Single Leg Tower with Push Thru Bar on the Cadillac

Single Leg Tower with Push Thru Bar on the Pilates Cadillac or Tower is a variation of Tower on the Cadillac. It’s a great tool to use in your Pilates practice to reveal and work on any imbalances you have. Many Pilates exercises are asymmetrical in the Pilates method. And there are several exercises that require you to be able to “reach” to up while standing on your shoulders. If you are hoping to deepen your connections and get stronger to do High Scissors, High Bicycle, Jackknife on the Mat, or, Overhead, Corkscrew, Long Spine Massage on your Reformer, then you’ll really want to work your Single Leg Tower.

Press up into the bar as you bend your leg and as you lower to the Mat.

-Lesley Logan

With the same set up as your Tower on the Cadillac, make sure your safety chain is on first before you add one spring from below. Ideally, you would have done Tower before doing Single Leg Tower. So, your head and chest should be already in position on the Cadillac about a hands distance from the edge. Both feet begin on the Push Thru Bar parallel and about a hip-distance apart. Your hands are on the bars slightly higher than your elbows. Feel your arms connected to your back. Before you take a leg off, be sure you are able to create length in your spine and stand on your shoulders with two legs.

With legs straight, take one foot off the Push Thru Bar. The foot will be pointed just on the other side of the bar. Then, using your center and your seat, press the bar up. You’ll stop pressing it up once your hips and lower back is off but sooner than the Push Thru Bar being along the vertical poles. The “free leg” will reach straight up while the bar leg bends and straights 3x. Then, reaching up in to the bar, you’ll roll down and switch legs. Repeat on the weaker side if needed.

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