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Transitions Between Exercises (Part 3) on the Mat

Home  »  Pilates Mat Exercises | Free Tutorials   »   Transitions Between Exercises (Part 3) on the Mat
  • August 14, 2020
Hip Circles on the Mat - Online Pilates Classes
  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Equipment Needed: Mat (I love using the Contrology Folding Mat.)
  • Reps: 1 of each
  • Warning: Listen to your body. When in doubt, leave it out.
  • Questions: Contact us here

Transitions Between Exercises (Part 3) on the Mat

This section of the Mat Pilates order is where you really want to bring your transition practice into place. Neck Pull is hard enough but if you take a break between it and High Scissors and Bicycle then those overhead exercises get twice as hard. I love the transition between High Bicycle and Shoulder Bridge. And then your challenge is to keep it all together when its not as smooth to transition from Side Kicks to Teaser and Hip Circles to Swimming. In this video, we cover Neck Pull, High Scissors/Bicycle, Shoulder Bridge, Spine Twist, Jackknife, Side Kicks, Teaser, Hip Circles, and Swimming.

Do as few movements as possible, move from the center and get into it!

From Neck Pull do a Roll Over and set yourself up for High Scissors. From High Scissors go right into High Bicycle and allow the reach of your leg to take your hips over your hands. After the reverse, reset your legs up to the ceiling and bend your knees reach over your hands to land into Shoulder Bridge. After Shoulder Bridge, do a Roll Up into Spine Twist. And the keep it all together to flip onto your side for Side Kicks. And then do the best you can to again keep it all together and land on your back to get on to your back to do Teaser.

Teaser has several variations and is one example of an exercise that needs you to keep everything together in between each rep because one rep leads to the next. And if you take a break especially between each rep in your Teaser 3 its going to be awful AND Teaser 4 aka Hip Circles will be even harder than anything in the entire repertoire. But, if you focus on your transitions then Hip Circles gets easier every time. From Hip Circles to Swimming you want to do as few movements as possible and get right into it!

FIND PART 1 HERE.
FIND PART 2 HERE.
FIND PART 4 HERE.

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, a 2nd generation certified Pilates teacher, breathwork, habits and mindset coach, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorials, where you can also find weekly Pilates classes and workshops. Teaching Pilates since 2008, she has run multiple studios, has trained hundreds of people to become teachers themselves and has taught thousands of students around the world. When not teaching from her studio in Las Vegas, Lesley she’s hosting her podcast Be It Till You See it or traveling the world leading Pilates retreats. 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.

FALL BETTER

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

My goal in teaching Pilates is to help you fall better! And, also so you can use a bathroom anywhere in the world. The truth is you're gonna trip. You are going to miss a step. But, we can train our body to respond to these instances and skip the fall altogether. Or, if we do fall land better!

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.

1, 2, BUCKLE MY SHOE

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Do you remember this nursery rhyme?

Well, by the time we do
buckle shoes - HIPS & REACHING
shut doors - ROTATIONS, PUSH & PULL
pick up sticks - STRENGTH & STRETCH,
lay ‘em straight - ALIGNMENT
… then start all over again - HA! We’re doing Pilates!
And that’ll be our focus as we apply this kids’ rhyme to our Mat and Reformer classes.

Please have a resistance loop. (A tied Theraband or leggings work great, too)

Extra points if you sing along!

See you in class,
Tami

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

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

In Pilates you’ll often find that exercises are grouped together or placed in a particular order so that we can move in opposite directions…and work opposing muscles. Think Roll Up & Roll Over on the Mat, the Rowing Series on the Reformer, Swan & Teaser on the Wunda Chair, or Push Through on the Cadillac/Tower. Let’s explore how those opposites help keep our muscles flexible while helping us get stronger.

Props needed:
Mat: dowel
Reformer: pole
Tower: None
Chair: Reformer Box (not absolutely necessary, can be done without), Mat, Wall for support and if applicable Yoga Block or 2 x 4 (for petite people and for building up some exercises

See ya in class,
xx-LL

BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE

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

“It’s showtime!”

We’ll do 3 reps of each exercise and then banish it from the rest of the workout…UNLESS one of your teachers shouts out “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” - if this happens, they might bring back one of the exercises you’ve already done!!! Let’s hope it’s one you love and not one you were hoping would stay banished!

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

STRETCH THE BODY'S TENDON

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

An exercise many are ready for but gets a little scary to do is the Tendon Stretch on the Reformer. Mat lovers I got you!! Its your Open Leg Rocker, Double Straight leg stretch and something special I've got for you!!!

No matter which class you take we are going to explore how we stretch from our heels to the crown of our head, our body's tendon! We'll also cover where to look in exercises

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.

WRISTS, HANDS, FINGERS, NOW WHAT?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

It’s so interesting how what we do with our fingers can make an exercise feel different! In this week’s workouts, we’ll play with the placement of our wrists hands and fingers to feel how the placement changes the connections we get to our upper back and ultimately or center.

Props: Pole

See you in class,
Megan

WRISTS, HANDS, FINGERS, NOW WHAT?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

It’s so interesting how what we do with our fingers can make an exercise feel different! In this week’s workouts, we’ll play with the placement of our wrists hands and fingers to feel how the placement changes the connections we get to our upper back and ultimately or center.

See you in class,
Megan

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

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

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

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

FALL BETTER

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

My goal in teaching Pilates is to help you fall better! And, also so you can use a bathroom anywhere in the world. The truth is you're gonna trip. You are going to miss a step. But, we can train our body to respond to these instances and skip the fall altogether. Or, if we do fall land better!

No props needed.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

SSSSNAKE & TWIST

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

On the reformer, there’s an exercise called Snake, and another exercise called Snake & Twist. We’ll build our connections throughout our practice to those 2 exercises. You’ll see how many exercises in your practice are already preparing you for those exercises, or maybe what’s missing that you need.

On the mat, we’ll build up to the Side Bend exercise, and add some variations that are like the Snake exercise on the reformer, or the Snake & Twist exercise on the reformer.

See you in class,
Christine

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, foam roller for one exercise variation, so if you don’t have a foam roller, no worries. Repeat the Side Bend exercise, or any variation, or any exercise we’ve already practiced 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.

STRETCH THE BODY'S TENDON

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

An exercise many are ready for but gets a little scary to do is the Tendon Stretch on the Reformer. Mat lovers I got you!! Its your Open Leg Rocker, Double Straight leg stretch and something special I've got for you!!!

No matter which class you take we are going to explore how we stretch from our heels to the crown of our head, our body's tendon! We'll also cover where to look in exercises

No props needed.

See you in class,
xx-LL

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