1 Minute Pilates Workout on the Mat

1 Minute Pilates Workout on the Mat

Around the Clock is an old Pilates Mat exercise that I think is easy to forget exists. In fact, you might only ever see it on an actual clock at a Pilates studio. But, if you’re really busy and you feel like you don’t have enough time in your day for a full Pilates workout this one exercise done all the way around in a circle and then all the way back will have you feeling like you actually did a full Pilates workout. It’s as if Rolling Like a Ball, Double Leg Stretch, and Hundred had a Pilates exercise together.

Press your outer hips together, feel your glute hamstring connection.

Lay on your back in the center of your mat with you knees into your chest, your head and chest up, and your hands on your ankles. Hug your heels together and your toes can be apart because your knees will be apart. Push your shins into your hands and your hands into your shins. Pull with your arms from your back. Feel your upper abs connect but maintain the length in the spine. You want the longest flexion you can have and keep during the entire exercise whether your knees are in or out. You start with your head at 12 o’clock and your hips at 6 o’clock.

You can either lift your arms by your ears (newer version) or reach your arms by your side when doing this exercise I will describe it as if you are reaching your arms by your side as originally done. To begin stretch your legs to the high diagonal and your arms long by your side. Hold. Bend your knee in and replace your hands as you lift your hips and rock your body to the next “hour” on your clock. The repeat. Arms long by side legs out to the high diagonal and then bend your knees in and rock to the next hour. Repeat until you are all the way around the clock and then go back. There you go 1 min full body Pilates workout.

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