This week’s workout will explore how many exercises are preparing you for the depth, strength and coordination the Russian Splits require. If you’re someone who is like “Russian splits what?!” Don’t worry, You’ll be getting quite the workout and some day when you do get on a Reformer your body will be ready! We will also explore, on the Reformer, how Russian Splits prepare and teach you for your next workout. Because, of course, Pilates is always preparing us for our next workout.

No props needed for this workout but get ready to enjoy some fun exploration!

See ya in class,

xx-LL

It’s that time of year again Pilates lovers! It’s March Matness and that means all 34 exercises all month long. BUT what if you are not into some of the 34? What if you’re not going overhead or you’re new and you’re still working on that Roll up? This week’s class is going to be full of prep’s for all the 34 exercises so that each week you can sub in your favorite and still enjoy a good time.

See you on your Mat

xx-LL

This week we focus our thoughts on how wide our backs can get! There is a difference between rounding your shoulders and widening your back. And, this key difference will not only make you stronger but it will make all those overhead and rolling exercises more possible!

• Want Control Balance to feel lifted and strong?
• Wish you could clap your feet 3x during Seal?
• Want your ribs to stay connected?

Then, it’s time to open your mind to the wide back!

xx-LL

Back by demand this focus on maintaining your breath is here.

In this class, we will continue to explore where we initiate our inhale and exhale as well as how to use our breath to move through an exercise instead of holding our breath to “focus,” aka force ourselves through an exercise.

On the Mat you won’t need any prop but yourself. And on the Reformer we will focus on that flow of breath even in between the exercises while we set up our equipment!

See ya in class,

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

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

Have you ever thought of your Mat as a piece of equipment? If not, after this week’s class, I hope you do! Because it truly is. And, if you’re a Reformer lover, I know you think of your Reformer as a piece of equipment. But, do you truly connect to the carriage, handles, foot bar and springs?

This week we are going to explore how we are connecting to our equipment in each exercise. Are we pushing it off of us, or away from us? Or, are we using it to support us?

See ya in class,

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

It’s no secret we are a society that is beginning to round forward. Standing tall or pulling your shoulders back can only do so much. We have to strengthen the body to hold ourselves up so we don’t have to think about it all day and every day.

Today’s class with LL requires no props and if you have a mat great but as long as you have enough floor space to lay down and reach your arms out you are good to go. So, no excuses for missing 30 min to get Pilates in your body. You’ll be paying extra attention to your back muscles and your outer hips. Most of our workouts and lives do not give the side bodies enough attention. Today you will give these muscles the love and strength they deserve.

xx-LL

Back by demand… the one rep drill and all that it reveals to us and our Pilates practice. Don’t remember this one? Here’s the gist. On our Mat we will do one of every exercise (feel free to skip ones that you don’t do for injuries).

On the Reformer we will use the one rep drill to help us take advantage of one awesome rep. We won’t have time to go back and do something better. But sometimes I think we throw the first rep away. And this week… we only get to do it one in the class so we have to take advantage.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

P.S. want to request a theme? Post it in the OPC members only FB group.

It’s been awhile since we did all of the mat in 30 min! And, here’s the thing, I know for many of you every exercise is not possible. I will be calling options from the beginning of the Mat to replace the end ones. So, you’ll get lots of practice!

For the Reformer while we can’t do the entire Reformer in 30 min we are going to have a good flow and get pretty close. Please feel free to take your time, pause me if you want to juice any exercises out. And, I will try to call out the next exercise info on the last rep of the exercise before so you have time to plan your transition. Are you ready?

xx~LL

Let’s find out how we can work our midline without losing our outer thighs too! On the Mat, we’ll use the Magic Circle for a few exercises to discover what our midline feels like when it’s working. On the Reformer, we’ll use the Foot Bar and springs to discover our inner strength not just our “go-to” muscles!

Let’s do this!

xx~LL

Elephant is one of the toughest exercises for me. The lift, the reach and against gravity! AHH! So, this week, let’s not only work on our Elephant on the Reformer but also all the places where the Elephant exists!

xx~LL

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get Teaser over with sooner? Or, maybe not have to think about Knee Stretches coming up the whole class… well, let’s have some fun and do our series backwards!

You won’t need any props but you will need to pay attention because this order is gonna be… well… backwards!

See ya in class or should I sayy… ssalc ni ay eeS?

xx~LL

In the members only group y’all were wanting more breath themed classes before the last one even ended. SOOO here we are… back with the breath. In both the Mat and the Reformer class, we’ll be only focusing on our breath. Don’t worry about the choreography. Just have fun moving and breathing. Notice how strong, calm and connected you are when class is over.

Be sure to come back to the breath as often as you can this week and then see if you can challenge yourself to remember this theme in the weeks to come.

xx-LL