We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

What is Pilates Allegro®?

A.E. Freeman
By A.E. Freeman
Updated Feb 26, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The Pilates Allegro® is a type of Pilates Reformer machine designed to be used in commercial gyms, Pilates studios, or in the home. Compared to other Reformer machines, the Pilates Allegro® is lower to the ground. It folds for storage and is on wheels so that it can be moved easily by most people.

Joseph Pilates developed the Pilates exercise system while in an internment camp in England during World War I. Pilates was designed to help those who were ill and could not get out of bed to exercise and gain strength. Resistance training is the basis of the workout. Joseph Pilates built the first Pilates machines by attaching springs to people's beds so that they could pull themselves up. Other types of Pilates take place on a mat and use a person's strength as the resistance.

The Pilates Allegro® is viewed by many as an improvement over the original Reformer design. It is built by Balanced Body, and is a more compact version of the Reformer machines first designed by Ken Endelman in the 1970s. Pilates Allegro® machines measure 6.75 inches (17 cm) high and 93 inches (236 cm) long. An optional set of legs can lift the machine 14 inches (35 cm) off the ground, which is the standard height of other Reformer machines.

The 36 inch (91 cm) foot bar on the Pilates Allegro® machine adjusts both vertically and horizontally. Vertical adjustments of the foot bar increase or reduce the resistance on the machine, making the exercises more difficult or easier, depending on a person's strength. Horizontal adjustments change the length of the machine, so that both very tall and very short people will fit on the Allegro.

The five springs used on the Pilates Allegro® mean that the machine can provide a user with up to 46 different levels of resistance. The springs are color coded based on the amount of resistance they offer. A blue spring offers a light resistance while three red ones offer medium resistance. The machine also comes with a yellow spring which provides the least amount of resistance to a person exercising. A person can also vary the resistance the Allegro provides by adjusting the angle of the machine's pulleys.

Pilates Allegro® machines can also be outfitted with optional Towers and mat conversions. The Tower of Power turns the Allegro reformer into a trapeze table. The mat conversion simply covers the top of the Allegro with a cushioned mat so that a person can use the Allegro for Pilates mat exercises as well.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.