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

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

I know it’s not just me. But, have you ever noticed how many exercises start with “single leg” and if they don’t how many exercises are one sided. It’s a lot!

And, why is that? Why so much emphasis on doing asymmetrical work? Well, as you know, we don’t do Pilates to do Pilates better. We do it to do life better! And so much of life is one-sided!

So, let’s rock what we got!

On our Mat and Reformer, we will explore more of the asymmetrical exercises and then challenge what we’ve learned by doing exercises that are symmetrical. You may have to work a bit more through one side!

See ya in class,

xx~LL

Have you ever thought of your Mat as a piece of equipment? If not, after this week’s class, I hope you do! Because it truly is. And, if you’re a Reformer lover, I know you think of your Reformer as a piece of equipment. But, do you truly connect to the carriage, handles, foot bar and springs?

This week we are going to explore how we are connecting to our equipment in each exercise. Are we pushing it off of us, or away from us? Or, are we using it to support us?

See ya in class,

xx~LL

Hey there, you’re a Rock Star, let’s put some attention and focus on our open leg rocker this week. If you have some light weights, we will use them for a few exercises on the Mat. On the Reformer, we’ll enjoy how so much of our Reformer practice is helping your open leg rocker!

See you in class,

xx-LL

Open Leg Rocker and Rowing are some favs amongst OPC members. Sorry not sorry if they are not a fav of yours, haha (join the FB group and share your favs to inspire future classes). I thought it would be fun to explore how these two exercises fuel each other.

On the Mat please have a set of 1 or 2 lb. weights nearby or bring an awesome imagination. For the Reformer, make sure you review the Open Leg Rocker on the Mat before hitting play on this weeks class. You’ll want to have it in your Pilates mind’s eye.

See ya 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

Ok guys, before you run away from this week’s theme, I do hope you give it a try. If you don’t know what Horseback is, you will be like, “why run?” I know that Horseback is an exercise people love to hate. But, just like Hip Circles, this is one of those exercises that we can use to reveal what we need to explore more of in our bodies and where we are rocking!

So, don’t run. Jump on the horse band wagon with me on the Mat and on the Reformer and let’s have a fun ride!

See ya in class,

xx~LL

Chest Expansion is like Swan in Pilates – it is EVERYWHERE! You may not be familiar with Chest Expansion if you just started Pilates or if you’ve only ever done the Mat exercises. But, it’s a great exercise to understand if you’re wanting to do some of the more intermediate and advanced exercises.

So, this week, grab a thera band (or a set of leggings or a belt could even work). We’ll be using it throughout our Mat practice. If you don’t have one, it’s ok you’ll use your imagination.

On the Reformer we will use Chest Expansion sooner than normal and in different ways to help us connect to our back and see how that can help us deepen our practice. 

Are you ready to see how many places Chest Expansion can show up? 

See you in class,

xx-LL

Too often we skip Control Balance at the end of our practice. Sometimes we run out of time, other times we think we are not ready for it. But, you may be ready sooner than you think! And, sometimes it’s just a matter of learning how to be upside down, stand on your shoulders and breathe!

This week let’s take the oath to Control balance! It’s a little road less traveled but the feels are worth it!

xx-LL

Ok, truth is that hip circles are just plain hard! And, even when you are strong enough they are hard. I’m not sure the day will come for me or for you where we go “Yeah!!! Hip Circles!” But, I do believe that we can “get” them.

So, in this week’s class it’s time to take some time thinking about where the circles come from and why we do them!

xx-LL

This week’s class is inspired by every person who has rocked back and not rocked right back up. It happens. It seems like such an easy exercise when you rock back and it’s almost shocking you can’t rock back up right? But, the truth is this rolling exercise is more than rocking back and forth. There are some key things you can do in the exercise to make it happen. And, there are pieces throughout the mat work that help teach your body how to rock back and right back up.

This week let’s roll that open leg rocker!

See you on your mat,

xx-LL

It’s time to switch things up again! I saw in the FB group that people wanted another “freaky Friday” where we do the Mat on the Reformer and the Reformer on the Mat. Sooo it’s happening!

Grab 1 or 2 lb. weights for the Mat work if you have them. If not I’ve had clients on zoom using cold beers and cans of Garbanzo beans. Get creative!

On the Reformer just be ready for a weird flow!

It’s time to switch things up.

See ya in class,

xx-LL

Joseph Pilates created the Mat work first, then saw how hard it was for people (I mean, you know) and designed the Reformer. In this week’s mat class we’ll take some of the exercises from last week and continue to add on! If you’ve never been on a Reformer don’t worry. The Reformer exercises were born from the Mat so you’ll recognize a lot of the spine shapes.

See you on your Reforming mat,

xx-LL

A wall is an excellent source of feedback. It’s the prop we all have handy and it can help us dive deeper into our own practice. In this weeks Mat class we use the wall to give us information and to support us in much of our practice. On the Reformer we use the idea of the “wall” as our carriage. How can our legs use the wall? Our feet use the floor?

Get ready to use your imagination!!

xx~LL