It’s so easy to use your upper shoulders to do everything! To skip connecting to your shoulder girdle and just make an exercise look right.

When you are on the mat, it is so easy to let your shoulders lift your arms and upper body even though the exercise may be designed for your back. In this week’s class we are removing permission from your shoulders so you can work from a stronger source!

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

The weight pole aka bar in the Pilates Mat can be used for more than just the Roll Up and the Thigh Stretch. In fact, it’s purpose in those two exercises can be a tool for many different Pilates Mat exercises!

If you do not have a pole, weighted bar you can try 1lb weights, a dowel or a theraband. If you have none of those items I do give ways to do this class without and it will still be a challenge! So, no need to skip this week!

I hope you have fun finding your back strength and playing with the way connecting to your back with this pole can affect more than your Roll Up!

xx-LL

You are either awaiting many guests and holiday events or on your way to a friend or family members home! And that means traffic, lots of planning and entertaining.

It’s enough work to wonder if you are truly going to have some rest time during the holidays. One thing I have learned in all the travel and family affairs is sometimes you just need to roll with it!

This week we will play with all the rolling exercises. Are you ready to roll?

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

Hey hey, it’s time to spend a little more time thinking about our sides. We always do the side kicks and twists. But, this week we are going to have some fun with side rolling, side bend, and more side ways to move! My goal is that the stronger your sides are the easier it is for you to find your lift! You’ll be taller and stronger after this class. No reminder needed to have good posture!

On the Reformer we’ll be adding in some more Side lying or side working exercises. As always I’ll give you some options to replace what I am doing if you’re not ready for it.

xx~LL

I really think you can Up Stretch sooner than you think. And, I know my Mat-only lovers are wondering… Upstretch? What? Don’t worry, you know it! You do it in many forms on the Mat, but we call it Double Straight Leg Stretch or Jackknife. So, let’s get up in our Upstretch and we’ll explore how the Mat exercises truly do prepare you for some of the complicated Reformer exercises.

See you on the Upside

xx~LL

When I’m needing a little movement or I’m in a tight space I can always find room to Roll up, over and like a ball! And, sometimes I wonder how my day would be different if I did these in bed before I got up.

Yep, these are the things I think about!

So, this week in our Mat class we will focus on these 3 exercises. How to do them better, even how to do them when you can’t do them and how they prepare us for soooo much more in our Pilates practice!

In our Reformer class, we will add these into our Reformer practice and see where else they show up!

I know these exercises are not our favorites but they are sooo essential. So, let’s get them done!

xx~LL

I know you love the Reformer! Who doesn’t?! Well, in this week’s class the Reformer meets your mat. Get ready to footwork, row and snake away on your mat. Who needs a reformer when you’ve got your imagination and your muscles?

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

If you’re like me, you probably think of each exercise with a “start/stop” in mind. Meaning, I’m starting this exercise, and now I’m stopping that one and going to start the next one. Usually, it’s when the springs are closed.

But there aren’t springs on the mat! There’s no real marker, only yourself. And on the mat you might not want to be back in the “starting position,” especially because when you’re flowing some exercises finish as the next one is beginning.

Either way, there’s still a transition between them, which we’ll call the “finish.” So let’s focus on those; let’s focus on the finish! That is where the work really is.

xx-LL

One of my favorite parts of the HIIT classes I go to besides the Thai kicks (freaking love those) is when we Row! I see a lot of people do it so wrong. All in their upper necks and lower backs. But, when I get on the rower I feel my seat connect, my center work and like I could go for at least 5 seconds longer than the timer. And it’s all thanks to Pilates!

So, grab your 1 lb. or maybe even 2 lb. weights and join me for a week of Rowing! On the Mat we’ll bring the rowing exercises to our flow. And, on the Reformer we’ll row where we row and we’ll sneak some rowing into other places too!

Can’t wait to see you row!

xx~LL

Happiest new year! It’s the first week of 2019 and it’s that resolution time. But, instead of this being about how many times you’ll commit to doing your Pilates. What if instead we used this class as a marker and a goal setter? What if as the class goes on you see just how far you can go and make a note of where you want to get in your practice?

For example: what if you find your roll up rocks but your neck pull has some work todo? This class will help reveal where you rock and where you want to rock a little bit more!

I’ll be layering exercises to help you build from one to the next so you can make some exercise goals!

xx-LL

P.S. Afterwards I would love to hear what your exercise goals are!

Too often we skip Control Balance at the end of our practice. Sometimes we run out of time, other times we think we are not ready for it. But, you may be ready sooner than you think! And, sometimes it’s just a matter of learning how to be upside down, stand on your shoulders and breathe!

This week let’s take the oath to Control balance! It’s a little road less traveled but the feels are worth it!

xx-LL

Ever realize how hard it is to just get started? Once we get going it’s so much easier. When I wake up, I wonder – should run that day? If I will have time (even though I wake up early enough to make sure I can run)… But, once I am running it’s easier to keep going. The same could be true for you and your Pilates practice.

Maybe you plan to take class several times this week but you find yourself putting it off until tomorrow. Or, the next day. Maybe later will be better. Even though you know you’re going to feel better once it’s over.

This week, I thought it could be fun to practice starting at the beginning. Focusing on the “start” position of each exercise and then flowing through. Maybe this will help us practice “getting going.”

Now, the only you have to do is login and press play and then we can begin!

xx~LL

I know it’s not just me. But, have you ever noticed how many exercises start with “single leg” and if they don’t how many exercises are one sided. It’s a lot!

And, why is that? Why so much emphasis on doing asymmetrical work? Well, as you know, we don’t do Pilates to do Pilates better. We do it to do life better! And so much of life is one-sided!

So, let’s rock what we got!

On our Mat and Reformer, we will explore more of the asymmetrical exercises and then challenge what we’ve learned by doing exercises that are symmetrical. You may have to work a bit more through one side!

See ya in class,

xx~LL