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Leg Pull Back on the Mat

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  • January 6, 2019
Table of Contents
mat leg pull back online pilates classes
  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Equipment Needed: Mat (The mat shown in this video is the Contrology Folding Mat.)
  • Reps: 3 each side
  • Warning: Be mindful if you tend to lock your knees.
  • Questions: Contact us here

Leg Pull Back on the Mat

Some exercises are better in pairs and the Leg Pulls are one of those dynamic duos! This is the second half of the pairing on the Pilates Mat and requires more than you might think. First, if you tend to hyperextend your knees, give them a little softening and then press your heels into the mat more as you curl your tail towards your heels and lift your seat higher. You will be tempted to skip this bad boy for another exercise. But, the more you focus on what’s holding you up the stronger you’ll be on the Reformer and other places in the Pilates studio.

Soften your knees and elbows. Hold yourself up from your backside!

Typically you would go from being in the plank to magically being in your Leg Pull Front. Ok, so maybe it’s not magic but a few carefully choreographed movements. From your Leg Pull take one hand to the other hand then cross that same foot in front of the other. Stand on the hand you moved, press into your feet to lift your seat and then flip over! Land on both hands, adjust your feet and then reach your seat to your heels as you lift your hips up. Look straight ahead and feel whats touching the mat. Meet your mat and lift your hips.

Once you feel you are set up in your back and your seat, press into one leg lift the other one. Set it down and repeat on the other side. If you go to lift a leg but feel like your body couldn’t support you lifting a leg then keep both legs down and then talk yourself through the movement. Press into your right foot and imagine picking up your left leg. Then repeat on the other side. One day your seat will be strong enough for you to lift a leg and switch. When you are done kicking or thinking about kicking do not rest. Get ready for your Kneeling Side Kick!


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

BYE BYE TECH NECK

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Nobody likes to have a forward head posture but we all love our smartphones and have to use Tech! It can cause headaches, shoulder/neck pain and poor breathing patterns.

In these weeks' classes, we will bring the head back in line with the rest of the spine to uplift the posture and relax tension. We will feel as though a great weight has been lifted from our shoulders.

Props needed:
Mat: Magic Circle, Towel (hand towel or tea towel), Normal Chair
Reformer: 1 lb Arm Weight (one), Box, Pole, Non-slippery pad

Enjoy the classes,
Yasmin

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, Magic Circle, towel (hand towel or tea towel), normal chair and a mat!

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, 1 lb arm weight (one), box, pole, non-slippery pad and a reformer!

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


DEFYING GRAVITY

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Defying Gravity- kinda of how we do Pilates always! Our practice improves the more we understand that our entire body is working in every exercise. Nothing is over working or under working. In fact, the idea of using tensegrity in our workout can help us identify where we need to explore more strength and length.

This workout, inspired by Wicked and Cynthia Erivo is designed to help you see the power you have within you!

Prop on the Mat- a broom stick..pole..yard stick

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

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

Have you ever tried to stack your legs while doing Mermaid and immediately sank or even fell over a bit (or completely)? No, just me? Like, why is it so hard to stay upright??

We know all bodies are different and we celebrate it here at OPC! So, let’s get curious this month.

We’ll explore what happens when we intentionally create some space in our side waists in different exercises using different pieces of equipment and props. Since there are fewer exercises that focus on the side body we’ll use our curious concept in all the different body shapes we make: Flexion, extension, rotation, and side bending!

At the end of each workout, we’ll see how this curious concept of keeping space between the lowest rib and the top of the hip has prepared us to defy gravity and get into Mermaid a little more confidently.

Props needed:
Mat - Magic Circle for a few exercises
Reformer - Magic Circle
Tower/Cadillac - Reformer box or a stable chair that is about the height of the Tower or Cadillac mat!
Chair - A mat is optional

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

HIP HIP HOORAY

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

We will turn on the heat in your Hips and Thass® this month! When your hip flexors and/or lower back are feeling tight from stress, overwork or sitting too much, these classes can help! Yes, tension in the hip area needs stretch, but tight often means weak - so we will build strength and awareness in your entire lower body.

Enjoy freed and happy hips on Reformer, Wunda Chair, Mat and Tower/Cadillac!

Props needed:
Mat - Magic Circle
Reformer - ball, box & pole
Tower/Cadillac: no props (if you don´t have a bottom hook for Standing Leg Springs you can use a Theraband)
Wunda Chair - Yoga block (not required)

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

It's my bday week! I'm turning 42 and in my research to find a song or something epic around 42 I found quite a few things. In the intro's of class I explain some of them. But one I found was that Rainbows start at 42 degrees of the reflection. And something I love about Rainbows is they show us how possible it is to find the longest arc always. Rainbows don't sag anywhere.

Props needed:
Mat: Small hand weights (2-3lb) or soup cans or water bottles
Reformer: Sitting Box; Small hand weights (2-3lb) or soup cans or water bottles

See you in class,
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MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, small hand weights (2-3lb) or soup cans or water bottles and a mat!

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, sitting box; small hand weights (2-3lb) or soup cans or water bottles and a reformer!

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


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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

There's actually a lot of marching in Pilates if you think about it. Single Leg Stretch has us doing it lying down. You can also do it standing up. On your Wunda chair (don't worry not adding that in here) you've got several ways. So this week lets actually make sure the marching we are doing is from our center. This way we won't fall as we march!

Props needed: 
Mat: squishy  ball or pillow or block. Also can be done without a prop if needed
Reformer: n/a

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

MARCH ON

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

There's actually a lot of marching in Pilates if you think about it. Single Leg Stretch has us doing it lying down. You can also do it standing up. On your Wunda chair (don't worry not adding that in here) you've got several ways. So this week let's actually make sure the marching we are doing is from our center. This way we won't fall as we march!

Props needed:
Mat: Squishy ball or pillow or block. Also can be done without a prop if needed
Reformer: N/A

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, squishy ball or pillow or block 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.


BYE BYE TECH NECK

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Nobody likes to have a forward head posture but we all love our smartphones and have to use Tech! It can cause headaches, shoulder/neck pain and poor breathing patterns.

In these weeks' classes, we will bring the head back in line with the rest of the spine to uplift the posture and relax tension. We will feel as though a great weight has been lifted from our shoulders.

Props needed:
Reformer: 1 lb Arm Weight (one), Box, Pole, Non-slippery pad
Mat: Magic Circle, Towel (hand towel or tea towel), Normal Chair

See you in class,
Yasmin

DEFYING GRAVITY

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Defying Gravity - kinda of how we do Pilates always! Our practice improves the more we understand that our entire body is working in every exercise. Nothing is over working or under working. In fact, the idea of using tensegrity in our workout can help us identify where we need to explore more strength and length.

This workout, inspired by Wicked and Cynthia Erivo is designed to help you see the power you have within you!

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, barrel, blanket, a broom stick/pole/yard stick and a mat!

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, small ball and a reformer!

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


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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Have you felt the magic of Pilates? Pilates feels so different when we are not only moving joints but finding connections, and it’s magic ✨. In this class we will use the Magic Circle to find those magical connections and then practice finding the connections without our prop.

Magic Circle: If you don’t own a Magic Circle, grab a ball or pillow. Or a resistance band that you can tie to make a circle!

See you in class,
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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!

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

xx-LL