ComparisonMay 2026
Balanced Body vs Merrithew (2026)
The most detailed head-to-head of the two dominant professional reformer brands — spring feel, build quality, and honest verdict.
Read → 10 min readEquipment Guide·Balanced Body
Balanced Body for Pilates (2026):
Equipment, Quality & Honest Guide
Updated May 2026 · 11 min read
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Balanced Body is the world's largest Pilates equipment manufacturer — a company founded in 1976 that has shaped what professional Pilates equipment looks and performs like for five decades. Practitioners choose Balanced Body because their machines represent the clearest path from entry-level practice to professional-grade work without changing brands. This guide covers their most important equipment, who it is actually for, and what to understand before committing to a purchase at any price point.
Why Balanced Body leads the professional Pilates equipment market
Balanced Body was founded in 1976 by Ken Endelman in Sacramento, California. The company began by building modified dance equipment and over the following decades evolved into the largest dedicated Pilates equipment manufacturer in the world. That trajectory matters: Balanced Body did not enter Pilates as a fitness industry pivot — they grew from within the discipline, alongside the instructors and studio owners who were building the method as a professional field. All manufacturing remains in Sacramento, a distinction that carries genuine weight in quality control and supply chain reliability.
Their approach to Pilates is contemporary — evidence-based and anatomically informed rather than strictly classical. This positions Balanced Body well for the physical therapy clinics, dance companies, gyms, and medical rehabilitation settings that have adopted Pilates alongside traditional studios. The CoreAlign system, for instance, was developed specifically for functional movement and rehabilitation contexts. The result is a product range that speaks to a wider range of practitioners than classical-only brands, without abandoning the equipment standards that serious Pilates work requires.
The Allegro 2 Reformer is their flagship for home and semi-professional use. It is the most widely sold professional reformer in the world — the machine you will encounter most frequently in professional studios, physical therapy practices, and serious home setups. Around the Allegro 2, Balanced Body has built a deep accessory ecosystem: jump board, standing platform, tower, Pilates box, and barrel are all sold separately and designed for full interchangeability. The result is a modular system that grows with a practitioner's practice rather than requiring a new machine at each stage.
5 Balanced Body Products · Practitioner-Reviewed
01Editor's Pick
Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer
From $2,800The Allegro 2 is the reformer most serious home practitioners should buy — if their budget extends to it. The fold-flat design means it can be stored upright against a wall in a bedroom or home studio. Four springs with interchangeable colour-coded resistance levels, a smooth-glide carriage, adjustable footbar with multiple positions, and compatibility with the full Balanced Body accessory range (jump board, standing platform, tower, box). The carriage feel is noticeably smoother than budget cord-based alternatives — a difference that matters during long-spring and short-spring exercises. This is a machine built for decades of serious practice.
Shop on Amazon02Best Accessory
Balanced Body Pilates Arc (Spine Corrector)
From $240The Pilates Arc is the most practical Balanced Body accessory for home practitioners who don't yet have a full reformer. It functions as a spine corrector, a barrel substitute, and a prop for mat exercises that require spinal extension over a curve. The arc shape matches the natural curvature of the spine, making it excellent for thoracic mobility, hip flexor release, and the classical over-the-barrel exercises. At roughly a quarter of the price of a barrel, the Arc is a genuine piece of equipment rather than a prop — it belongs in any serious home practice.
Shop on Amazon03Best Ring
Balanced Body Pilates Ring (Magic Circle)
From $32Balanced Body's magic circle is built to the specifications used in professional training studios — dual foam pad handles, correct spring tension for inner thigh and arm press work, and a diameter calibrated to the Pilates repertoire. The difference between this and cheaper alternatives is immediately apparent: the tension is consistent throughout the range of motion, the handles don't compress unevenly, and the ring doesn't develop a permanent bend after a few months of use. If you're purchasing a magic circle, buy it once from Balanced Body rather than replacing a cheaper option twice.
