Hello, From the Other Side

Grab your Magic Circle for some of my favorite ways to use the Magic Circle! On the Mat, we’ll be using it every few exercises to wake up some more dormant muscles. You know those ones that like to rest while others work?! And, on the Reformer, we’ll use it to enhance a few exercises and teach some others.

No circle, no problem! You’ll just do the exercises like they were intended and use your imagination along the way.

Ready for some magic?

xx~LL

In this week’s class, LL wants you to feel your body go in two different directions. Normally in life, we prefer not to be pulled all over the place but in this case, on your Pilates mat, you will love how this tug of war feels inside your body. Plus, connecting your body to Pilates and your mind on your mat will allow the outside world to disappear. So, what are you waiting for? Put those people vying for your attention on hold. Snag some floor space and enjoy the work of Pilates in your body.

xx-LL

It’s my bday week and to celebrate this week’s classes focus on my favorite ways to do each exercise, my favorite props and the exercises I never skip! It’s a Pilates party!

On the Mat please have a set of squishy ball nearby and on the Reformer we will be trying to fit in more exercises than usual. So, please feel free to pause me watch and then flow the first time you take it.

Let’s party!

xx~LL

A wall is an excellent source of feedback. It’s the prop we all have handy and it can help us dive deeper into our own practice. In this weeks Mat class we use the wall to give us information and to support us in much of our practice. On the Reformer we use the idea of the “wall” as our carriage. How can our legs use the wall? Our feet use the floor?

Get ready to use your imagination!!

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

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

By request, we are starting an exploration of extension. This will be one of many that we do. This week, we explore what it means to find length in the spine without doing massive backbends. I used to think that extension could only exist if my feet were touching my head. But, after lots of studying in my own body, I have found that the more I allow the extension to stay away from my lower back and work its way up my spine the more strength I feel in my body. In this week’s class enjoy the mini extension exploration. And, take it a few times because the thing about relearning extension is the more you do it the more your body remembers!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

As the end of the year approaches it has me thinking about the end of our mat order: The Push-ups. When I first started teaching I would wonder why they came at the end.  Why not at the beginning or somewhere in the middle?

This week we will take a look at how we are being prepared for the push-ups our entire mat practice and also how the Push-ups wrap up our mat work with a tight bow!

Are you ready to wrap up this year, enjoy the end of the mat work and put a bow on all of it?  Yep, me too!

xx-LL

Love it or loathe it Teaser is going to continue to show up in your Pilates practice. And, while it is not the “peak” post of Pilates it sure is the most “known” exercise. In this week’s Mat class we will cover all the different ways to strengthen your practice and find the Teaser that is right for you. BTW, if you have a wall near by that you can put your feet on you’ll want to have it close by.

On the Reformer side of this practice we will focus on how all the exercises that pre-ceed and proceed the Teaser really help us do the Teaser. And, if you know that Teaser on the Reformer is not your jam don’t worry. You get to keep you move on with other suggestions I have up my sleeve for you.

Our ultimate goal this week is to to see what Teaser is telling us everyday we practice.

Be sure to share what Teaser told you in the class comments or class group!

xx~LL

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

So, this week, I hope you are ready to connect to your seat! Because we will use some of my favorite ways to feel your booty in both your Mat and Reformer work.

For the Mat if you have a Magic circle bring it. If not a ball or your amazing imagination will do. We will start the class with some ways to wake up your seat and connect more to your center.

On the Reformer we will play around with what to press more into or less into to find your seat as we flow from start to finish. My hope is that at the end of the week you and your thut (you know your butt below the butt) have found each other created a relationship and are ready to flow.

xx~LL

P.S. What was your favorite thuttocks connection? Share in the comments below!

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 other day in the OPC members only group I had a request for Snake and Twist. I won’t go naming names but well, I know, Snake and Twist are not everyones cup of tea! However, you know that we make sure to set ourselves up for success! And this weeks class is no different.

In the Mat class we’ll be twisting our hearts out and working from our seat. And on the Reformer the entire class leads up to our Snake and Twist attempts. So, even if you don’t snake with me you’ll get a strong workout in until the end. And, you can do the Mat version alongside us.

If you need more make sure to check out the Snake and Twist tutorial!

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

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