Tech
How to Build a Home Pilates Setup That Feels Studio-Level
When Joseph Pilates developed what he first called Contrology in the early 20th century, there were no dedicated studios or intimidating contraptions. There wasn’t even a reformer yet. (That came later, improvised from leather straps and hospital bed frames.) The idea was simple then, and it still is now: Pilates asks you to work with what you already have. Your body does the work, and a mat just makes it more comfortable.
Pilates is about moving with intention. Total body exercises are rooted in precision and balance, favoring slow, controlled movements over momentum or strength. Full range of motion, emphasizing time under tension, deep core engagement, and uniformity of mind, body, and spirit are emphasized. It sounds peaceful, but it’s not exactly the easiest workout.
The right gear won’t do the workout for you, but it can make it more comfortable, more effective, and frankly, more fun. Below, we’ve gathered the best Pilates equipment worth having for home workouts, whether you’re a beginner or deep in your Pilates princess era. For more wellness recommendations, check out our other guides, including the Best Protein Powders, Best Massage Guns, and Yoga Mats, Props, and Everything Else You Need for Your Practice.
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Pilates Clothes
Nothing motivates me to work out quite like a great Pilates outfit. You can technically wear just about anything, but I would stick to more fitted activewear, so your Pilates instructor can check your form. Avoid loose or oversized clothing, and prioritize stretchy fabrics that won’t restrict movement. This lineup of athleisure has been tried and tested in Pilates; they move well, feel comfortable, and hold up every session.
If you buy one thing, make it grippy socks. Whether you’re on a mat or a reformer machine, those rubberized soles help prevent slipping and sliding, giving you better traction and stability during movements. A good pair can also offer light cushioning and arch support. If you’re practicing in a shared studio or using communal equipment, breathable Pilates socks are a hygienic upgrade, too.
We want our bottoms to stay put through roll-ups, leg circles, and long pulses, without digging or losing shape. They also need to be squat-proof. High-waisted leggings (full-length or capri) made from a soft, stretchy fabric are ideal for Pilates and other low-impact workouts. Biker shorts also work, but in a heated class, an extra layer of fabric can help maintain grip on props during leg work.
These are the best leggings for Pilates based on our testing, including a Lululemon biker short we love. For more favorites, check out our Best Leggings guide.
For Pilates, look for low- to medium-impact styles that are typically supportive without feeling compressive. I gravitate toward wide bands with no underwires that won’t dig in during floor work, but I’m also aware that those features might not be supportive for bigger busts. These are our top favorites, including a posture-correcting bra if alignment or lower back pain is a concern. For more picks, check out our Best Sports Bras guide.
An all-in-one jumpsuit with a built-in bra takes the guesswork out of getting dressed for Pilates. Our favorites offer supportive, comfortable coverage that moves with you from warm-up to cooldown.
Pilates-Specific Gear
You can absolutely do Pilates with nothing but yourself, but if you want to turn up the intensity or vary your workout routines, here are a few must-haves.
Exercise mats are essential because they deliver much-needed padding to cushion your joints during floor work. The proper ones are designed with a grippy, textured surface for added traction. They keep you steady, supporting better control. And they serve as a protective barrier between your skin and the yucky floor.
I also always need a towel when working out, and if you’re taking a heated class, this is especially necessary to absorb sweat. Pro tip: You can also turn your towel into a resistance band by twisting it and pulling against it. For more picks, check out our Best Yoga Mats guide.
You don’t need to splurge on a $2,000 reformer to practice Pilates at home. I take heated mat Pilates at my local fitness studio twice a week, and we usually use a combination of props: an exercise ball, Pilates ring (aka. a magic circle), and light weights. I like to use 2- or 3-pound dumbbells, but wrist and ankle weights don’t require grip strength and still add extra intensity to your full-body Pilates workout. Core sliders, which go under your hands or feet, add resistance to your movements and are an affordable alternative to the springs of a reformer.
We’ve spotlighted a few of our favorites below, but you can find more tested picks in our Best Reusable Water Bottles guide.
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Google is putting even more generative AI tools into Gmail as part of its goal to further personalize user inboxes and streamline searches. On Thursday, the company announced a new “AI Inbox” tab, currently in a beta testing phase, that reads every message in a user’s Gmail and suggests a list of to-dos and key topics, based on what it summarizes.
