Lucia
2008-04-27, 05:50 PM
OK I actually have had a chance to try both of these.
1. Pilates Power Gym:
The Pilates Gym is on the cheaper side of home gyms, and the Pilates gym worked well enough except for having to switch the cords all the time, to get the right resistance, also I really didn't like that headrest which was 2 metal bars padded with sponges but everytime I had to put my head back I was worried about poking myself in the head instead. also those bars take away from the length of the gliding board, which glides smooth enough, when doing the sitting pulley exercises, and because of those bars there are a whole series of Pilates and strength training exercises you just can't do, like the breaststroke, or any ones where you lay on your stomach.
2. Total Gym:
1st con the price is steep, even for the cheaper version, but you can buy the upgrade pieces separately and you can sign up for the installment pay plan. There was no annoying headrest/head-spear anywhere to be found, I must say that the 1st time you set it up it's a little confusing, but if you follow the DVD it clears it up. The pilates foo extension cords hook up to a D-ring that hooks onto the vertical incline post. the glide board is smooth and wider than the Pilates Power Gym. Once I got over the 1st time set up, it's been really easy making the changes, also this gym has pull up/push up bar, and has the potential for alot more resistance cause the highest incline is 6 and I couldn't do anything at incline 6 even using my legs, and I'm in decent shape, also there's even more resistance possible if you by more attachments like the weight bar etc... I can do pilates from the included DVD, other pilates moves not in the DVD and all kinds of strength training and it's all against your own body weight resistance which I like cause it's not a traditional weight "machine"
So I decided to buy the Total Gym and the best part is that it folds up and fits in a closet and nobody knows I don't have a real gym membership.
1. Pilates Power Gym:
The Pilates Gym is on the cheaper side of home gyms, and the Pilates gym worked well enough except for having to switch the cords all the time, to get the right resistance, also I really didn't like that headrest which was 2 metal bars padded with sponges but everytime I had to put my head back I was worried about poking myself in the head instead. also those bars take away from the length of the gliding board, which glides smooth enough, when doing the sitting pulley exercises, and because of those bars there are a whole series of Pilates and strength training exercises you just can't do, like the breaststroke, or any ones where you lay on your stomach.
2. Total Gym:
1st con the price is steep, even for the cheaper version, but you can buy the upgrade pieces separately and you can sign up for the installment pay plan. There was no annoying headrest/head-spear anywhere to be found, I must say that the 1st time you set it up it's a little confusing, but if you follow the DVD it clears it up. The pilates foo extension cords hook up to a D-ring that hooks onto the vertical incline post. the glide board is smooth and wider than the Pilates Power Gym. Once I got over the 1st time set up, it's been really easy making the changes, also this gym has pull up/push up bar, and has the potential for alot more resistance cause the highest incline is 6 and I couldn't do anything at incline 6 even using my legs, and I'm in decent shape, also there's even more resistance possible if you by more attachments like the weight bar etc... I can do pilates from the included DVD, other pilates moves not in the DVD and all kinds of strength training and it's all against your own body weight resistance which I like cause it's not a traditional weight "machine"
So I decided to buy the Total Gym and the best part is that it folds up and fits in a closet and nobody knows I don't have a real gym membership.