Shop on Amazon04Best Roller
Balanced Body Foam Roller (36-inch)
From $38Balanced Body's 36-inch foam roller is the full-length version used in instructor training programs for spinal alignment, balance, and proprioception work. The density is calibrated for Pilates use — firm enough to provide stability during spine-balancing exercises, not so hard that it becomes a pain management exercise. The roller can be used beneath the length of the spine (full-length is essential for this), along the calves for myofascial release, and as a balance challenge for standing Pilates exercises. A versatile tool that earns its place in a home studio.
Shop on Amazon05Advanced
Balanced Body Fitness Circle Pro
From $42The Fitness Circle Pro is the heavier-resistance version of the standard magic circle — designed for practitioners with more developed strength in the inner thigh and arm press exercises. The dual soft-touch handles and increased spring tension make it appropriate for advanced practitioners and instructors who need a more demanding option. For studios offering private and semi-private sessions, having both the standard ring and the Pro provides appropriate resistance options across all client fitness levels. The Pro is not recommended for beginners.
Shop on AmazonWhat to consider before buying Balanced Body equipment
- →The full reformer requires significant investment — have a clear plan for your practice before committing $2,800 or more. A reformer purchased with vague intentions to 'start Pilates' is a poor investment. One purchased for a daily home practice alongside an existing studio habit is an excellent one.
- →The accessories are worth purchasing from Balanced Body specifically because compatibility matters. Third-party jump boards, boxes, and platforms are rarely designed to the same tolerances — they introduce wobble, fit issues, and safety concerns. Balanced Body accessories are engineered to work as a system.
- →Where to buy: use authorised dealers rather than third-party listings or used equipment without verified spring condition. Springs are a consumable component — a used reformer with worn or unevenly tensioned springs will not perform correctly and may not be safe for dynamic exercises.
- →Service and maintenance: springs need replacing over time, typically every few years with regular use. Balanced Body maintains a dealer network capable of supplying replacement parts and providing setup support — a genuine advantage over brands with limited distribution.
- →Home space requirements for the Allegro 2: the folded footprint allows wall storage, but in-use dimensions require approximately 8 feet of clear floor length and sufficient ceiling height for standing exercises (typically a minimum of 8 feet). Measure your intended space before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balanced Body or Merrithew better for a home reformer?
Both are excellent and represent the top tier of professional reformer manufacturing. The primary differences come down to carriage feel and design priorities. The Balanced Body Allegro 2 has a fold-flat design that makes it significantly more practical for home studios where space is limited. Merrithew's V2 Max has a different spring feel that some practitioners prefer for classical work. For a full head-to-head comparison of both brands, see our dedicated Balanced Body vs Merrithew article at /blog/balanced-body-vs-merrithew.
Is the Balanced Body Allegro 2 worth the price?
Yes, for practitioners who have a clear, sustained Pilates practice. The Allegro 2 is priced at a significant premium over entry-level reformers, but it delivers professional-grade spring feel, full accessory compatibility, and the fold-flat storage that no comparable machine offers. For practitioners who will use the machine three or more times per week over several years, the per-session cost quickly becomes reasonable. The fold-flat mechanism alone distinguishes it from every fixed-frame reformer in its price range — it is a genuine differentiator, not a marketing feature.
Does Balanced Body sell on Amazon?
Accessories — rings, foam rollers, balls, and the Pilates Arc — are available through Amazon and represent a convenient and reliable way to purchase smaller items. Full reformers like the Allegro 2 are typically sold through authorised Balanced Body dealers rather than Amazon, where availability can be inconsistent and verification of product condition is more difficult. For any reformer purchase, buying through an authorised dealer ensures correct setup support, warranty coverage, and access to the dealer service network.
What's the difference between the Allegro 2 and the Studio Reformer?
The key difference is frame design. The Allegro 2 has a fold-flat mechanism that allows it to be stored upright against a wall — it is the home and semi-professional choice. The Studio Reformer II is a fixed-frame machine with a larger footprint, designed to remain on the studio floor permanently. The Studio Reformer is the typical floor model in professional studios; the Allegro 2 is the choice for home practitioners and smaller studio spaces where storage flexibility matters. The carriage feel on both machines is comparable — the spring system and glide quality are professional-grade on each.
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