In Google’s example of what this AI Inbox could look like in Gmail, the new tab takes context from a user’s messages and suggests they reschedule their dentist appointment, reply to a request from their child’s sports coach, and pay an upcoming fee before the deadline. Also under the AI Inbox tab is a list of important topics worth browsing, nestled beneath the action items at the top. Each suggested to-do and topic links back to the original email for more context and for verification.
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Despite the continued spread of generative AI features, the underlying reliability of these tools remains iffy. Back in 2023, when Google’s chatbot was still called “Bard,” I tested the company’s nascent Gmail extension that tried to summarize my messages and search through the inbox for insights. At the time, this extension was a complete bust, with a bevy of incorrect responses.
Since then, Google has worked to better its base AI model, called Gemini, and integrate those improvements into its suite of existing software services, including Gmail as well as Search. Despite the company’s advances in AI, current Gmail users are still shown a disclaimer stating that Gemini “can make mistakes” when attempting to search an inbox and answer questions.
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For users who are concerned about their privacy, the information Google gleans by skimming through inboxes will not be used to improve the company’s foundational AI models. “We didn’t just bolt AI onto Gmail,” says Blake Barnes, who leads the project for Google. “We built a secure privacy architecture, specifically for this moment.” He emphasizes that users can turn off Gmail’s new AI tools if they don’t want them.
At the same time Google announced its AI Inbox, the company made free for all Gmail users multiple Gemini features that were previously available only to paying subscribers. This includes the Help Me Write tool, which generates emails from a user prompt, as well as AI Overviews for email threads, which essentially posts a TL;DR summary at the top of long message threads.
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Subscribers to Google’s Ultra and Pro plans, which start at $20 a month, get two additional new features in their Gmail inbox. First, an AI proofreading tool that suggests more polished grammar and sentence structures. And second, an AI Overviews tool that can search your whole inbox and create relevant summaries on a topic, rather than just summarizing a single email thread.
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If you hate hearing the sound of the world around you, Bose products are for you. And WIRED has Bose coupon codes to help you save. The brand pioneered active noise cancelling headphones, and has remained a pioneer in providing sonic peace to everyone that can afford the brand’s high-end products.
Now you can get Bose discounts off some of our favorite speakers, soundbars, headphones, and other audio devices from the brand, including top picks like its wireless earbuds and over-ear noise canceling headphones.
Bose Headphones, Earbuds, Soundbars and Speakers: Up to 40% Off
Bose makes some of our favorite WIRED-tested headphones. And lucky for you, Bose is heavily discounting some of our favorite models. We at WIRED love open earbuds, and gave these a 7/10 rating because of their innovative, small, and comfy design.
Get $130 Off Bose QuietComfort Headphones
The crowd-pleasing QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), are only $250 now (originally $299) until December 27. The OG Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are now $299 (originally $429), that’s $130 off. Make sure you grab these deals before they’re gone.
Get 10% Off Your First Purchase With a Bose Coupon Code
The way it works is that you sign up with your email. The Bose coupon will be sent within 30 minutes, and it can be used for a maximum discount of $100. Other exclusions may apply. Please see email for full terms and conditions of this offer. It expires December 31, 2025 so you can use the Bose promo code until the end of the year.
Bose Education Discount for Students and Teachers
If you’re a teacher or going to school, you’re also likely able to get another discount from the MIT-owned brand. Eligible students and teachers can claim $30 off on Bose orders over $199, you just need to verify your status via ID.me. This is a great way to snag a discounted pair of headphones for working in your school library, or working out in the gym after work as a professor.
$30 First Responder and Healthcare Discount at Bose
Veterans and active military personnel, nurses, medical personnel, hospital employees, and other first responders can claim $30 off on Bose orders over $199. They also just need to verify their status via ID.me.
Become a My Bose Member for More Benefits
When you buy from Bose.com, you have the option to create a My Bose account where you can easily manage orders, register products, view your warranty status, and enjoy exclusive offers just for My Bose members. If you like the brand and plan to continue to buy its products, it might be worth it to sign up.
The Best Sales to Save on Bose Products
Check back often to snag rotating Bose coupon codes and deals. Otherwise, the best times to buy Bose products are when major sales days are running. You can find discounts during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and more.
Named after NBC’s iconic logo, Peacock is a video streaming service primarily featuring series and film content from NBC Universal studios, as well as news and sports programming. Premium tiers include a larger content library and access to additional NBC Sports, Hallmark Channel, and WWE content—yes, we’re talkin’ wrasslin.’ And right now, you can get access to all those programs with a Peacock Premium subscription. Save up to 50% on your first 12 months with the latest Peacock promo codes for Black Friday and subscription deals.
