost thousands of dollars. Balanced Body's MOTR, on the other hand, makes an affordable Pilates at home option.
Leg exercises with MOTR (Photo courtesy of Balanced Body)
Is Pilates hard to learn?
Worried it will be hard to learn how to do Pilates at home with MOTR? Worry not! MOTR by Balanced Body comes with a DVD featuring two workouts plus an easy-to-follow deck of flashcards that demonstrate an array of exercises with photos, instructions, and explanations of muscle groups targeted.
The overwhelming selection of machines at the gym intimidates me, so I often stick to free weights and cardio machines. Believe me, if I can figure out how to use MOTR, so can you! And you can do so in the privacy of your own home. Easy peasy.
Working out at home with my MOTR complete home gym (Photo credit: Travel Mamas)
Is Pilates a good form of exercise?
After dropping my kids at school, I love going for a morning run and then pulling out the MOTR for some strength and balance training before starting my work day. It's so much more convenient than driving to a gym, parking, and doling out big bucks every single month to stay in shape.
Depending on the exercises you choose, you can focus on balance, agility training, upper body strengthening, and lower body strengthening. Almost all the exercises work your core at the same time as you build and tone muscle. You can even get your heart rate up with a cardio workout via the MOTR.
If you love Pilates like I do, you'll love slipping into the foot straps to do leg lifts, steps and circles to tone leg muscle groups. Forget having to store and pull out all sorts of different free weights. Tone your arms using the same MOTR straps, adjusting resistance as needed. This challenging and diverse workout tool makes at-home fitness a no-excuses option for busy parents.
MOTR Pilates at home exercise equipment (Photo courtesy of Balanced Body)
Get your MOTR and start doing Pilates at home!
Are you ready to get in shape at home? Get your MOTR now!
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Take a look at our Travel Mamas at Home lifestyle segment for additional stories on staying healthy and happy at home!
Have you ever tried doing Pilates at home? Share your comments and questions below!
A Note from The Travel Mama:Â This blog post is sponsored by Balanced Body and the Mom it Forward Network. I received compensation related to this story. All opinions are mine, as always.Â
About Colleen Lanin, The Travel Mama
Is this ok for men? My husband and I both are busy parents with an extremely tight schedule. This exercise is the best solution for time saving. Thanks for your recommendation.
Rosie – Yes! The MOTR is a great option for women and men alike!
Since I don’t have much time to go to any gym class, this equipment would help me a lot. I bet all my family members would love this when the cold weather is coming, we don’t need to go out but stay indoor to practice. Nice post.
With winter coming up I won’t be able to get to the gym as much. This would be great to have at my house!
I would like to win a MOTR complete home gym because I could work out at home and it looks like fun
I would like to win because it sounds like a great system to incorporate into my workout routine. It looks like a great system.
I would love to win this so I could exercise when I get home from work which is late at night.
I’ve gained quite a bit of weight and really need a good exercise program I can do at home as I just can’t bring myself to go to the gym at my size.
I want to win because it is pretty comprehensive for muscles all over the body
I got a new dream job, and it is time to clean up the rest of my life as well. I want to be healthier and this is an awesome way to enjoy working out.
I would like to add this to my daily workout.
I’ve always wanted to try Pilates and this looks like a convenient way to do it.
I would love to win cause I recently started a weigh loss program with my dr. Running is out of the question since I have had 6 knee surgeries and cant run! This looks very low impact which is exactly what I need!
I would love to win because you can do such a variety of movements getting a full workout and it seems to not take much space at all so I could easy use and have space to use
I would love to win this as I like to workout but can only do it from home so I am limited.
This looks so awesome!! I would love to add this to my daily workout.
This would be great to have at home to workout with. I like that it isn’t too big and can be put away and not be in the way all the time. Thanks!!
I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS BECAUSE I NEED TO GET BACK INTO AN EXERCISE PROGRAM AND THIS WOULD BE PERFECT AT HOME
I would love to win this to have at home for the winter. I rarely go out in the colder months so don’t get near as much exercise as I do in the spring and summer and for me this would be the perfect solution because I could still keep in shape while staying home and staying warm.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I just don’t have the time or the money for a gym membership. This would be perfect to get a good workout at home.
I really need to get it together and start losing weight – this would be perfect. I work from home, so I could do this on my lunch.
Thanks for the chacne.
I would love to incorporate this into my home workout routine.
I live in the woods and the gyms are not close. I would use this everyday. I am really into getting fit. i do fitness dvds at home and this would give me a new thing to do.
I do all my working out at home bc it’s the only way I could ever get it done with all 5 of my kids and their crazy schedules. I have been missing my pilates class so this would be awesome!!
I am in desperate need of getting in shape again and not able to get to a gym. this would be perfect for me.
I would love to win this for my wife. She loves to do simple easy exercises while we sit and watch tv.
I’ve never tried something this but I’d love to! I have a stationary bike and this would be a great addition to my gym space!
to make it easier to exercise
I would like to win this so I can lose some weight. I have never tried Pilates but it looks like something I could like doing so I would love to try it and this home gym would be perfect to help me get started! Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love to win this so I can exercise while watching television
i live SO far away from any gyms, I would love to have more ways to exercise at my house!
