Chest Expansion is like Swan in Pilates – it is EVERYWHERE! You may not be familiar with Chest Expansion if you just started Pilates or if you’ve only ever done the Mat exercises. But, it’s a great exercise to understand if you’re wanting to do some of the more intermediate and advanced exercises.

So, this week, grab a thera band (or a set of leggings or a belt could even work). We’ll be using it throughout our Mat practice. If you don’t have one, it’s ok you’ll use your imagination.

On the Reformer we will use Chest Expansion sooner than normal and in different ways to help us connect to our back and see how that can help us deepen our practice. 

Are you ready to see how many places Chest Expansion can show up? 

See you in class,

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

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

Hi, I’m Lesley Logan and I’m here with Arlene Salomon in Maui for a beautiful Pilates retreat!

We are here at her amazing Pilates studio, which happens to be on the water, and today’s class is all about feeling where we are on the mat. It is our first day and the first class of the retreat so we’re all just kind of getting to know our body on the grass. I hope you enjoy it!

xx-LL

When you work on the reformer or any piece of equipment it’s easy to know when you’ve “finished” the exercise. The springs are closed and you’re back at the start position.

But, on the mat it’s all you! There is not equipment to help you “finish,” just yourself. And, as the movement goes on you may not want to be back in your original start position. In fact, when you’re flowing some exercises finish when the next one begins.

So, let’s focus on the finish! The final inches. That is where the work really is.

See you on your mat!

xx-LL

Too often we skip Control Balance at the end of our practice. Sometimes we run out of time, other times we think we are not ready for it. But, you may be ready sooner than you think! And, sometimes it’s just a matter of learning how to be upside down, stand on your shoulders and breathe!

This week let’s take the oath to Control balance! It’s a little road less traveled but the feels are worth it!

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

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

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

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.

I know that for many of us (depending on where you live in the world) this past weekend has signified “fall” and so while we may not be heading to the beach for some beach volleyball this week we are going to enjoy squeezing, rolling, holding and more with a ball. Whether you’re hitting the mat, reformer or both we’ll let the ball teach us where we let go of our midline, lean back too far in our flexion and how we can gather more strength.

If you don’t have a ball for most of the exercises a thick pillow, yoga block or magic circle (maybe have all on hand).

See you in class,

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

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.

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

There is lots of cues regarding the shoulders. Too often “shoulders down” is a quick fix cue thrown out there. Or, even, “don’t use your shoulders…”. But, what does it feel like to have your shoulders connected? Is it down? Is it back? How will it feel to simply focus on the shoulders throughout the whole mat workout? Well, take this week’s class and find out! I can tell you I can feel the effects after just one time doing this class. Enjoy your shoulder explorations!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL