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

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, your booty, 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 when you activate your butt! Let’s work your booty and more in this week’s class.

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

It’s easy to think Pilates is about the abs. I mean, when we talk about the center, that’s what we think. But, all of the exercises require us to connect to our back too! The center is the muscles around your pelvis, shoulder girdle and everything in between. In this week’s classes, we will think about what we are doing to support, connect and strengthen our back! 

On the Reformer you’ll fill the springs, handles, carriage and more, help you wake up, stretch and strengthen your back. On the Mat we will use the wall to help us understand where we are in a spine that day, as well as stretch and strengthen your back. And, especially while many of us celebrate the holidays, access to a wall is everywhere. 

See you in class!

xx~LL

Aloha! It’s our final sunset class here in Maui. We are about to have a nice stretchy class because we are going to get dressed up and have a Maui gala with hula dancers and amazing food (because who doesn’t want to have a gala?). So come, stretch with me and then we’ll go eat!

xx-LL

Are you ready for a little magic? I know I am! It has been HOT here and so motivating to workout is not the easiest thing. But, thankfully, the mat can be done in 30 min or less. And this week’s class is no different!

This week, I’ve brought in the Magic Circle. But, you don’t have to have one to still get your Pilates and sweat on! If you have a ball or block grab it and if you have none then I’ve got some tips for you too.

Hope you enjoy it and I’ll see you next week where we see just what we can do when we “pull” a little more!

xx~LL

Last week’s mat class was a big hit, and we got lots of feedback, so this week we’re keeping the theme but putting a new twist on it!

It’s easy to think “shoulder back” or “heart open” but what if in trying to open your chest you accidentally closed your back?

Sometimes good cues can cause bad habits. So this week let’s try to hone our extension and openness skills without creating tension or bad habits!!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

Join Lesley Logan for a 30 min Pilates mat class designed for you to do anywhere you can lay down! Seriously, Pilates was designed on the mat first. Sometimes we can’t get to a studio, can’t leave the house, office or we are off traveling. Lesley’s mat class is perfect for your 30 min window dedicated to all things you. Turn your notifications off and lay out your mat (or even a towel) and get connected to your mat.

Your mat is just like a piece of equipment. It gives you feedback to what’s touching, not touching and supports your movements. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get connected!

xx-LL

Ok, I’m coming clean! I absolutely hate stretching post a run or workout with my trainer. I mean, I would rather do a full on mat workout after a run or training session than sit and stretch or roll. And while there are plenty of opinions on whether or not stretching even works. What I can say from experience is that using Pilates as my cross training has kept me injury free even when I was a competitive runner. So, this week’s class is taking the mat workout as a post-run/spin/elliptical or cross-training workout. How can we use the mat to open up what those workouts tighten up? How can we strengthen what those workouts overlook and how can we check in with where our body is that day?

I hope you enjoy this weeks mat class!

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

Allow your favorite reformer exercises to meet you on your mat this week! A fun way to change up your Pilates practice and feel like you got to have a little bit of Reformer work at home!

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

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

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

Do you ever wonder how you are so strong on one side in one exercise and then in another exercise it switches? No, just me? Ha! I am pretty sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to being asymmetrical! So, this week we take on our sides! One side at a time that is.

On the mat we will play more with exercises that are play with asymmetry and then seeing how we can take what we learned and change up how we do our symmetrical exercises.

Then, over on the Reformer we play around with exercises where we take away one leg or one arm. Get ready to do Stomach Massage with one leg! It’ll be fun I promise.

Can’t wait to see a side of you!

xx~LL

P.S. Which side will you be doing twice next time?

Ok, truth is that hip circles are just plain hard! And, even when you are strong enough they are hard. I’m not sure the day will come for me or for you where we go “Yeah!!! Hip Circles!” But, I do believe that we can “get” them.

So, in this week’s class it’s time to take some time thinking about where the circles come from and why we do them!

xx-LL