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

If you’re like me, you probably think of each exercise with a “start/stop” in mind. Meaning, I’m starting this exercise, and now I’m stopping that one and going to start the next one. Usually, it’s when the springs are closed.

But there aren’t springs on the mat! There’s no real marker, only yourself. And on the mat you might not want to be back in the “starting position,” especially because when you’re flowing some exercises finish as the next one is beginning.

Either way, there’s still a transition between them, which we’ll call the “finish.” So let’s focus on those; let’s focus on the finish! That is where the work really is.

xx-LL

Are you ready for a little magic? I know I am! It has been HOT here and so motivating to workout is not the easiest thing. But, thankfully, the mat can be done in 30 min or less. And this week’s class is no different!

This week, I’ve brought in the Magic Circle. But, you don’t have to have one to still get your Pilates and sweat on! If you have a ball or block grab it and if you have none then I’ve got some tips for you too.

Hope you enjoy it and I’ll see you next week where we see just what we can do when we “pull” a little more!

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!

Don’t worry we won’t do a 100 hundreds… but what if we did enough thinking and loving of the 100s for a week that maybe we didn’t go “ugh the 100” most of the time? What if we did it enough that we could see the beauty in the 100?

This week, whether you are on the Mat or the Reformer, all ya need is you, your breath and a tiny bit of love for the 100.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

It’s easy to think that Rolling like a ball is just a back massage. Or that Seal is weird – and don’t even try open leg rocker. But…. there is so much good stuff happening in these rolling exercises. And even if you think your tailbone will hate it, trust me, if you’re doing it right you will not be perching on your coccyx.

Grab a mat (and if you are sensitive maybe another one or a small folded blanket) and get ready to feel the full body strength of all the rolling exercises. Understanding Pilates rolling exercises will change your entire Pilates practice. Are you ready?

xx-LL

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

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

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

The Seal! Typically considered a harder version of Rolling Like a Ball. But, is it? Or, is it a time for you to shine?

I know for me the first time I did the seal I thought it was a funny exercise. I wondered why we even did it. And, then my teacher Jay Grimes reminded me that its a time to show off. To show that you can clap your legs in and out while maintaining balance. And not just at the top of the Seal but at the upside down part too!

Are you ready to let your Seal shine? Let’s Seal it Off together this week!

xx-LL

Hey hey, it’s time to spend a little more time thinking about our sides. We always do the side kicks and twists. But, this week we are going to have some fun with side rolling, side bend, and more side ways to move! My goal is that the stronger your sides are the easier it is for you to find your lift! You’ll be taller and stronger after this class. No reminder needed to have good posture!

On the Reformer we’ll be adding in some more Side lying or side working exercises. As always I’ll give you some options to replace what I am doing if you’re not ready for it.

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

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

The results are in, Sitting is the New Smoking. But, if you are going to sit – which lets face it we all will – then it’s important to know that you can sit and stand with strength and control. And your Pilates practice will get you there!

This week on our Mat we will see how well we lower down, use our practice to help us roll back up and see how well we stand because of Pilates. And on the Reformer we’ll use all the exercises to help us lift ourselves up, lower ourselves down and everything in between.

See ya 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