What’s the deal with leg pulls? You know those two exercises towards the end of the mat that we tend to skip? They look and feel like push-ups or reverse push-ups. But, they are so much more than meets the eye.

In fact, whenever I do them I feel way more going on in my body than I ever do with a push-up. This week, we will use our entire mat to prepare us for these two Pilates gems.

See you on your mat!

xx-LL

I know most of us are always looking to shed the weight whether physical or figurative. But, this week, I do want to bring a little weight into our practice. Just a little bit. Like 1lb or 2 lbs.

If you’ve got little hand weights bring them with you. If you’re traveling or at your office and you don’t no worries! The mind is a beautiful thing. Grab your real or imaginary hand weights and join me as we explore what a little weight can do for our Pilates practice.

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

Each week we often dive into just one exercise and how it flows through our mat. But this week we feel how each exercise prepares us for the one that comes right after.

It’s a fun way to think about your mat and how every exercise is as important as the one before and after it!

Also, this week I was in my hotel room. So, if you thought you had to have a mat and a home workout space to do class, you’ll see that you can still get your Pilates on in a small space!

xx-LL

The Seal! Typically considered a harder version of Rolling Like a Ball. But, is it? Or, is it a time for you to shine?

I know for me the first time I did the seal I thought it was a funny exercise. I wondered why we even did it. And, then my teacher Jay Grimes reminded me that its a time to show off. To show that you can clap your legs in and out while maintaining balance. And not just at the top of the Seal but at the upside down part too!

Are you ready to let your Seal shine? Let’s Seal it Off together this week!

xx-LL

While some Pilates exercises seem to have specific breathing instructions many don’t. So, how do you know when to inhale and exhale? How can breathing actually make your exercise better?

Find out in this class when we dive into our mat and deepen our lungs.

xx-LL

While Tree is often an unsung hero of the Reformer it’s rarely done on the Mat. But, when it is its effects are amazing!!!

Don’t worry, if you have no idea what the Tree is we will go over it at the beginning and enjoy its effects for the rest of class!

Are you ready to fall in love with the Tree?

xx-LL

Hi, this is Arlene. Welcome to my studio Bodywork & Pilates on our Pilates Retreat Maui!

This is day two of our retreat and we just had an amazing day of a morning mat class, hiking, an extraordinary brunch and now we’re about to get started with our evening mat class.

So glad you can join us!

Arlene

I am the biggest fan of a good Swan exercise! I absolutely love to do this exercise. It feels so good when I connect to all the right spots. But, how did Joe do it in his book? That’s what we will explore this week as well as a few other OG versions of our Mat work from his book Return to Life. Which if you haven’t read you should! It’s pretty great at guiding you through his mat practice.

xx-LL

A TheraBand is useful in so many ways! It can help you stretch, challenge your strength and even be the springs and opposition that our Pilates equipment provides. So, bringing it to class this week we will find out how many ways the TheraBand can help us and a few exercises where it challenges our work!

And, the best part about this prop is if you don’t have one you’re still good to go for this week’s class. If you’re traveling, you can pack this prop in a side pocket of any bag. So no excuses!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

Have you ever heard that the exercises you don’t like you should do twice? Well, I say it all the time and then one day my teacher Jay Grimes heard me say how I don’t like an exercise and he told me to do it twice everyday!! Ha, a taste of my own medicine.

This week on the Mat we will find ways to fall in love with the Leg Pulls, you know the two exercises you love to forget exist. And, then over on our Reformer we will use our practice to prepare us for the Control Push ups! Don’t worry, if you know you don’t do these two exercises I give plenty of ideas to keep you flowing until you’re ready to take them on.

xx~LL

P.S. Bonus points for those who can count how many times I said the Control Push Ups name incorrectly! #perfectlyimperfect

Hello, good morning! It is day 3 here on our retreat in Maui and I can’t believe it’s going by so fast – it’s so beautiful.

We’re just about to start class. We’re doing a whole thing with the footwork in the beginning and stretching the hamstrings and really getting into our seat and our stomach because a lot of us hiked yesterday.

I hope you enjoy it and I will see you next time!

xx-LL

Aloha, Arlene here! This is my studio Bodywork & Pilates in Maui, Hawaii. We’re to have an amazing mat class so I’m glad you can join us!

I’m going to go over getting more length in your spine and pulling in your abs. I’m going to be throwing in some extra teasers in there.

Arlene

Sometimes we are all about the Mat! And, well, these are mat classes so it’s pretty hard not to be all about the mat work. But, the rest of the Pilates method was designed to support us when we are on the mat. So, this week, while we mat out we will be gaining strength and inspiration from Pilates exercises typically done on the other pieces of equipment!

See you on your mat,

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