One of my most top watched Youtube tutorials is the Long Stretch Series. Every time I film a new video breaking it down it’s instantly popular. It was also my first video I ever posted to Youtube. So, this week’s Mat class will take the Long Stretch Series off the Reformer and ask how to get long, get up, get down and yes, we will even do the Elephant.

For those of you on the Reformer we will thread this series through some of the basic exercises and then a grand finale that you can join in, either on your Reformer or on the Floor (if you’re needing another option).

See you in class,

xx~LL

Ok, so maybe ‘ultimate’ is a strong word but it’s up there. As we finish off our month of March Matness and conclude the tour of the original 34 in the OG style of Joe P., I think it’s worth really taking a good feel of the Side Bend. And, have no fear there will be options if the idea of standing on one arm and the side of your feet has you thinking of skipping this week.

See you on your mat,

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

Another request from the OPC members group is this week’s class inspo! Keep posting the questions you have in the group as they help me create new classes around what you need and want!

Shoulder Bridge can seem like a piece of cake from first glance. But, then you get in there and it’s not what you think!

Should you use the hands under the hips? What if you can’t get them under you? What if it hurts your wrists? And, then, there’s the hips dropping, the leg lower and lifting…it’s harder than we think!

So, this week on the mat we will deconstruct Your Shoulder Bridge and find something that works for you and you can build upon. And, on the Reformer we will use the springs and straps to connect our back side and open our front side!

See you in class

xx~LL

Grab your magic circle as we find a few magical connections in our Thass® (Thooty), outer hips and inner thighs. We will rock with it, squeeze it and feel the magic through the whole class.

When doing Pilates it’s easy to get obsessed with your core or keeping your shoulders out of your ears. But, the more connected you are to your seat the stronger your entire body will feel. Some of those notorious hip grippy exercises like Spine stretch forward teaser will become more tolerable and you may even find you enjoy them a little bit!

xx-LL

How does 1 little extra lb change your entire practice? I am not talking about your scale! I am talking about your mat work! What happens to how you feel your practice when you take one lb and add it in to almost every exercise?

Find out this week in class! It’s fun! And, if you don’t have a 1lb you can try a theraband or go weightless and imagine what 1 lb feels like. The mind is a pretty powerful thing!

Can’t wait to hear how what new discoveries you had.

xx-LL

In life, balance is essential. And, not just so you can balance on one leg to do Tree Pose in Yoga or some other one-legged standing pose in Pilates or fitness. Actually, in your day to day life you have to stand on one leg to put on your pants, get into your car or kick a bag!

We feel how every exercise helps ready us for the Kneeling Side Kicks. You’ll feel stronger when class is over!

xx-LL

One thing I see in pics, videos or virtual sessions are the heels coming apart. And it does make a difference in making the exercises happen when the heels are together. The strength you gain from that hug is necessary when the heels are apart. This week, we will use the Magic Circle for some teachable moments. But you can hug a quarter to challenge yourself.

See you in class,

xx-LL

The other day in our OPC members only group I had a request for Hip Circles being a theme. And so, if you don’t love this theme…do it anyways! haha!

My friends, some exercises in Pilates are teaching tools for our bodies. They strengthen or stretch us. And other exercises are revealers. They show us where we still need work. Hip Circles is one of those exercises.

In our Mat practice, we will use every exercise to prepare us to FLOW through our Hip Circles. On the Reformer, we will use the equipment to help us strengthen, stretch and make our Mat work a flow we enjoy!

See ya in class!

xx~LL

Every so often we just get our flow on. It can feel fast to do this kind of a class but it’s not about going fast or going slow, it’s all about the practice. And, as the class continues to layer in exercises and feel more advanced I will shout out options from earlier in our practice for you to do instead. But, there is to be no judgment. No feeling like you aren’t strong enough. Nope! When we do this kind of class it’s literally a check in. How are you doing? What is still a struggle and where are you feeling improvement. And then share that in our FB group!

Not only will you connect with other members on shared struggles and discoveries but you’ll also inspire themes and tutorials to help you get stronger before our next check in.

No props needed, just yourself!

See ya in class!!

xx-LL

The midline is an often underused area of our bodies. It’s easy to think you are squeezing your inner thighs only to find out when you get to the shoulder bridge that your knees roll out and you’re not engaging your inner thighs at all!

This week LL focuses on finding that inner thigh connection with or without a prop. She uses a magic circle. You can use one if you have one or a squishy ball or yoga block will work as well. If you don’t have any props you won’t need them. Your imagination and attention to detail will wake up your inner thighs as well.

xx-LL

We are bringing some of the Reformer to our Mat this week! Breaststroke is a Reformer exercise that is often avoided or just loathed, especially if you don’t have a spotter. But, after this week’s class, I do see some love for this exercise in your future. 

On the Mat, if you have some 1 or 2 lb. weights nearby they’ll be super helpful for a few exercises. Yes, canned food or water bottles will also work here!

On the Reformer you can use those same props to do this class if the Breaststroke is new for you or if you just hate doing it. I know you’ll find through this week’s class that so much of what we do in the beginning is in preparation for Breaststroke and you’re more ready than you think!

See ya in class,

xx-LL

Somethings in life you can just “wing it.” But, in Pilates the set up is at least half the battle. And, while it’s important to move it’s also important to set yourself up for success. Even if you just hold it!

This week we will still get our move on but we will discuss the set up more in depth that usual. And, if you decide to hold it for the length of the exercise awesome or you can flow through until we set up the next one. This week the in between is your call and I’ll handle all the good stuff to get you anchored in place.

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