I want to win because I’ve had three kids and want to tone up my tummy and thighs.
I have 3 kids aged 4, 2, and 1, and I would like to start getting back in shape as I approach my 30th birthday!
I would love to win this because as I’m now in my early 50’s I’m realizing the importance of staying fit in order to stay flexible and in good shape. I’m not one for joining a gym, so to have this to use in my home at my leisure would be awesome!
I would like it because I need to get into shape and this looks fun to use and beats going to the gym.
I would like to win it because I am trying to get in better shape. I want to go to the gym, but I just don’t have enough time to do it regularly. This would help me bring the gym home!
I’d love to win because I’m a mom of 2 that’s out of shape!
I need to increase my strength, stamina and energy
Im trying to eat better and move more. This would be great for me
I’d love to try pilates to help me tone up and redefine my body. And I prefer at home workouts for sure!
I would love to try this! I need to do my workouts at home most of the time, as my daughter has a disability. Thanks for the opportunity:)
I would love to win because I don’t have time to get out to a gym and I would love to be anle to work out at home with my kids
I have been doing pilates off and on for a few years, this would help get me back on track.
I have never done pilates before but now I need to have this! I really would like to try it.
Looks convenient and easy to store away. Looks like great workout
It’s more difficult for me to find time to go to the gym. WIth a MOTR complete home gym, I would be able to workout at home.
I would like to win a MOTR complete home gym for the motivation and opportunity to better my health with exercise.
I would love to win because I do not have the time or money to go to the gym anymore!
Have recently changed my diet and work outs and would love to do Pilates.
I have never done Pilates, but have always wanted to try. MOTR looks like an amazing way to get started.
I have chronic lower back pain, so this would be great for me. I would love to win this unit!
I would love to win to try out pilates this way. It would be great to loose some more weight.
I have always wanted to try Pilates. This would be amazing to have in your home.
I’d love to win this! It’s so much easier to find time to workout at home but I get bored by the same old workouts.
This is something I really need. After baby #7 I want to get my workout on but am having a lot of trouble finding the time sadly. this would be great to have!
Wow! That looks so cool! I never tried pilates before but now I would love to. Looks like it is perfect for busy moms like me.
I currently work out with weights but realize that I cannot continue to do that much longer. I would love to do more Pilates and this gym would really help.
I’m looking for another workout to add in without pricey classes, so this would be perfect!
What an interesting system. You look like you did it with ease.
I have a good friend who’s been interested in this! Passing along!
Wow, I’ve never heard of this but I sure want one now that I know it exists! I live in a very small house with my fiance and four pets. Space is at a minimum! This is small enough that I could find a place for it without it getting in our way. Thanks for the post.
I would love to win the MOTR complete home gym because I love Pilates. However, so does everyone else at my community center and it’s a real pia to get a spot in class when I want. This would be so convenient to get my workout in from home!
This would be an incredible way to do pilates at home and actually an entire body workout!
I enjoy the occasional pilates class and am always surprised by how much of a workout the simple moves actually offer. The ability to get those benefits at home would be especially awesome!
Ohh, I would love to win this. With three kids, it’s hard to find the time or someone to watch the little people.
That is so cool! I need to get my butt into gear and having the whole gym at home makes it excuse-proof.
This looks like a great home gym. I have never done Pilates, but I would like to.
I need a complete home gym because I have a lot of weight to lose. I want to get in shape and to be able to do it at home make it’s super convenient for me. This product looks so cool. I can get a great workout with it.
I love Pilates would be a great motivation t do some at home.
I’ve been watching my pennies, since I need to make some major repairs to my house. A free, at-home system would be great!
I have been wondering how I would like a Pilates workout. I love the idea of doing Pilates at home!
I have just started doing pilates and didn’t think I’d get the same ‘after burn’ I do with weight lifting and heavy cardio. I’m super impressed with it so far! I’d love to take it to the next level by owning this gym!
I would love to win this so that I would work out at home, in my living room, with the TV on!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Mitch
I haven’t actually worked out in such a long time. I’ve heard so many great things about pilates and I would love to try it some time.
I spent six months of this year in and out of the hospital and urgent care with various surgical injuries and infections (fun, huh?, and would love to use a MOTR to help me get (affordably) back in shape!
Oh my! I’m so sorry to hear this, Melanie. Sending healing wishes your way.
I need to give this a try! I keep hearing about how great pilates is for your body, but I just don’t want to go to a class.
I have always wanted to do Pilates but there are no classes offered here in my area. This looks like a great way to get in shape and get strong. I would love to get this!
I just started Pilates today and would love to have this .
That looks awesome! I love doing Pilates and would love to add something like this to my routine!
I am ready to switch out yoga for pilates. It would be wonderful to have the MOTR in my home to facilitate my change up in work outs. 🙂 Thank you.
I haven’t worked out in three years due to a foot fracture followed by shoulder injury, 5$3′ pregnancy and postpartum depression. Lack of time is my current excuse. I would love to win this and get my core back in shape!