Umbro Pilates ring Ø 39 cm, blue

The Umbro Pilates ring is a blue, flexible ring 39 cm in diameter with a grip on each side. You press it together or pull it apart with your hands, knees or ankles, and it pushes back with light resistance. That makes classic mat exercises like bridges, chest presses and side-lying leg lifts more demanding without adding weights.

Who it suits

A Pilates ring is a good fit if you already do floor exercises at home and want a bit more feedback from small muscles, especially the inner thighs, chest and the back of the arms. It is also a handy tool for people who prefer a calm, controlled style of training to lifting heavy. Because you decide how hard to squeeze, it works for complete beginners and for people coming back to exercise after a break. If you still need a basic routine to build on, our home workout plan for beginners is a good starting point.

Five exercises to start with

Do each exercise for 10–12 slow reps, squeezing for two seconds and releasing for two:

1. Bridge with ring squeeze: lie on your back, ring between your knees, lift your hips and press the ring at the top.
2. Chest press: sit or stand tall, hold the ring at chest height with the palms on the grips and press inwards.
3. Overhead press: hold the ring above your head with slightly bent arms and squeeze without arching your back.
4. Side-lying leg press: lie on your side with the ring between your ankles and press the top leg down into the ring.
5. Seated inner-thigh squeeze: sit on a chair, ring between your knees, sit tall and press.

Two rounds take about 15 minutes and fit well after a walk or before a stretch.

What to look out for

Release the ring slowly instead of letting it spring open, and do not try to press it completely flat. Keep your neck and shoulders relaxed during arm exercises. Before each session, check the ring and grips for cracks; stop using it if you find any.

Care and pairing

Wipe the ring and grips with a damp cloth and let them dry. A non-slip exercise mat makes the floor exercises more comfortable and stops the ring from sliding on hard floors.