Back with the Breath

Good morning, it’s (almost) the final class of our retreat and today I asked our group what they want to do in this class. After a week of doing Pilates every day, there are just some exercises that our bodies haven’t opened up to yet and some that they really love. So before we do class I’m going to ask them what they want and that is what class will be about – right there on the fly!

So in 2019 you have to just come and join us!

xx-LL

Back by demand… the one rep drill and all that it reveals to us and our Pilates practice. Don’t remember this one? Here’s the gist. On our Mat we will do one of every exercise (feel free to skip ones that you don’t do for injuries).

On the Reformer we will use the one rep drill to help us take advantage of one awesome rep. We won’t have time to go back and do something better. But sometimes I think we throw the first rep away. And this week… we only get to do it one in the class so we have to take advantage.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

P.S. want to request a theme? Post it in the OPC members only FB group.

Let’s find out how we can work our midline without losing our outer thighs too! On the Mat, we’ll use the Magic Circle for a few exercises to discover what our midline feels like when it’s working. On the Reformer, we’ll use the Foot Bar and springs to discover our inner strength not just our “go-to” muscles!

Let’s do this!

xx~LL

Don’t worry we won’t do a 100 hundreds… but what if we did enough thinking and loving of the 100s for a week that maybe we didn’t go “ugh the 100” most of the time? What if we did it enough that we could see the beauty in the 100?

This week, whether you are on the Mat or the Reformer, all ya need is you, your breath and a tiny bit of love for the 100.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

In life it’s easy to think we need more. More money, friends, stuff, props, equipment, exercises and time. But, what we are really looking for is connection. And, Pilates is all about connecting our mind to our body. Our muscles to our center. Basically, it’s about connecting to ourselves so that we can go out and connect to others.

If we connect to our mat and our equipment, it helps us connect to our center and our strength. These connections don’t disappear when we leave our Mat or Reformer.

This week on the Mat and Reformer we will focus on what’s connecting to the equipment and acknowledge what isn’t.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

I know you’ve been so focused on your reach, connecting to your center, equal stretch and strength. But, how often are you thinking about your wrists?

This week on the Mat we’ll play with the thera-band and weights and how holding them affects our arm-to-back-to-center connection. And, on the Reformer we have lots to talk about!

See you in class,

xx~LL

New Years is as good a time as any to just take a moment and see where you are, how far you’ve come and get excited about where you are going! This week, try to take class more than usual and enjoy the flow. Remember you can always hit pause, replace one exercise for another or modify. And, do not judge what you can’t do today…tomorrow is a new day and a year from now you’ll be a totally different person.

See you in class,

xx~LL

It’s easy to think that Rolling like a ball is just a back massage. Or that Seal is weird – and don’t even try open leg rocker. But…. there is so much good stuff happening in these rolling exercises. And even if you think your tailbone will hate it, trust me, if you’re doing it right you will not be perching on your coccyx.

Grab a mat (and if you are sensitive maybe another one or a small folded blanket) and get ready to feel the full body strength of all the rolling exercises. Understanding Pilates rolling exercises will change your entire Pilates practice. Are you ready?

xx-LL

It’s that time of year! The holidays are here. Crazy schedules, lots of food, parties candy! This is the time when your Pilates mat practice counts the most!

This week, we will go a little out of order, and make our way to our fabulous hundred. Like it or love it the Hundred ahem the Holidays are here!

And this week I hope you find more than a few times to hit the mat. I know I will!

xx-LL

We start our work standing and we end our work standing. What happens on the mat in between is the magic that allows standing at the end to be more invigorating and for many of us possible!

This week, let’s find the magic of the transitions and nuances of the exercises to help us go from the mat to standing on our two feet with strength and control!

xx-LL

The SideKicks used to just include the Front and Back. But many of Joseph Pilates students have added a few variations to this. Why? Because the sidekicks are so important. Our side strength is what helps us do movements in multiple planes at once.

Think about how you move in life. When you are taking your groceries from the cart to your trunk you are lifting, twisting, bending and turning. Having strong obliques and glutes is key to stabilizing and agility. I mean, these muscles have to be able to do movements in both directions.

This week, we are taking the strength of our sidekicks through our mat work. Get ready to feel your hips in a whole new way!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

Your favorite exploration is back! Every time we a week focusing on our different sides abilities I get requests for more. So, here it is! We are getting asymmetrical again. If you’ve been an OPC member for awhile you will get a chance to see how you have improved since the last time. If you are new, this will be a fun way to see which side is strong than another.

On the Mat we will also do some standing Pilates exercises to challenge our balance and connection. On the Reformer we will incorporate the variations of each exercise that use one leg or one arm instead of both.

See you in class,

xx~LL

It’s easy to Tricep press your way through Shave on the Reformer. But, Shave is an integral exercise for so much of what we do in our Pilates practice! On the Reformer we’ll explore all the ways you can shave. And on the Mat we’ll bring our rowing in with some 1lb or 2lb weights and how the connecting your arms to your back increases your full body connection.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

I know that for many of us (depending on where you live in the world) this past weekend has signified “fall” and so while we may not be heading to the beach for some beach volleyball this week we are going to enjoy squeezing, rolling, holding and more with a ball. Whether you’re hitting the mat, reformer or both we’ll let the ball teach us where we let go of our midline, lean back too far in our flexion and how we can gather more strength.

If you don’t have a ball for most of the exercises a thick pillow, yoga block or magic circle (maybe have all on hand).

See you in class,

xx-LL

There is lots of cues regarding the shoulders. Too often “shoulders down” is a quick fix cue thrown out there. Or, even, “don’t use your shoulders…”. But, what does it feel like to have your shoulders connected? Is it down? Is it back? How will it feel to simply focus on the shoulders throughout the whole mat workout? Well, take this week’s class and find out! I can tell you I can feel the effects after just one time doing this class. Enjoy your shoulder explorations!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL