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

If you’re like me, you probably think of each exercise with a “start/stop” in mind. Meaning, I’m starting this exercise, and now I’m stopping that one and going to start the next one. Usually, it’s when the springs are closed.

But there aren’t springs on the mat! There’s no real marker, only yourself. And on the mat you might not want to be back in the “starting position,” especially because when you’re flowing some exercises finish as the next one is beginning.

Either way, there’s still a transition between them, which we’ll call the “finish.” So let’s focus on those; let’s focus on the finish! That is where the work really is.

xx-LL

The other day my client noticed it was amazing how she could keep her heels together. It’s a problem we’ve been focusing on for 4 years. She said, “Who knew it wasn’t a problem with my heels?” I laughed! Of course I knew, it’s why we’d been focusing on here seat and inner thighs. This week, let’s focus on how we can keep it all together by focusing less on what’s touching and more on how we make that happen.

xx-LL

It’s funny how we fall into our feet. Have you ever noticed how you stand? Do you stand more on one side of your foot or the other? I stand heavily into my heels. But, the more I focus on my whole foot the more my entire body gets stronger, more connected.

In this weeks Mat class we are going to focus on how our feet allow us to connect more to our entire body. Leg Pulls will feel soo good when you stand in your feet. Side Kicks will feel so stable when you connect to the outside of your foot!

And on the Reformer we will use the springs and our feet to share information to our entire practice! Ever wondered how the horseback flex and point actually makes the exercise more possible? Wonder no more!

Share your feet discoveries in this weeks class comments and in our group page.

xx~LL

Sometimes I don’t know what to do in my Pilates practice so I just do 1 of everything. Yep, you can learn a lot about yourself when you do just 1 rep of your workout.

This week on the mat we will start with a 1 rep drill. This will take less than 10 minutes and then we will have 20 minutes to go back through our mat to explore where we can connect more.

On the Reformer we will warm up and then do the best we can with all the exercises if we just do 1 freaking great rep! How well will you connect when you only get one chance to do it?

See ya in class!

xx~LL

March Matness is underway and I am using it as our theme for each week!

Today’s class uses the 6th exercise in the March Matness order: Single Leg Stretch to investigate what it is and how it prepares our bodies for the rest of our mat routine.

As always all levels are welcome!

See you on your Mat!

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

Ok guys, before you run away from this week’s theme, I do hope you give it a try. If you don’t know what Horseback is, you will be like, “why run?” I know that Horseback is an exercise people love to hate. But, just like Hip Circles, this is one of those exercises that we can use to reveal what we need to explore more of in our bodies and where we are rocking!

So, don’t run. Jump on the horse band wagon with me on the Mat and on the Reformer and let’s have a fun ride!

See ya in class,

xx~LL

I know for some going upside down seems like it will NEVER happen. And for others it’s like, “can we do that again!?”

This week’s class we start with several preps to help hoist you up. And while we do spend some time going upside down you’ll find that you can get a little help from other exercises.

If you think NO I CAN’T GO UPSIDE DOWN so you’re gonna skip this class….login, press play and do what you can. There’s a lot of ideas and options in here.

See ya in class and maybe even upside down!

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

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

This week we focus on the ending of the Mat and Reformer flows. I know, the endings can seem scary, freaking hard and maybe even out of your comfort zone. But, I think it’s important that we see the whole ending as one piece sometimes.

So, on your Mat and Reformer all you need is you but please listen up for exercises that I will offer up instead of the one we are doing just incase what we are doing is out of your practice level today.

See you at the end,

xx-LL

Ever have a teacher who asks you to, “Give them one more?” Well, if you haven’t you will this week. And, if you have then you may not be looking forward to this class but I promise I won’t ask for one more rep. Instead, I will be asking for one more inch.

Yes, an inch! Because I want more length from you. It’s so easy to do what you usually do or reach from your joints. In this week’s class, we will reach from different parts of our spine in every exercise.

Are you ready to feel taller?

xx-LL

Upon request from the OPC members only FB group a class with the 100 as the theme is back in action! It’s all new and full of ways to feel the 100 both in the 100, upside down, right side up and everywhere in between.

On the Mat get ready to pump where you usually don’t. Breathe a little deeper and exhale a little longer. Over on the Reformer you’ll be asked to find your 100’s curl in a whole lot of different places.

Yes, the 100 gets your blood pumping. But, it also helps you move through your entire Pilates practice!

Happy Hundred-ing,

xx~LL

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