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

It’s that time of year! The holidays are here. Crazy schedules, lots of food, parties candy! This is the time when your Pilates mat practice counts the most!

This week, we will go a little out of order, and make our way to our fabulous hundred. Like it or love it the Hundred ahem the Holidays are here!

And this week I hope you find more than a few times to hit the mat. I know I will!

xx-LL

In my personal Pilates practice, I’ve been noticing that while I can connect to my second seat quite well. I have been leaving my lower core hanging out! It’s so funny how our bodies like to “forget” something we already worked on ages ago. But, needless to say, I’ve been cheating a bit.

So, this past week I have been focusing on containing myself (which is quite opposite for how I like to live my life). In this week’s Pilates mat class we will focus on containing our core and what that means especially for when we are facing gravity.

Are you ready for your 30 min core containment? Register here for this week’s class.

See you on your Mat!

xx-LL

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

Aloha, Arlene here! This is my studio Bodywork & Pilates in Maui, Hawaii. We’re to have an amazing mat class so I’m glad you can join us!

I’m going to go over getting more length in your spine and pulling in your abs. I’m going to be throwing in some extra teasers in there.

Arlene

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 easy to think that some exercises will never be in your Pilates practice. When you hear their names you deflate, or say “can’t do that” or maybe you just stop moving. In this week’s class, I want you to try and have a mini moment with some of the most avoided or more “advanced” exercises.

Don’t worry, there will be options to go on a Pilates date with him the ones we are doing are truly out of your wheelhouse. But, if you’re without injury I hope you try them out. It’s just a fling after all.

All you need is your imagination and a little extra curiosity!

See you in class!

xx~LL

It’s easy to think Pilates is about the abs. I mean, when we talk about the center, that’s what we think. But, all of the exercises require us to connect to our back too! The center is the muscles around your pelvis, shoulder girdle and everything in between. In this week’s classes, we will think about what we are doing to support, connect and strengthen our back! 

On the Reformer you’ll fill the springs, handles, carriage and more, help you wake up, stretch and strengthen your back. On the Mat we will use the wall to help us understand where we are in a spine that day, as well as stretch and strengthen your back. And, especially while many of us celebrate the holidays, access to a wall is everywhere. 

See you 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

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

The midline is an often underused area of our bodies. It’s easy to think you are squeezing your inner thighs only to find out when you get to the shoulder bridge that your knees roll out and you’re not engaging your inner thighs at all!

This week LL focuses on finding that inner thigh connection with or without a prop. She uses a magic circle. You can use one if you have one or a squishy ball or yoga block will work as well. If you don’t have any props you won’t need them. Your imagination and attention to detail will wake up your inner thighs as well.

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

The Boomerang! Not just any mat exercise. But, almost every mat exercise!

I used to just say Boomerang was a rolling Teaser. But, as I made this class the truth is it’s more than that. It’s the rollover, it’s the seal, it’s the double leg kick arms, it’s inner thighs of spine twist and so many more.

Boomerang is often skipped in a mat class because it has so many moving parts, so this week’s class gives it the spotlight it truly deserves… Have fun thinking about the Boomerang for a full 30 min!

See you on your mat,

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

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

When I’m needing a little movement or I’m in a tight space I can always find room to Roll up, over and like a ball! And, sometimes I wonder how my day would be different if I did these in bed before I got up.

Yep, these are the things I think about!

So, this week in our Mat class we will focus on these 3 exercises. How to do them better, even how to do them when you can’t do them and how they prepare us for soooo much more in our Pilates practice!

In our Reformer class, we will add these into our Reformer practice and see where else they show up!

I know these exercises are not our favorites but they are sooo essential. So, let’s get them done!

xx~LL