A Pilates chair exercise apparatus has a frame configured to rest on a horizontal surface, an inverted Y shaped seat support member fastened to an upper portion of the frame, a seat fastened to an upper end of the seat support, and a pair of parallel arms each having a proximal end fastened to the frame and a foot support fastened to a distal end of each of the arms, wherein each arm is biased away from the frame. One foot support carries a retractable member therein configured to engage a portion of a corresponding opposite foot support to selectively lock the foot support and the corresponding opposite foot support together.