Spring has sprung and we can use the Theraband to feel like we’ve added springs to our Pilates mat work! If you don’t have a thera-band do not worry. You’ll still get a great workout. We will be exploring some of the Reformer exercises on our Mat and also what some Mat exercises would feel like with a little extra resistance.

See you on your mat!

xx-LL

I’ll never forget the day that I found out I was “showing off” in my Swan on the Mat, Reformer, Cadillac (pretty much anywhere). I was sooo deflated. I thought while my flexion may need some work, surely my extension was Pilates Olympic worthy, right? Nope, I was totally missing the good stuff from my Swans. So this weeks Mat and Reformer classes are going to explore all the levels of Swan and how to find Swan in exercises that are not so swanlike.

Swan life!

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

This week’s class is inspired by every person who has rocked back and not rocked right back up. It happens. It seems like such an easy exercise when you rock back and it’s almost shocking you can’t rock back up right? But, the truth is this rolling exercise is more than rocking back and forth. There are some key things you can do in the exercise to make it happen. And, there are pieces throughout the mat work that help teach your body how to rock back and right back up.

This week let’s roll that open leg rocker!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

Whether you love or hate the Teaser it’s probably here to stay! And, with so many variations and ways to do it around the studio, it’s easy to think it’s our peak Pilates pose! While it’s not – and all exercises are created equal – it’s integral to your practice to squeeze all the stretch and strength out of it!

So, this week, we dive into many ways to Teaser!

Are you ready?

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

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

We spend a lot of time focusing on the “actions” of the exercises and to a good amount the set ups. But, it’s easy to skip or “rest” through the transitions. And, something so special about Pilates is that there are transitions!

I had a teacher that for a while would not let me do the exercise if I lost my connection to my center as I transitioned. Yep, it was tough!

I promise this class will be fun and full of explorations. And I hope you find some transitions you like that you can keep in your Pilates bag and use in future classes!

Nothing needed extra for either the Mat or the Reformer class. Just bring your fabulous self!

See ya in class,

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

In our mat work we pay a lot of attention to flexion and extension. And, we often forget the side work. Sure, the twists do touch our sides and there is the amazing side kicks. But, how can we use all the other exercises to really rock our side bodies and strengthen us from side to side as much as head to toe?

Find out this week when we meet up for a side body adventure on our mats!

xx-LL

While not everyone has a set of hand weights laying around if you do grab them. If you don’t or you have a shoulder or neck injury skip the weights and join in for class anyway. Props are only a suggestion to help you feel something different in your mat practice.

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!

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

Back by Demand but Fresh and New! Y’all loved the time we swapped the equipment exercises and I wanted to enjoy that flow again. So this theme is back but it’s all new! Let’s see what we get through this week when our Mat becomes a Reformer and our Reformer becomes a Mat.

Mat lovers, if you’ve never done the Reformer, some of these things will feel bizarre or you may not have seen or heard of them. Don’t worry, you’ve got the whole week to have fun! If you’re a Reformer lover who skips the Mat… I see you! You’re getting your Mat on this week. Have 1 or 2 lb. weights nearby for both classes.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

It’s almost summer here (although you wouldn’t know it by all the rain). And while we likely won’t be getting in public waters anytime soon I thought it would be fun to explore all the “water” exercises!

On the Mat:
Swan, Mermaid, Swimming, Seal, and Crab

On the Reformer:
Rowing, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Swimming and Mermaid!

Get ready to warm up and get your water exercises in!

xx-LL