- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Equipment Needed: Wunda chair (I love using the Balanced Body Wunda Chair.)
- Reps: 5-10x each side
- Warning: May not be suitable for some knee issues.
- Questions: Contact us here
Press Down Cross Over on the Wunda Chair
Similar to the Press Down Cross Over on the High Chair the Press Down Cross Over on the Pilates Wunda Chair is an excellent way to challenge your coordination, balance, strength, and stretch. This exercise is great to challenge what you’ve learned on the High Chair. It’s also possible to do even if you don’t have a High Chair. Grab a Gondola Pole though in the beginning until you can do this exercise without the help. So much of our Pilates practice requires our outer hips to be open and strong. This exercise will help with that and also challenge your reach through your standing leg.
Picture your thigh bone going more side to side than up and down.
Stand with your side to the chair. Heels lined up along the edge of the chair. If you are tighter you can step back an inch or three. With a top spring and a bottom spring set up on your Wunda Chair place your outside foot on the pedal. Your hips will immediately become out of alignment both forward and up and down. Remember the standing leg is working just as much as the pedal leg is. Lift your standing leg hip up and reach your working leg hip down and maybe even back. Lift tall out of your head.
Press the pedal down as you lift your center up. Then lift the pedal up but keep the height and lift you created from pressing the pedal down. Repeats 5-8x You can go faster than you think but not without control. I like to picture my thigh bone is going more side to side than up and down. It helps me reach from the right places instead of simply pumping my legs up and down. Switch sides and repeat. If you notice one side is stronger or more coordinated than the other repeat on the weak side.
Be sure to check out more of my Wunda Chair workout videos. I want to help you continue your Pilates Wunda Chair training!
