The Magic Circle

The magic circle is one of the many Pilates apparatuses that Joseph Pilates invented to help his clients with the system of exercises he created. This small, portable device is a fun way to add variety to your own Pilates workout or that of your clients. 

What Is The Magic Circle?

The magic circle is a circular device with padded grips on opposite sides. It’s said that Joseph originally made his circles out of metal rings from old barrels, some with a single ring and others with a double ring for more resistance. They come in a variety of sizes and strengths, making this apparatus accessible to almost everyone. I find that a smaller circle is easier to use for certain exercises and for more petite people. 

Joseph also patented a device called the tensometer (or toe corrector), which works very similarly to the magic circle. It’s since been redesigned by Brooke Siler, and is called the Tensatoner. Like the magic circle, these are small but mighty! 

How To Use The Magic Circle

In Pilates, we use the magic circle to add resistance and to challenge your balance and control. You can hold it between your hands, ankles, knees, thighs, or even against your head! The movements are so small that you may not even notice them if you were watching someone use the magic circle… but the person doing the exercises can 100% feel the challenge. 

There is a traditional set of classical exercises that Joe, and those that followed him, taught. In every exercise, you focus on your posture, the positioning of the circle, and control. It will help you find a connection to your powerhouse (or core), whether it’s an arm, back, leg, shoulder, or neck exercise. For such a simple design device, the magic circle is extremely versatile.

The Magic Circle In Action

The magic circle isn’t meant to burn out your muscles but rather to help you find engagement or connection with your core. Let’s use the roll-up exercise as an example. Many people have a hard time keeping their legs down while rolling up. On a traditional Pilates mat, there is a strap to hook your feet under which can help with this. If you’re doing Pilates on a yoga mat, however, you won’t have the strap to help. While the strap does help, to succeed in rolling up, you need to engage your glutes, outer hips, and thighs while reaching your legs long. 

Enter the magic circle! You can put the magic circle over your feet, and press your feet outward into the circle. This will encourage the glute and hip engagement you need to roll all the way up. Over time and with practice you’ll be able to find that connection on your own. Even if you don’t “need” to use the magic circle anymore, it’s still fun to use. 

Try It Out At Home 

I love that the magic circle is small, making it easy to store or bring with you when travelling. It’s also a very affordable Pilates apparatus that you can add to your home mat workouts. (You can’t say that about the reformer!) So the next time you’re in the studio, ask about how the magic circle can improve your Pilates practice.