What’s the deal with leg pulls? You know those two exercises towards the end of the mat that we tend to skip? They look and feel like push-ups or reverse push-ups. But, they are so much more than meets the eye.

In fact, whenever I do them I feel way more going on in my body than I ever do with a push-up. This week, we will use our entire mat to prepare us for these two Pilates gems.

See you on your mat!

xx-LL

Somethings in life you can just “wing it.” But, in Pilates the set up is at least half the battle. And, while it’s important to move it’s also important to set yourself up for success. Even if you just hold it!

This week we will still get our move on but we will discuss the set up more in depth that usual. And, if you decide to hold it for the length of the exercise awesome or you can flow through until we set up the next one. This week the in between is your call and I’ll handle all the good stuff to get you anchored in place.

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

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

The SideKicks used to just include the Front and Back. But many of Joseph Pilates students have added a few variations to this. Why? Because the sidekicks are so important. Our side strength is what helps us do movements in multiple planes at once.

Think about how you move in life. When you are taking your groceries from the cart to your trunk you are lifting, twisting, bending and turning. Having strong obliques and glutes is key to stabilizing and agility. I mean, these muscles have to be able to do movements in both directions.

This week, we are taking the strength of our sidekicks through our mat work. Get ready to feel your hips in a whole new way!

See you on your mat,

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

Opening your front without closing your back!

This week’s class is a special request from one of YOU! While I don’t work hours in front of my computer I too am on my devices or working hours rounded forwarded working with a client.

In today’s day, it’s more common that we are rounding forward than sitting or standing tall. But, how do you open your chest without crunching your shoulders blades onto your back and causing your shoulders to rise into your ears?

This week’s class is going to take a tour through our regular mat order but with an open front and a wide back!

See you on your mat!

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

While not everyone has a set of hand weights laying around if you do grab them. If you don’t or you have a shoulder or neck injury skip the weights and join in for class anyway. Props are only a suggestion to help you feel something different in your mat practice.

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

Arlene here, and this is my studio Bodywork & Pilates right on the beach in Maui, Hawaii.

We’re about to have a really nice mat class because I’m going to demonstrate the traditional pushes and pulls that I learned from Jay Grimes. Everybody’s going to get a nice hands-on stretch as they do their exercises. So get ready!

Arlene

Elephant is one of the toughest exercises for me. The lift, the reach and against gravity! AHH! So, this week, let’s not only work on our Elephant on the Reformer but also all the places where the Elephant exists!

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

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

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