30-Min. Mat Class with Mindi Westfall "Abracadabra"

I really think you can Up Stretch sooner than you think. And, I know my Mat-only lovers are wondering… Upstretch? What? Don’t worry, you know it! You do it in many forms on the Mat, but we call it Double Straight Leg Stretch or Jackknife. So, let’s get up in our Upstretch and we’ll explore how the Mat exercises truly do prepare you for some of the complicated Reformer exercises.

See you on the Upside

xx~LL

It’s a common cue in any Pilates class and exercise for a teacher to ask you to “find your length” or, reach in two directions. But, you are also supposed to keep everything connected at the same time.

In this week’s mat pilates class we will explore finding the length in our bodies but without letting it all hang out!

Can’t wait to hear how this feels for you!

See you on your mat!

xx-LL

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

Do you ever wonder how you are so strong on one side in one exercise and then in another exercise it switches? No, just me? Ha! I am pretty sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to being asymmetrical! So, this week we take on our sides! One side at a time that is.

On the mat we will play more with exercises that are play with asymmetry and then seeing how we can take what we learned and change up how we do our symmetrical exercises.

Then, over on the Reformer we play around with exercises where we take away one leg or one arm. Get ready to do Stomach Massage with one leg! It’ll be fun I promise.

Can’t wait to see a side of you!

xx~LL

P.S. Which side will you be doing twice next time?

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

An additional 4-call training series all about how to better your personal Pilates practice. We’ll do a quick 15 minute workout and then I’ll actually watch you do the exercises that you have questions about, and we’ll dig in together for the rest of the call.

See you on the call,

xx-LL

Footwork, let’s get into it! Way into it! It’s the first exercise in our Reformer for those of you on the mat but we’ll be adding it to our Mat this week. And, focusing on how each exercise helps us get the MOST out of our Footwork. So get ready to work those feet.

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

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

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

In this class, we are going to explore the feeling, the strength, and the position of our hands to see how our exercises change with a little extra focus. We’ll also play with ways to gain more strength and awareness in our hands to create connections to the exercises, to our arms, and to our backs. It’ll also help you open up that pickle jar!

Hello Pilatinis®! Take this online equipment workout with Rachel Piper for a 50 min Reformer on the Mat workout. This is one of our LEGACY CLASSES, so after the event, you will have access to the replay indefinitely!

It’s so easy to use your upper shoulders to do everything! To skip connecting to your shoulder girdle and just make an exercise look right.

When you are on the mat, it is so easy to let your shoulders lift your arms and upper body even though the exercise may be designed for your back. In this week’s class we are removing permission from your shoulders so you can work from a stronger source!

xx-LL

Breathing. Easier said than done. Have you ever noticed where you are breathing from? Maybe you’re breathing into your back like a Pilates pro… or maybe you’re trying but it’s getting stuck in your chest, neck, shoulders or face?

In this week’s classes it’s less about doing things “right” and more about how we can use our breathe to facilitate our movement.

Are you ready to breathe? Don’t worry, we’ll still be getting an awesome Pilates workout!

See ya in class,

xx-LL

March Matness is underway and I am using it as our theme for each week!

Today’s class uses the 6th exercise in the March Matness order: Single Leg Stretch to investigate what it is and how it prepares our bodies for the rest of our mat routine.

As always all levels are welcome!

See you on your Mat!

xx-LL