I was excited to come across your article. I have been a trainer for 10 years and currently work as the Fitness Director for Corrective Wellness the distributing company for the X-iser. I see skeptics like JoAnn everywhere I go. They simply do not realize what this machine does because of all the cheap imitations that have come about. The X-iser has been around since 92 and was developed by a world renown bio-mechanist. It is utilized by over 50 professional sports organizations for their athletes to do sprint interval training. The skeptics only see the light after I put them on it and their heart rate jumps to 180 and legs turn to jello in just 60 seconds.

I think finding ways to incorporate cardio into pilates studio is a great idea. It is beneficial to our clients’ health. Pilates should still be the main focus of the studio, but what is the harm in including one or two other classes per week into the schedule? After all, Joe Pilates was a fencer and a boxer, and it doesn’t seem like he discouraged these other forms of movement and exercise.

A lot of my clients are grateful to be able to combine their Pilates and cardio in one space. We have a bike and we do interval training with clients that are seeking some fitness too. For others, esp knee pathology clients, it is great for assisting rehab (under our guidance). This Xiser equipment looks good as a ‘value add’ to have in your studio. Remember the more you can offer a client in their experience with you, the more value they will percieve they get from ‘Pilates’. For others coming to you it will be of no consequence, in which case no harm done.

Yes, read the research as Beth advises but also keep your eyes and mind open to how you can enhance your clients experiences under your roof . If offering a piece of equipment that works on cardio activity means the difference between a client staying with you or leaving to join a gym, or starting up with you or not, it has been well worth it. Food for thought.