Misha's

Equipment

Recommendations

Misha Bechtolsheim

Lead Instructor, Central CORE

Our Thoughts

Misha is a fully certified STOTT Pilates, TRX Sports Medicine, and Z-Health Trainer providing intelligent application of movement for clinical rehab to athletic performance.

Here are some Quality products used and tested in her studio setting over the last 15 years. Many of them are still in use years later! 

Weights

Hand weights can add another level of fitness to your workouts. Even 1 lb. or 2 lb. weights will have you feeling the good burn of effective weight training – without the potential for injury with heavy weights. These weights are durable, comfortable, and no slip, with color-coded vinyl coating that also protects floors and is easy to clean.

They’re the perfect addition to so many CORE workouts. I recommend a trio set of 2 lb (or 3 lb), 5 lb, and 10 lb.

Some favorite CORE videos with Weights

  • Little Weights, Lotta Legs
  • Cobra Kai
  • Quick Feet

Resistance Bands

These non-latex resistance bands increase strength and flexibility, mobility and function. Use them for strength training, upper and lower body workouts, and as a tool for neuro-based exercises. You can also tie them to a fixed object or create a loop for additional exercise variations.

With three different levels of resistance in this set, you’ll be able to track your progress and also have the flexibility of different bands for different exercises.

Some favorite CORE videos with TheraBands

  • Triceps Targeter
  • Length and Strength
  • Mimic the Reformer

Loop Bands

Adding a loop band to legs or ankles boosts the resistance and muscle firing of a lower-body exercise. They’re also good for arm and shoulder exercises, providing safe tendon strength, muscular endurance and long muscle fibers for long, lean muscles. This set of 6 bands has varying resistance levels for so many exercises — you’ll never get bored!

Some favorite CORE videos with Loop Bands

  • Banded Together
  • Foundation In Feet

BOSU Ball

The half-round BOSU ball (did you know BOSU means “BOth Sides Up?!) is a versatile addition to your home equipment. By creating instability, whether it’s dome side up or flat side up, it helps improve core strength, balance, posture and more. It’s also great for low-impact cardio workouts.

Some favorite CORE videos with a BOSU

  • Low Impact Cardio BOSU
  • 5 Unexpected Bosu Exercises

Pilates Ring

The Pilates Ring is such a versatile piece of equipment. It provides resistance for leg exercises when used at the ankles or thighs. Arm exercises benefit from the Pilates Ring, plus it adds stability and focus point for core work.

Some favorite CORE videos with the Pilates Ring

  • Arm Strong
  • Getting Leggy
  • Neck Free Ab Work

Mini Ball

The 8” yoga ball may be small, but it’s both a recovery and exercise prop. Use it to give focus to movement, add instability to limb work, challenge the core, release muscle tension, and as a useful tool for the lymphatic system.

Some favorite CORE videos with the Mini Ball

  • Increase Rotation
  • Having a Ball
  • Low Back Release

Foam Roller

The 36” foam roller is a multi-purpose wellness tool. You may think it’s just for rolling out tight muscles (and that ouchy IT band), but it’s also great to stimulate blood flow and increase circulation, as a core exercise tool, and a balance tool.

Some favorite CORE videos with the Foam Roller

  • From Foam to Tone
  • Crush It Like a Coke Can
  • Foam Roller Core Workout

Hand Roller

With lack of movement, or as a result of injury, muscles and fascia can become tight and develop knots. These further decrease range of motion — leading to a downward spiral of pain and immobility. This hand roller helps loosen and relax muscles and connective tissue, and can help relieve soreness, increase circulation, and keep you moving freely. Easy to pack and take anywhere with you, and it hits the spots the foam roller has trouble reaching.

Peanut Roller

The Gaiam “peanut” roller is not only great for core work and to help stretch and strengthen your back and spine while increasing range of motion. It is also supporting and beneficial under the neck to reduce neck tension.

With the hollow space in the middle, it alleviates pressure on your lumbar or cervical spine. Because it’s not perfectly round, it helps you make small adjustments to control the difficulty of the workout and the built-in instability fires more muscles to keep you stable.

Want to learn how these videos fit into your own fitness journey?

Then head on over to CORE!  

CORE is your guide on this safe, progressive approach to long-term physical and mental fitness. As you travel the CORE Success Map with your fellow CORE Crew members, you’ll get support, encouragement… and see real results. No matter where you start, CORE will guide you on your fitness goals.

  • CORE Success Map monthly challenges
  • Live Q&A, tips, and coaching
  • Customized workouts of the week
  • Robust library of exercises and workout for additional variation and challenge
  • Access to Core Community

By taking small steps over and over, you’ll build momentum — like any muscle, it gets stronger the more you do it. Every month, Misha goes live to answer your questions on each month’s focus areas. Clarity leads to progress and progress leads to more momentum.

Each month, we deep dive into a different physical focus and mindset theme. This combo — tapping the powerful mind-body connection — is what makes CORE effective. Each month’s themes build on the prior month. Your fitness builds in a safe, progressive, proven way.

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