Joseph de Ruvo is my friend on Facebook and Instagram. I like what he posts. He fascinates me. His photos and videos are different. Intriguing. I noticed Joseph was making his own Pilates equipment and that made me more curious. I wanted to know about Joseph and I think I am not the only one. Probably also my Pilatesglossy readers. But without further ado, I let Joseph tell you all about his equipment!

Joseph de Ruvo and his equipment: Building Pilates Equipment

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Stripping everything down to the most basic elements and from there we looked for the most appropriate and affordable materials to work with!

Building Pilates Equipment

If something is in my hands for more than five minutes chances are I’m already thinking about redesigning it. The same is true for any of the tools that we have used throughout our life.

Cameras, computers, speakers, lighting equipment, clothing and the space we inhabit and work out of! If there is a tool that we are dependent on, we’ve redesigned and built some form of it.

It was no different with Pilates.

It’s been a rather long process of designing and building. All the Apparatus has been rendered within 3D computer simulation software. Prototypes have been built, tested, evaluated, and redesigned.

Rather than just replicate what has existed in the past, we wanted to solve some of the issues that have always plagued the Pilates method. Starting with the cost of purchasing Pilates Apparatus which is out of reach for many people who would benefit from it. 

As a designer/builder I am responsible to the history of Joseph Pilates’ intentions and execution of his Apparatus, my training and practice is Classical Pilates and this guides my design.

Consistency of dimensions, function, and feel, all of these elements have to be taken into consideration and the elusive feelings that so many Pilates Instructors have about what should “feel” correct, all of these things remain at the forefront of the process.

But! BUT!!!!

What we were not looking replicate but to “redesign”, with a singular goal of making a Pilates practice more accessible to the average person. This meant reevaluating the manufacturing process.

The welding of metal, sculpting of wood, rainbow colors of upholstery, all of these are noble crafts but they all add greatly to the expense. Stripping everything down to the most basic elements and from there we looked for the most appropriate and affordable materials to work with!

We have designed all our equipment to break down and ship in round cardboard tubes, making shipping more affordable and if in the future you need to move your Studio the pieces can be broken down and moved.

Truth be told the humble “Speed Pipe Fitting” has been a favorite building material for years. I’ve  constructed our children’s beds and desks from them as well as our kitchen counters and dining room table!  When they have fulfilled their use in one form they can be dismantled and reassembled to use as something new.

These fittings were the perfect solution. I have streamlined all the Pilates Apparatus to use a singular material and construction method. Two other elements that also add to the cost of Pilates Apparatus are upholstery and shipping. To address this we use padding instead of upholstery! Fungal resistant foam padding. It is not as soft as what most are used to today. But looking back at Joseph Pilates original Apparatus you can see that there was very little cushion to what he was using, and it is much more affordable and easier to work with. 

It may be a compromise not having all that cushion and all those colors to choose from, but all design lives within the boundaries of compromise.

Lastly is shipping!

Witnessing Pilates equipment being delivered, a pallet truck drops these large crates in front of your studio. They need to be uncrated and carried inside, possibly upstairs which is no easy feat!

We have designed all our equipment to break down and ship in round cardboard tubes, making shipping more affordable and if in the future you need to move your Studio the pieces can be broken down and moved.

So this is the process, at the beginning it is internal. You stare into space, imagine, model it with the mind’s eye, turning it to see it from every angle. Then you start committing the design to paper, or today an iPad has so much potential! 

When you start cutting metal, bending, and drilling it is an act of sculpting. But the vision is always towards manufacturing.

How do you make them in quantity, of high quality, yet affordable? How do you make them with an aesthetic, imbued with a Spirit?

That is always the desire, the step of Faith that one must take if anything is going to be created that has value, that calls for engagement, that asks to be part a relationship!

A tool that does its job well! 

If your body betrays you, you have nothing! Our focus is not on vanities, but the simple fact that to be of service to others one must be physically fit enough not to be a hindrance, but an asset! 

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Why Pilates

I started about 15 years ago. My wife took a Pilates Class at our local gym and said “you should try this!”

It quickly became a three class a week habit. Our first Teacher Carla Fabre was Power Pilates Certified. We were fortunate that another Instructor at the gym Caroline Benton was Certified by Romana Kryzanowska herself.

Caroline took me under her wing, suggesting I should get Certified. I found Simona Cipriani at the Art of Control at SUNY Purchase, she had taught alongside Romana Krywanowski for many years.

It was with Simona that I did my full Certification at the Art Of Control. I have been Blessed to count Simona and so many Teachers along the way as dear friends, their generosity and patients has always been more than I could ever deserve!

Pilates is not an end in itself, but rather a support for all our other activities. I have a seven day a week Gym habit, whether lifting weights or doing yoga the advantage of Pilates is always there, deep at the core.

Pilates is not an end in itself, but rather a support for all our other activities. I have a seven day a week Gym habit, whether lifting weights or doing yoga the advantage of Pilates is always there, deep at the core

Philosophy

Having spent a life teaching things both Cerebral and Spiritual a Revelation came!

If your body betrays you, you have nothing! Our focus is not on vanities, but the simple fact that to be of service to others one must be physically fit enough not to be a hindrance, but an asset!

Nothing glamorous here, just the disciplined work of being in control of our bodies!

About Us

Photographing Gods Revelations happening round about us daily has been a Blessing, professionally and personally!

Been teaching Pilates now for better than five years.

Haven’t owned a Television for 30+ years! Run barefoot, don’t wear shoes year round Allergic to most foods, Raw Almonds are the bulk of my calories, eat mostly raw now. Severely Dyslexic

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