- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Equipment Needed: Ladder Barrel (I love using the Balanced Body Ladder Barrel.)
- Reps: 3-5
- Warning: May not be suitable for some low back or hip issues.
- Questions: Contact us here
Leg Stretches Front 3 on the Ladder Barrel
Pilates Ladder Barrel Stretches Front is more than meets the eye for your Pilates practice. It’s tempting to see them and think “hamstring stretch.” But they are an incredible strengthener of your standing leg and a challenge for your flexion and extension in your spine. If you’re nailing the Stretches Front Hip Stretch and Straight Leg Stretch then it’s time to challenge your center and your connections to it with the slide front to back. This 3rd part will take some time to figure out how to explore it from your center and not from. your hip or using your arms to help you forward and back. But as you work the standing leg and your center the more strength and connections you get! And that will impact your entire Pilates practice.
It’s less about doing the splits & more about strength in standing leg!
From your Stretches Front part 2 lift your center nice and tall. Double check you’re still reaching down through your leg and that your hips are still squared off. Arms long behind the ladder and shoulders wide. It’s tempting to use your hands to pull you back or forth. And you might in the beginning just to figure out the feeling. If you’re wearing shorts or sticky-ish pants you may want to place a towel under your calf to assist in the sliding.
Reaching down through your standing leg and up through the crown of your head as you slide your center and leg on the barrel forward. Without hanging out in your lower back lift tall and pull your center and your top leg back to start. Repeat 2-3x.
If going well transition into part 4 the Up and Down. If you’re using your hands to assist transition into Stretches Side or if skipping the other Stretches sweep the top leg across the midline and switch sides.
Be sure to check out more of my Pilates Ladder Barrel exercises. I want to help you continue your Pilates Ladder Barrel training!