Ok, I’m coming clean! I absolutely hate stretching post a run or workout with my trainer. I mean, I would rather do a full on mat workout after a run or training session than sit and stretch or roll. And while there are plenty of opinions on whether or not stretching even works. What I can say from experience is that using Pilates as my cross training has kept me injury free even when I was a competitive runner. So, this week’s class is taking the mat workout as a post-run/spin/elliptical or cross-training workout. How can we use the mat to open up what those workouts tighten up? How can we strengthen what those workouts overlook and how can we check in with where our body is that day?

I hope you enjoy this weeks mat 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

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

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

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

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

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.

Do you ever wonder how you are so strong on one side in one exercise and then in another exercise it switches? No, just me? Ha! I am pretty sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to being asymmetrical! So, this week we take on our sides! One side at a time that is.

On the mat we will play more with exercises that are play with asymmetry and then seeing how we can take what we learned and change up how we do our symmetrical exercises.

Then, over on the Reformer we play around with exercises where we take away one leg or one arm. Get ready to do Stomach Massage with one leg! It’ll be fun I promise.

Can’t wait to see a side of you!

xx~LL

P.S. Which side will you be doing twice next time?

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

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

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

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

Aloha! It’s our final sunset class here in Maui. We are about to have a nice stretchy class because we are going to get dressed up and have a Maui gala with hula dancers and amazing food (because who doesn’t want to have a gala?). So come, stretch with me and then we’ll go eat!

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!

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