- Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
- Equipment Needed: Guillotine
- Reps: 3-5 each side
- Warning: Not ideal for some neck or shoulder issues.
- Questions: Contact us here
Side Arm Press Down with the Guillotine
Pilates is designed to balance your imbalances! Side Arm Press Down on the Guillotine is one of the places where you can balance imbalances in your arm-back connection. In Pilates, we have many exercises where arms are reaching wide to the side. Ideally, from the upper back. Using the Guillotine to explore the Side Arm Press Down will allow you to strengthen connections on the side that needs them the most. As always with asymmetrical Pilates exercises, work the side that needs it most. Then the other side and go back to the first side. Also fun is to use the Chest Expansion and Reverse arms to work your front, back and sides.
Lifting the bar up is as important as pushing the bar down.
Standing on the mat an arms distance away from the bar (springs from above). Standing with heels together and toes apart. Hugging legs together, center and chest lifted. Shoulders wide on back. Bar arm is reaching straight from upper back, palm evenly pressing into the center of the bar. Outside arm pressing long by side. Gaze ahead.
Press the bar down from your upper back while lifting tall. Continue to press into the bar as you lift the bar back up. Repeat 3-5x and then turn around and repeat on the other side. If needed repeat on the side that needs more attention.
Be sure to check out more of my Guillotine workout videos. I want to help you continue your Guillotine training!