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Chest Expansion with the Light Weights

Home  »  Pilates Light Weights Exercises | Free Tutorials   »   Chest Expansion with the Light Weights
  • May 6, 2025
http://Coming Soon!
chest expansions with the light weights online pilates classes
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Equipment Needed: 1 or 2 lb. weights (The weights shown in this video is the Balanced Body Handweights.)
  • Reps: 2-3
  • Warning: Not ideal for some shoulder or neck issues.
  • Questions: Contact us here

Chest Expansion with the Light Weights

Using the Light Weights to give yourself another opportunity to expand your chest is useful when you don’t have access to your Pilates equipment. While the weights don’t have a resistance like the springs offer they still provide a tactile way work your arms from your back and past your hips. A strength we need to use whenever our arms are behind your back. Add this into your Mat workout at the end or a travel workout.

Work the shoulders wide!

Standing tall with heels together and toes slightly apart. Arms long by sides with one weight in each hand (1-2 lbs). Shoulders over hips, hips over heels and gaze ahead. Hug legs together.

With wide shoulders, work your arms back past your hips. Maintaining your shoulders working back without pinching up gaze to the right. Then turn and gaze to the left. Gaze ahead and reach arms slightly in front of your hips. Repeat. Reach arms back and look left, then look right and then forward.

Be sure to check out more of my Light Weights workout videos. I want to help you continue your Light Weights training!

By lesley.logan

Lesley Logan, NCPT, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorial videos, where you can also find weekly online mat classes and workshops. When not teaching from her studio in Los Angeles, Lesley can be found traveling the world leading Pilates retreats, or offering Pilates business coaching to studio owners and other instructors through her private mastermind group. Connect with Lesley on instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site.

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Rachel Piper

Take class whenever, from wherever, on whatever device – as many times as you’d like. Spending 15 minutes deciding what class to take? Here there’s only one on-demand class each week. But, don’t miss it or it’s gone!

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Tami-Adrian George

Take class whenever, from wherever, on whatever device – as many times as you’d like. Spending 15 minutes deciding what class to take? Here there’s only one on-demand class each week. But, don’t miss it or it’s gone!

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Mindi Westfall

Take class whenever, from wherever, on whatever device – as many times as you’d like. Spending 15 minutes deciding what class to take? Here there’s only one on-demand class each week. But, don’t miss it or it’s gone!

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Megan Lauman

Take class whenever, from wherever, on whatever device – as many times as you’d like. Spending 15 minutes deciding what class to take? Here there’s only one on-demand class each week. But, don’t miss it or it’s gone!

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Lesley Logan

Take class whenever, from wherever, on whatever device – as many times as you’d like. Spending 15 minutes deciding what class to take? Here there’s only one on-demand class each week. But, don’t miss it or it’s gone!

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Christine Kam-Lynch

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SUCH A TEASE

ONLINE MAT & REFORMER PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Teaser is probably one of the most photographed exercises in Pilates. Which makes people think it's a "peak pose." But, it's anything but! It's simply another layer to your Pilates practice. This week we will acknowledge how each exercise contributes to your ability to do Teaser (someday) and then how Teaser teaches you where to get curious in your practice.

On the Mat we will use light weights for one round of Teaser as they can be helpful for those still adding into their practice.
No props on the Reformer.

See you in class,

xx~LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, light weights and a Mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a Reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

HAPPY FEET

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

During our lives, our feet carry us up to 100.000 miles (160.000 km)! I would say "Great job!". Unfortunately, we often don´t give them the attention they deserve. Joe Pilates saw the importance of foot strength and mobility and invented special appartuses and exercises like for example Foot Corrector and Footwork.

In this weeks classes on Mat and Reformer we are going to focus on integrating our feet in our routines. With strong feet that are mobile and stabilizing we gain a healthy posture, a better circulation and good connection to our Thass! Lets get started.

See you in class,
Yasmin

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, firm small ball (for example tennis ball), small towel and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, Magic Circle, 2 Yoga blocks (both not absolutely ncecessary!) and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Wondering when to breathe in an exercise? If you're new to Pilates I don't love to overwhelm you with instructions on how to do an exercise, what to focus on AND when to breathe. So, if you're brand new please don't let the breath cues overwhelm you. Please just keep breathing. If you've been doing Pilates for a while, this week focus on your breath. Does it help you get more out of an exercise?

Also, if possible, breathe in and out through your nose.

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

BUILD IT UP

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

We are extra excited for this month’s theme: Build It Up! It’s the perfect theme to meet you where you are in your practice.

