Whether you are doing Pilates, weight training, yoga or cardio it’s super easy to focus on the front side of the body and to not think about or connect to your back side. So, this week’s class “hello, from the other side” (yes, you can belt it like Adele) is all about what the back side of our body is doing.

On the Mat, if you have a Magic Circle we will kick class off with a mini warm up to connect to our seat. You can use your imagination or even a ball. Something you can press into.

On the Reformer we will not need anything extra but feel free to have some 1 or 2 lb. weights nearby if you want to skip the heavier springs.

See ya in class,

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

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

Happiest new year! It’s the first week of 2019 and it’s that resolution time. But, instead of this being about how many times you’ll commit to doing your Pilates. What if instead we used this class as a marker and a goal setter? What if as the class goes on you see just how far you can go and make a note of where you want to get in your practice?

For example: what if you find your roll up rocks but your neck pull has some work todo? This class will help reveal where you rock and where you want to rock a little bit more!

I’ll be layering exercises to help you build from one to the next so you can make some exercise goals!

xx-LL

P.S. Afterwards I would love to hear what your exercise goals are!

It’s easy to Tricep press your way through Shave on the Reformer. But, Shave is an integral exercise for so much of what we do in our Pilates practice! On the Reformer we’ll explore all the ways you can shave. And on the Mat we’ll bring our rowing in with some 1lb or 2lb weights and how the connecting your arms to your back increases your full body connection.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

What if we didn’t start with the Hundred? What if we started with Pushups? Would that make Teaser easier? Harder?

This week let’s flip class around to see the magic behind the madness of Pilates! It may just answer most of your Mat related questions.

See you on the mat!

xx-LL

Joseph Pilates created the Mat work first, then saw how hard it was for people (I mean, you know) and designed the Reformer. In this week’s mat class we’ll take some of the exercises from last week and continue to add on! If you’ve never been on a Reformer don’t worry. The Reformer exercises were born from the Mat so you’ll recognize a lot of the spine shapes.

See you on your Reforming mat,

xx-LL

What’s this exercise for? Single Leg Kick is probably THE exercise that I get questions on!

Luckily for us, this is the 13th exercise in our order. This week feel something new in the Single Leg Kick and how it really sets you up for exercises that would otherwise be so hard to do without the wonderful strength the Single Leg Kick gives us!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

In life, balance is essential. And, not just so you can balance on one leg to do Tree Pose in Yoga or some other one-legged standing pose in Pilates or fitness. Actually, in your day to day life you have to stand on one leg to put on your pants, get into your car or kick a bag!

We feel how every exercise helps ready us for the Kneeling Side Kicks. You’ll feel stronger when class is over!

xx-LL

Behind our backs no one wants anyone talking about them behind their back, but the good news about this week’s class is we are about to make your back body that much stronger! We’ll be talking length, strength, where that extension is and where it isn’t. So get ready for more Swan, Single Leg Kick, Grasshopper and more!

If you have a Magic Circle or ball handy, grab it for the very beginning connections. If you don’t have one, something you can press into will be fine.

See your back in class,

xx-LL

In our mat work we pay a lot of attention to flexion and extension. And, we often forget the side work. Sure, the twists do touch our sides and there is the amazing side kicks. But, how can we use all the other exercises to really rock our side bodies and strengthen us from side to side as much as head to toe?

Find out this week when we meet up for a side body adventure on our mats!

xx-LL

If you’re not familiar with the full Pilates studio apparatus, you might be thinking, “What is a barrel?” Well, don’t worry! You don’t need to run out and get this just yet. Although, after this week’s classes, you may want one for yourself.

I’m obsessed with the Spine Corrector, we have a whole play list on it at OPC and there are several exercises we can apply to our Mat and Reformer classes. This week, if you have foam roller or yoga bolster, squishy ball or block (that would be the least enjoyable one), bring them to class and we will kick off class with a yummy series and see how it sets us up for our entire flow!

See you in class,

xx~LL

It’s soo easy to feel like your legs just hang off your hip flexors, pull on your back and make you feel like you’re two halves instead of a whole. So, in this weeks Mat and Reformer classes we are going to explore where are legs are moving from and how that helps us in each of our exercises. I’m bringing in some of the subscriber favorites like one leg teaser and one leg stomach massage.

See you in class!

xx~LL

Rolling exercises look so easy – and then you do them! And, the trickiest part about them is how easy it is to do them wrong. Yep, you can roll and get back up and be cheating your whole way through.

In this weeks Mat class we’ll use the Magic circle to help us Roll like a pro. And on the Reformer we will focus on how practicing our Rolling exercises allows us to do things like Shortspine, Knee Stretches and even Corkscrew.

Share your love or discoveries in the class comments or in our private member group!

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