1. The Big Item

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Peak PilateSystem Deluxe
Pilates is the ultimate stretching and strengthening workout. And though you can do a version of it on a mat, that's not how founder Joseph Pilates intended it to be practiced. To get the maximum benefit and a serious core workout, he designed a series of table-size machines. The only hitch? They weigh about 400 pounds (181 kilograms) and aren't so easy to move. Enter the new PPS ($3,899; www.peakpilates.com). The machine, which due to its hybrid design allows for mat, reformer, and cadillac exercises, is the only one on the market that folds like a sofa bed and can roll into a closet.

2. Back to Basics
Drishti Microfiber Yoga Mat
Tired of humid yoga studios turning your foam mat into a sweaty Slip 'N Slide? The Drishti ($65; www.drishtiyoga.com) has a quick-drying microfiber surface that actually becomes less slippery the more you perspire. As well, at 74 inches (188 centimeters) in length, it's a half foot (fifteen centimeters) longer than standard mats, so it's great for any height practitioner.

3. Fresh Take
Spri Ball With Legs
Stability balls, formerly used only in rehab and physical therapy, have become popular in recent years for the muscle-challenging instability they cause when being used as a base for everything from crunches to sitting dumbbell curls. Still, no brand really stood out, at least until one got legs. The six two-inch (five-centimeter) protuberances not only stop the Spri ($42; www.spriproducts.com) from rolling into the china cabinet after a workout, but also make good handles when you need to carry the awkward ball.




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