We’ll start each exercise by doing a few reps of a basic version of the exercise, then we’ll gradually build into the full expression by adding more pieces. We are giving you options to work on any version you feel confident with, so you can find the best version for your body this month. How cool is that?

Props needed:
Mat: No props needed
Reformer: Reformer box and pole
Tower: No props needed
Chair: Reformer box, foam roller is optional

See ya in class,
xx-LL ????

RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Online Mat, Reformer, Cadillac & Wunda Chair Pilates Class Descriptions:

Feeling strong enough to run up a hill is a great feeling…whether you have any intention of ever doing that or not! But it’s not just the legs that have to be strong for hill climbing. This month we’ll focus on how our core and upper body help our legs to power through any challenge!

Props needed:
Mat: Pole
Reformer: Weight & Ball
Tower/Cadillac: No props
Wunda Chair: Non-slipping pad, 1 yoga block, Mat (not necessary if the Wunda Chair stands on a carpet)

See ya in class,
xx-LL ????

TREE HUGGERS UNITE

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Tree & Hug a Tree are 2 of my favorite Pilates exercises! They both have fun variations, promote amazing posture, and help us feel more powerful every time we do them. Let’s increase our connections to these 2 faves!

You’ll need a Magic Circle. A ball or a pillow can be used as a substitute

See you in class,
Tami

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, Magic Circle and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, Magic Circle and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

TWIST AND SHOUT-LIFT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

When we get to twist in Pilates it's important to anchor the opposite side so that we can actually twist! Exercises like Saw, Spine Twist and Stomach Massage Twist - it's easy for a hip to go forward as you twist. This causes you to turn.

In Corkscrew and Single Leg Circles, it's easy to let the ribs or shoulders go with the legs which is less a turn and closer to a roll over on your side.

This week, we'll focus on the anchors and how to use them to get more out of the twist. And, when possible, think about where to lift in a twist so you're truly wringing yourself out. After all, Pilates is an internal shower - words from the Joe Pilates.

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

TWIST AND SHOUT-LIFT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

When we get to twist in Pilates it's important to anchor the opposite side so that we can actually twist! Exercises like Saw, Spine Twist and Stomach Massage Twist - it's easy for a hip to go forward as you twist. This causes you to turn.

In Corkscrew and Single Leg Circles, it's easy to let the ribs or shoulders go with the legs which is less a turn and closer to a roll over on your side.

This week we'll focus on the anchors and how to use them to get more out of the twist. And, when possible, think about where to lift in a twist so you're truly wringing yourself out. After all, Pilates is an internal shower - words from the Joe Pilates.

See ya in class,
xx-LL ????

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

AROUND THE WORLD

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We are going to have a little fun with how we flow through our workout using a movement style referred to as “around the world”. We’ll stay as true as possible to the original order while we take an exercise from the center-side-back-side or side-center-side and each time we do that we’ll have traveled around the world. Have fun and see if you can challenge your stamina to go “around the world” as many time as I teach. It’s going to be ambitious but super fun!

Mat: No props
Reformer: Box and Rod

See you in class,
Megan

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Wondering when to breathe in an exercise? If you're new to Pilates I don't love to overwhelm you with instructions on how to do an exercise, what to focus on AND when to breathe. So, if you're brand new please don't let the breath cues overwhelm you. Please just keep breathing. If you've been doing Pilates for a while, this week focus on your breath. Does it help you get more out of an exercise?

Also, if possible, breathe in and out through your nose.

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a mat!

>> Wondering what mat I’m using? You can find out more here.

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self and a reformer!

>> Wondering what reformer I’m using? You can find out more here.

TREE HUGGERS UNITE

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Tree & Hug a Tree are 2 of my favorite Pilates exercises! They both have fun variations, promote amazing posture, and help us feel more powerful every time we do them. Let’s increase our connections to these 2 faves!

You’ll need a Magic Circle. A ball or a pillow can be used as a substitute.

See you in class,
Tami

UP, UP, & AWAY

ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

We are all going to feel like Super Humans after this month!!

Whenever I’m in a hard exercise (for me) where I’m holding myself up with my arms and reaching my legs away I picture myself with super human strength!!! I can do ANYTHING! It makes me smile and helps me stay STRONG.

This month our exercise is Up Stretch and when you think about it - reaching your legs away and staying strong over the carriage may feel a lot like flying!

We’ll be focusing on stabilizing our strong cores while staying equally balanced in our arms and legs. We are giving you some amazing building blocks by merging strength and stretch in all directions. You are going to get a little bit of everything that you can use to connect to your Up Stretch (and even your Roll Up and Knee Stretches Off).

Chair: Please have a foam roller and a balance pad available. We are going to challenge your balance safely.

xx-LL