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

One thing I see in pics, videos or virtual sessions are the heels coming apart. And it does make a difference in making the exercises happen when the heels are together. The strength you gain from that hug is necessary when the heels are apart. This week, we will use the Magic Circle for some teachable moments. But you can hug a quarter to challenge yourself.

See you in class,

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

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

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

While some Pilates exercises seem to have specific breathing instructions many don’t. So, how do you know when to inhale and exhale? How can breathing actually make your exercise better?

Find out in this class when we dive into our mat and deepen our lungs.

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

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

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

Grab your Magic Circle for some of my favorite ways to use the Magic Circle! On the Mat, we’ll be using it every few exercises to wake up some more dormant muscles. You know those ones that like to rest while others work?! And, on the Reformer, we’ll use it to enhance a few exercises and teach some others.

No circle, no problem! You’ll just do the exercises like they were intended and use your imagination along the way.

Ready for some magic?

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

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

Ok, the title of this week’s class is pretty boring. But the workouts will be anything BUT! Because we are focusing on all the ways we circle in our Pilates practice. Where do they start from? Where do they stop? Is it always the same?

All you’ll need is you for 95% of these classes. But if you have a magic circle, we will use it just at the beginning of both the Mat and Reformer to remind ourselves where we circle from.

See your circles 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

One thing I see in pics, videos or virtual sessions are the heels coming apart. And it does make a difference in making the exercises happen when the heels are together. The strength you gain from that hug is necessary when the heels are apart. This week, we will use the Magic Circle for some teachable moments. But you can hug a quarter to challenge yourself.

See you in class,

xx-LL