I don’t know about you but sometimes my lower abs just feel like they are on vacation. My legs LOVE to do ALL the WORK. This week’s class we are getting low! Every exercise we examine how we can get a little more work from the lower abs. And, while we do it get ready to feel those hamstrings and seat work.

xx-LL

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

How does 1 little extra lb change your entire practice? I am not talking about your scale! I am talking about your mat work! What happens to how you feel your practice when you take one lb and add it in to almost every exercise?

Find out this week in class! It’s fun! And, if you don’t have a 1lb you can try a theraband or go weightless and imagine what 1 lb feels like. The mind is a pretty powerful thing!

Can’t wait to hear how what new discoveries you had.

xx-LL

Hello, good morning! It is day 3 here on our retreat in Maui and I can’t believe it’s going by so fast – it’s so beautiful.

We’re just about to start class. We’re doing a whole thing with the footwork in the beginning and stretching the hamstrings and really getting into our seat and our stomach because a lot of us hiked yesterday.

I hope you enjoy it and I will see you next time!

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

Whether you have a Magic circle or not you can still find a little bit of Magic in your Pilates practice. It happens over time. It happens in big and small ways. It happens when we let the Pilates exercises work the way they were intended.

In this week’s class we will use the Magic circle (if you have one) a little bit but then we will take it away and see how you can use what you learned to make your Mat practice happen!

Each time you take this week’s class you will find a new bit of magic! So, try to take it more than once.

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

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

Spring has sprung and we can use the Theraband to feel like we’ve added springs to our Pilates mat work! If you don’t have a thera-band do not worry. You’ll still get a great workout. We will be exploring some of the Reformer exercises on our Mat and also what some Mat exercises would feel like with a little extra resistance.

See you on your mat!

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

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

When I wrote that title I was thinking of a line from a song from a band I can’t think of the name, but I can hear the tune in my head. I know, I’m weird. Anyway, I want us to play with our ball this week.

So, grab your squishy ball and let’s see how it can support us, challenge us and teach us.

And, for those you reading this and getting giggly, well…I think it’s kind of funny too!

See ya in class,

xx~LL

Whether you love or hate the Teaser it’s probably here to stay! And, with so many variations and ways to do it around the studio, it’s easy to think it’s our peak Pilates pose! While it’s not – and all exercises are created equal – it’s integral to your practice to squeeze all the stretch and strength out of it!

So, this week, we dive into many ways to Teaser!

Are you ready?

xx-LL

I know you’ve been so focused on your reach, connecting to your center, equal stretch and strength. But, how often are you thinking about your wrists?

This week on the Mat we’ll play with the thera-band and weights and how holding them affects our arm-to-back-to-center connection. And, on the Reformer we have lots to talk about!

See you in class,

xx~LL

You are either awaiting many guests and holiday events or on your way to a friend or family members home! And that means traffic, lots of planning and entertaining.

It’s enough work to wonder if you are truly going to have some rest time during the holidays. One thing I have learned in all the travel and family affairs is sometimes you just need to roll with it!

This week we will play with all the rolling exercises. Are you ready to roll?

xx-LL