- Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
- Equipment Needed: Small Barrel (I love using the Small Barrel.)
- Reps: 3-5 each direction
- Warning: May not be ideal for some shoulder, back or neck issues.
- Questions: Contact us here
Arm Series: Hug on the Small Barrel
Stretch your chest, strengthen your back and build your extension with the accessibility of the Pilates Small Barrel Hug exercise. The Hug is easy to speed through and miss the strength and stretch. But, take your time, use your breath and focus on the feedback that the Small Barrel provides as you move and you’ll find a stretch across your throat and chest and open up your upper back. As you create strength and flexibility try Hug and the rest of the Arm Series on the Spine Corrector.
Bigger or faster isn’t always better. Move with breathe and strength!
Typically done from Up/Down by reaching your arms and weights to the ceiling palms facing towards each other. If resetting, sit with barrel behind you. Hips touching or close to the barrel depending on height and flexibility. Round back over the barrel, shoulders over the arch, neck long and head on the barrel. Reach arms to ceiling holding light weight in each hand. Palms facing in.
Inhale open your straight arms wide breathing your back onto the barrel. Exhale hold your arms there, reaching wide from your back. Inhale reach your arms up, cross at the elbows. Bend your elbows, setting weights on the shoulders and exhale pull your elbows down to your center. Inhale and repeat. After a few sets place the weights down and use your hands to grab your head and roll up to sitting.
Going well? Transition to Stretch with the Bar.
Be sure to check out more of my Pilates Small Barrel exercises. I want to help you continue your Pilates Small Barrel training!
