40 Days for $40 Let’s Get Started!

Knee Stretches: Single Leg Knees Off on the Reformer

Home  »  Pilates Reformer Exercises | Free Tutorials   »   Knee Stretches: Single Leg Knees Off on the Reformer
  • August 2, 2021
Knee Stretches Single Leg Knees Off on the Reformer - Online Pilates Classes
  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Equipment Needed: Reformer (I love using the Contrology Reformer.)
  • Reps: 3-5 each side
  • Warning: Not ideal for some knee or back issues.
  • Questions: Contact us here

Knee Stretches: Single Leg Knees Off on the Reformer

Single Leg Knees Off on the Pilates Reformer is a very challenging exercise. It will challenge your endurance and your connections to your center. It’s easy to get caught up in the choreography of Single Leg Knees Off and lose the longest round shape of your spine and start doing it from your lower back and knee. Instead, focus on moving from your center. Worry less about how big or fast you go and instead move with strength and keep your breath flowing. And, just like every other variation of Knee Stretches be sure you close the springs all the way!

Reach the carriage out with back of your leg, pull it in from center.

Set up as you would for Knee Stretches Knees Off or Single Leg Knees Off Prep. Two heavy springs on, both feet start back in the shoulder blocks with the balls of your feet pressing down and back and your inner heels pressing back as much as your outer heels. Hands on the footbar with wrists straight, round your spine as if you were going to do Knees Off. Then hover both knees 2 inches off of the carriage. Pull one knee into your chest, the foot will tuck in towards your seat. Keep other knee low.

With the knee into your chest press the carriage leg out, Then as you close the spring reach the “free” leg straight back as if it was pushing the carriage out. Switch and repeat 3-5x before you switch sides. In between sides make sure you keep your knees low. With every rep it’s tempting to lift up more and more. If going well and you want to add in the “jane fonda” an arabesque, keep the carriage closed. Begin to take your flexion and move into extension. Chest pulls up and forward, back leg reaches back up and your foot reaches for you head. This is not necessary but an extra challenge if you are up for it.


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

https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1st.webp
Loving this Pilates exercise tutorial? Take weekly online Pilates mat classes with OPC Teachers
https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2nd.webp
Enjoying Lesley's teaching style? Willing to travel? Explore the world while maintaining your practice by joining Lesley on a Pilates retreat.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are "affiliate links", a link with a special tracking code. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our readers. By using the affiliate links, you are helping support our Website, and we genuinely appreciate your support. By watching this video, you agree to our Terms and Conditions, which you can read here:https://opc.me/tc

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

30-minute Mat Classes (6x)
Every Tuesday we drop a new 30-minute Mat class from one of our teachers.
Value: $144

30-Minute Reformer Classes (x6)
Every Tuesday we drop a new 30-minute Reformer class from one of our teachers..
Value: $144

50-Minute LIVE Mat Classes (x2)
Each month we drop a new 50-minute Mat class from one of our teachers, and we invite you to join us LIVE for the filming of it.
Value: $159

50-Minute Reformer Classes (x2)
Each month we drop a new 50-minute Reformer class from one of our teachers.
Value: $80

50-Minute Cadillac Classes (x2)
Each month we drop a new 50-minute Cadillac class from one of our teachers.
Value: $80

50-Minute Chair Classes (x2)
Each month we drop a new 50-minute Chair class from one of our teachers.
Value: $80

Members-Only Community Access
Join the most inclusive, supportive, and encouraging community of Pilates enthusiasts just like you. No "Pilates Police" allowed!
Value: $120

Form Feedback Fridays
Every Friday our teaching team responds to member questions! We're the only online Pilates membership that offers direct feedback on your form!
Value: $228

Mobile App
Access everything in your membership directly from your phone! Take class, chat in the community, find new tutorial videos, listen to podcast episodes... all the things!
Value: $100

Recommended Workout Schedule
We've put together a recomended workout schedule for you to get you rolling.
Value: $20

Members-Only Perks
Members get access to our reading/equipment recomendations, special offers/deals, and more.
Value: $40

mask group 4
mask group 5
mask group 7
mask group 6
mask group 9
mask group 10
mask group 8

ONE FOOT, TWO FOOT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We need to pay more attention to our feet... I know one more thing to add to the list. But! When we pay attention to our feet we get more access to our seat! So lets wake up our feet together and explore what new connections we get!

Props Needed: wash cloth and theraband or old leggings for warm up

See you in class,
-xxLL

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.


LET IT GO, LET YOURSELF FLOW

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We will be working through a flow without a lot of thought and correction. This is a way to evaluate where you are and what you can work on this year! Grab a notebook and if something is not feeling right, let's write it down and see if any of the upcoming classes will help us with that thing or thing(s).