With over 30 million subscribers and various plans, Peacock has quickly grown to be a popular streaming service alongside titans like Netflix and Hulu. It even won out against competitors for Olympics and exclusive Paralympics coverage last summer. With original favorites like The Office, Poker Face, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and popular films like Oppenheimer and Jaws (as the film hits its 50th anniversary), there’s something for everyone in the family on Peacock TV. Check out our Peacock coupons, along with other great ways to save while streaming your faves.
Save up to $80 With Today’s Peacock Promo Codes and Subscription Deals
As someone with approximately 792 subscriptions, it can be hard to know just how much I’m paying for each (not to mention how much total I’m spending a month) and which exactly has the content I want to watch most. Peacock also knows that most people use several streaming services and that it’s important to choose the ones that fit best with your budget and needs. Coming in clutch when you’re still in “stay-inside-and-keep-warm” mode, Peacock is offering one full year of Peacock streaming for only $80.
One of the best ways to save on Peacock streaming is through annual plan discounts (versus monthly). That comes out to be $80 annually, meaning you’ll get 12 months for the price of 10, and save 16% on a Premium yearly plan, for only $9 per month—otherwise it’s $11 when paid monthly. There’s also Premium Plus, which has no ads, the ability to download and watch certain titles while offline, and includes your local NBC channel live, 24/7. This subscription tier is $17 per month, or $14 when paid annually. In short, you’ll be paying only $80 annually for either Basic or Premium plans!
Student, Military Members, and Teachers Get $7 Off Peacock
To unlock more discounts on a Peacock subscription, check if you qualify for their exclusive offers dedicated to students, teachers, and military members, medical workers, and other first responders. Eligible college students and young adults 18 to 24 can get 12 months of Peacock Premium at $3 a month (instead of the current rate of $11 per month). If you want Peacock for the whole family, you can even stream on 3 devices at once and even create up to 6 profiles with kid-safety settings. Peacock also has discounts for military members and teachers – verify your status, and get 12 months of Peacock Premium for $4 per month.
Save up to 40% With Peacock Apple TV+ and Xfinity Bundle Deals
If it feels like you’re paying for approximately 403 streaming services, Peacock has reduced that number by one, at least. Now, you can bundle Xfinity and Peacock and save 40% on all of your favorite media content for $15 per month. You can get Peacock, Apple TV+, and Netflix when you add StreamSaver with Xfinity Internet. Prices vary based on which you choose: Netflix with ads is $8 per month, Peacock Premium with ads is $8 per month, and the Peacock Apple TV+ bundle is $15 per month.
There’s also Xfinity NOW StreamSaver Bundle—for $30 per month, this Xfinity internet bundle includes NOW TV, which has over 125 live channels and on-demand programming, Netflix with ads, Apple TV+, and Peacock Premium with ads. New or existing Xfinity Internet customers who subscribe to Gigabit or higher speed service can get two years of Peacock Premium for free, to boot! Along with the above deals, you can get Peacock Premium at no additional cost for Diamond or Platinum tier Xfinity Rewards members with any level of Xfinity Internet. To redeem, just login to your Xfinity Rewards account, click on the “Get Peacock Premium at no extra cost” reward, choose “Get This Reward”, and follow the provided steps. You’ll get an email with instructions to activate your offer.
Watch Your Favorites and New Peacock TV Releases This Month
There is a wide breadth of new content coming to Peacock this month, including the cult favorite Peacock original adaptation of the classic original, Bel-Air, for Season 4. If you’re looking for something a little less intense, a new season of Vanderpump Rules is coming your way; so get prepared for Rich People Drama!
One of the best things to do during the holiday season is to put on a nostalgic movie that is good for the whole family, like the Harry Potter series. On Peacock, you can binge the entire Harry Potter saga in the background while dozing off and sneaking into the kitchen for seconds (or thirds).
If you’re like me and love to just absolutely turn your brain off (I’m talking no neuron flare ups would be detected in an MRI) and watch reality TV, let me introduce you to the wonderful world of Love Island. If you love watching Instagram models go from room to room to pool to gym and back again in a long-form version of a game of Telephone, this is the show for you. The great part is that every episode is about an hour long and there are approximately 4,200 episodes per season.
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