If you're enrolled in a Pilates class or are doing it by yourself through a Pilates workout DVD, you might wonder what a Pilates ring is and what it's actually used for. With his penchant for getting information from the most unusual sources to craft his fitness equipment, Joseph Pilates got the inspiration for his power ring from a beer keg ring. Also known as the magic circle, this Pilates equipment is made of metal that is coated, flexible and lightweight. It has pads on both the inner and outer circles so hands can be placed comfortably, depending on the muscles that need to be engaged for a particular exercise. A Pilates ring adds resistance to the basic Pilates mat exercises and works toward giving the body a lean, toned look. A versatile tool, the magic circle can be done with full-body Pilates regimens or to simply strengthen and develop specific body parts such as the core, arms or chest.

If you want to work your chest, you can do the chest press ring exercise using the Pilates ring. Lie down on the mat with your face towards the ceiling. Depending on where you are comfortable, you can bend your knees with your feet flat on the floor or keep them straight on the floor. Position the Pilates ring in front of your chest, holding the handles with your hands. Put your palms against the outer part of the handles, keeping your fingers pointed upwards. Keep your elbows bent, facing out to the sides. Press your palms toward each other as you pulse the ring with your arms. When you do the presses, make sure that your back is flat on the floor and your hands remain open. Do at least a 100 presses without arching your back or neck. You are working your chest and arm muscles in this exercise and "cheating" in order to do a few more reps will ruin your purpose.

To workout your inner and outer thighs with more intensity, do side-lying workouts using the magic circle. Put the ring in a vertical position, with one pad resting on the floor and the upper pad faces upwards. Position yourself by lying on one side, keeping your legs straight. Put your bottom anklebone on the inner pad of the ring and your top anklebone on the inner upper pad. Breathe in. As you breathe out, engage your core muscles so your pelvis stabilizes. Do 10 presses with your top outer thigh against the resistance offered by the ring. After this, position your top ankle on the upper, outer circle pad. Breathe in. As you breathe out do ten presses, squeezing your top inner thigh down against the resistance offered by the ring. Do the same thing on the other leg.

There are different levels of resistance found in this equipment. When your strength and stamina has reached a point where you can do about 100 to 150 repetitions of a particular Pilates exercise with ease, you can buy a ring with a much-higher resistance. With your more intense ring, start with as many repetitions as you comfortably can before moving up to 100 to 150.