No props needed.

Mindi

WANNA BUTT LIFT?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This theme will be a focus on what’s needed for inversion exercises. For inversion exercises, your upper back is what you “stand on” so you need your chest and shoulders open with a strong arm/back connection there. Let’s not over-neck it! Then, you need a strong center and thass to work together to get your hips up. It’s not the hips that are over your neck. It’s the hips up so the legs go overhead.

This means even if inversion exercises are not part of your regular practice, that’s ok. Because guess what? It’s more accessible to find connections when you’re right side up, and then the challenge is to maintain those connections when you’re upside down. So, as long as you’re practicing all the connections when you’re right side up, you’re continuing to build yourself up to have enough strength to someday go upside down. And even if you never go upside down, then you’re building yourself up to hold yourself upright, and that’s what you need to live your best life!

See you in class,
Christine

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Magic Circle

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Magic Circle

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


ONE FOOT, TWO FOOT

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

We need to pay more attention to our feet... I know one more thing to add to the list. But! When we pay attention to our feet we get more access to our seat! So lets wake up our feet together and explore what new connections we get!

Props needed:
wash cloth and theraband or old leggings for warm up

See you in class,
xx~LL

THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem
In this class, we’ll explore the idea that what you see isn’t only what you get. Pilates is a full-body practice, even when an exercise seems to target just one area. We’ll rethink familiar movements and bring awareness to the muscles that often go unnoticed-finding knees in hamstring curls, glutes in your Hundreds, and support where you least expect it. This class is about curiosity, connection, and discovering how everything in your body works together when you move with intention.

Props needed : ball and rod for mat

See you in class,
Megan

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.


ROLL WITH ME

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Its time to focus on the rolling exercises and have fun doing it! If you struggle with rolling there's some gems in here for you. On the Reformer while we won't roll you'll gain insight on how your Reformer supports your rolling mat.

Mat: A dowel is helpful on the mat 

See you in class,
xxLL

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

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

In this month's class, we're focusing on changing our perspective when it comes to the exercises we love to hate on. We'll tackle these exercises by strategically combining them with other exercises. By pairing them we hope you’ll discover new ways to connect with the intention behind the movements. Who knows, you might even learn to love them!

Props needed:
Mat: Magic Circle
Reformer: Magic Circle and small ball
Tower/Cadillac: no props
Wunda Chair: no rops

See ya in class,
xx-LL

WE GO TOGETHER

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

"We go together like Ramma-lamma-lamma-ka-dingity-da-dinga-dong".

We all know our Hundred helps all the other exercises. But did you know that on the mat the Spine Stretch Forward exercise also goes together with Open Leg Rocker? Or that Teaser on the Cadillac/Tower helps all the other Teasers on the mat, reformer, and Wunda Chair? And strengthening goes with stretching actions!

This month - let's review some exercises that may already be in your practice that you may not know how it can help your challenging exercises, or maybe even advanced exercises. Never overestimate the fundamental or foundational exercises because it’s all connected.

Hopefully, by the time the month ends, you'll see exercises on various apparatuses that will definitely help your mat practice, as well as other exercises on other apparatuses. With all equipment membership, definitely check out all the monthly classes, and see what progresses or improves over the course of the month. And celebrate your wins! And if anything feels stagnant, let us know in the community app, so we can help and support!

Most importantly, have fun as “we go together” all month long! Bonus points if you sing along with us!

Props needed:
Mat: Dowel
Reformer: none
Tower: none
Chair: Theraband

See ya in class,
xx-LL

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.

ROLL WITH ME

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Its time to focus on the rolling exercises and have fun doing it! If you struggle with rolling there's some gems in here for you. On the Reformer while we won't roll you'll gain insight on how your Reformer supports your rolling mat.

See ya in class,
xx-LL

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: A dowel is helpful on the 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.


WANNA BUTT LIFT?

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

This theme will be a focus on what’s needed for inversion exercises. For inversion exercises, your upper back is what you “stand on” so you need your chest and shoulders open with a strong arm/back connection there. Let’s not over-neck it! Then, you need a strong center and thass to work together to get your hips up. It’s not the hips that are over your neck. It’s the hips up so the legs go overhead.

This means even if inversion exercises are not part of your regular practice, that’s ok. Because guess what? It’s more accessible to find connections when you’re right side up, and then the challenge is to maintain those connections when you’re upside down. So, as long as you’re practicing all the connections when you’re right side up, you’re continuing to build yourself up to have enough strength to someday go upside down. And even if you never go upside down, then you’re building yourself up to hold yourself upright, and that’s what you need to live your best life!

Props Needed : Magic circle

See you in class,
Christine

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