Kneeling Chest Expansion on the Cadillac

Kneeling Chest Expansion on the Cadillac

Chest Expansion on the Pilates Cadillac or Tower is just one of many places where you can find Chest Expansion in Pilates. It’s also one of the first places you should learn this exercise. The combination of a stable platform and your kneeling vs standing make it an excellent teaching exercise. Chest Expansion not only opens your chest and stretches your neck but it will also help you connect to your back, challenge what you learned in Breathing on the Cadillac and strengthen your connection to your center as you close the springs. After this exercise, you can try out the Thigh Stretch.

Press the bar down towards your thighs as your lift your heart up.

Kneeling on the Cadillac facing your Roll Back Bar, reach your arms out straight from your back to measure your starting distance. Your fingers will touch the vertical poles while your arms are connected to your back. If your arms are disconnected from your back, you will be too far away and the exercise will become more challenging. Your knees and feet will be hip distance apart. Press your feet and shins into the mat while you lift your center up. Even though your legs are apart feel as if you can hug them together. Making this a leg exercise allows you to connect and move the bar more easily from your back.

Press the bar down towards your thighs as you lift your heart up. Look to one side, then the other, back to center and lift the bar back up. Be mindful that your body’s initial reaction will be to lean back in opposition to the bar. Stay shoulders over hips over knees. Repeat and look to the opposite side first then the other way and back to center. This is considered one set. Repeat so you do 2-3 sets. As you close the spring challenge yourself to maintain the connection to your center that you found when the spring was open.

Be sure to check out more of my Pilates Cadillac exercises. I want to help you continue your Pilates Cadillac training!