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

As we know they’ve done studies that show sitting is the new smoking. And, while you’re a Pilates rockstar who probably has a standing desk the challenge of going from sitting to standing without using your hands is tricky.

Now, before I continue I know that some of you have injuries that prevent you from going from standing to sitting and sitting to standing. Don’t worry. This class is still for you. You can skip those parts. We will be focusing mostly on the exercises in between.

On the Mat we will challenge your seat and play with getting your hips up without momentum. And on the Reformer we will play with the different series that help us open and close our hips!

After all we do Pilates not to be better at Pilates but to be stronger doing life.

xx~LL

This week we’ll be doing our Reformer exercises on the Mat and the Mat exercise on the Reformer. If you have never done Pilates on a Reformer, there may be some exercise that seem odd to you. And, if you are always choosing our Reformer classes instead of the Mat, you might want to skip this week. But, I really want you to feel how the entire Pilates method works together. How the Reformer can support you and the Mat can challenge you.

On the mat have a set of 1 lb. weights nearby (if you have them it’s not necessary). Reformer lovers you won’t need any extra props just pay attention to different spring settings and flows.

See you in class!

xx~LL

Love it or loathe it Teaser is going to continue to show up in your Pilates practice. And, while it is not the “peak” post of Pilates it sure is the most “known” exercise. In this week’s Mat class we will cover all the different ways to strengthen your practice and find the Teaser that is right for you. BTW, if you have a wall near by that you can put your feet on you’ll want to have it close by.

On the Reformer side of this practice we will focus on how all the exercises that pre-ceed and proceed the Teaser really help us do the Teaser. And, if you know that Teaser on the Reformer is not your jam don’t worry. You get to keep you move on with other suggestions I have up my sleeve for you.

Our ultimate goal this week is to to see what Teaser is telling us everyday we practice.

Be sure to share what Teaser told you in the class comments or class group!

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 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.

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

Have you ever heard that the exercises you don’t like you should do twice? Well, I say it all the time and then one day my teacher Jay Grimes heard me say how I don’t like an exercise and he told me to do it twice everyday!! Ha, a taste of my own medicine.

This week on the Mat we will find ways to fall in love with the Leg Pulls, you know the two exercises you love to forget exist. And, then over on our Reformer we will use our practice to prepare us for the Control Push ups! Don’t worry, if you know you don’t do these two exercises I give plenty of ideas to keep you flowing until you’re ready to take them on.

xx~LL

P.S. Bonus points for those who can count how many times I said the Control Push Ups name incorrectly! #perfectlyimperfect

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

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

One of my favorite parts of the HIIT classes I go to besides the Thai kicks (freaking love those) is when we Row! I see a lot of people do it so wrong. All in their upper necks and lower backs. But, when I get on the rower I feel my seat connect, my center work and like I could go for at least 5 seconds longer than the timer. And it’s all thanks to Pilates!

So, grab your 1 lb. or maybe even 2 lb. weights and join me for a week of Rowing! On the Mat we’ll bring the rowing exercises to our flow. And, on the Reformer we’ll row where we row and we’ll sneak some rowing into other places too!

Can’t wait to see you row!

xx~LL

After many requests for more Upstretch class and more down stretch class, this weeks class will focus on both reaches! On the Mat we will first find our Up and Down Reach (aka Stretch) and then thread that throughout the class. If you have a soft ball or cushion it’ll help in the beginning.

On our Reformer we will find these reaches in the beginning and then use them to challenge some of the exercises we don’t always get to do. If you have 1lb weights grab them just in case you decide to do the modification.

xx~LL

Ever realize how hard it is to just get started? Once we get going it’s so much easier. When I wake up, I wonder – should run that day? If I will have time (even though I wake up early enough to make sure I can run)… But, once I am running it’s easier to keep going. The same could be true for you and your Pilates practice.

Maybe you plan to take class several times this week but you find yourself putting it off until tomorrow. Or, the next day. Maybe later will be better. Even though you know you’re going to feel better once it’s over.

This week, I thought it could be fun to practice starting at the beginning. Focusing on the “start” position of each exercise and then flowing through. Maybe this will help us practice “getting going.”

Now, the only you have to do is login and press play and then we can begin!

xx~LL

I’ll never forget the day that I found out I was “showing off” in my Swan on the Mat, Reformer, Cadillac (pretty much anywhere). I was sooo deflated. I thought while my flexion may need some work, surely my extension was Pilates Olympic worthy, right? Nope, I was totally missing the good stuff from my Swans. So this weeks Mat and Reformer classes are going to explore all the levels of Swan and how to find Swan in exercises that are not so swanlike.

Swan life!

xx~LL