Press Down Side on the Wunda Chair

A great exercise to learn how and practice the press and reach through a standing leg while moving the other leg inside the hip without moving your pelvis.

  • Author: Lesley Logan
  • July 28, 2019

Press Down Side on the Wunda Chair

Press Down Side on the Wunda Chair

Press Down Side on the Pilates Wunda Chair is a great challenge for the same exercise on the High Chair. It also is a great place to learn how to press and reach through a standing leg while moving the other leg inside the hip without moving your pelvis. This exercise can teach a lot of what you need to know in the Side Kick Series on the Mat and the Side Splits on the Reformer to name just a couple. In all of Pilates, you need to move your limbs without moving your pelvis. Press Down Side will help you practice this feeling.

Press down through your standing leg to lift your center up.

With one top spring and one bottom spring on the Wunda Chair, stand with your side body along the center of the pedal. Feet are slightly turned out heels together and toes apart. Have about 1-2 inches between you and the chair. Arms can be along your side, on your hips, behind your head or out to the side. Whatever helps you maintain the connection of your arms to your back. Place the inside foot, turned out on the center of the pedal. Lower your inside hip and lift your outside hip to even out your pelvis. Press down through your standing leg to lift your center up.

Maintaining the position of your pelvis, press the pedal down and lift the pedal up. The weight of the pedal will want to throw you off balance so as the pedal lifts be sure to maintain the reach down into the pedal. This way you are in charge of lifting the pedal and not allowing the springs to push you around. It’s easy as the pedal lifts to lift your hips. But, the goal is to maintain your pelvis as your thigh bone moves up and down with the pedal while turned out. Do 5-10 of these and if you discover one side is weaker than the other repeat on the weaker side.


Be sure to check out more of my Wunda Chair workout videos. I want to help you continue your Pilates Wunda Chair training!

By Lesley Logan

Lesley Logan, NCPT, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorial videos, where you can also find weekly online mat classes and workshops. When not teaching from her studio in Los Angeles, Lesley can be found traveling the world leading Pilates retreats, or offering Pilates business coaching to studio owners and other instructors through her private mastermind group. Connect with Lesley on instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site.

Loving this Pilates exercise tutorial? Take weekly online Pilates mat classes with Lesley Logan.
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SUCH A TEASE

ONLINE MAT & REFORMER PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

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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.

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

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This month’s Reformer workout will have us exploring Tops ‘N Tails by working from the ends of The Order. We’ll alternate exercises from the beginning and from the end of our usual routine for a challenging time! You’ll need your reformer box and pole.

On the Wunda Chair and Mat we'll be focusing on working from the top half or the tail half of our bodies! While every exercise requires the whole body. Setting ourselves up for success from the Top to the Tail makes the most difference!

On the Cadillac/Tower we will work on how the top half of the body helps to support the bottom half and vice versa! Pilates allows us to use the whole body to help with strength from Top to Tail! Let's explore how the springs on the Cadillac/Tower make us connect to the whole body in each exercise.

xx-LL

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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

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MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a ball and a resistance band, or just a magic circle and a mat!

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

REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a ball and a resistance band, or just a magic circle and a reformer!

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

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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

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See ya in class,

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MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a squishy ball or stuffed toy 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.

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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

Alright loves, you may not like going overhead and you may not be able to…yet..

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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.

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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

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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.

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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

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Props: Mat, have light weights nearby

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋

MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, have light weights nearby 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.

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

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See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋

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

Tops ‘N Tails (or Tops & Tails) is a wonderful expression I grew up with! It means being ready-to-go…from top to bottom, front to back, end to end! Isn’t that exactly what Pilates does for our minds and bodies? It encourages us to ready for any adventure that comes our way because our workouts use variety to engage the whole body, and to focus our minds.

This month’s Reformer workout will have us exploring Tops ‘N Tails by working from the ends of The Order. We’ll alternate exercises from the beginning and from the end of our usual routine for a challenging time! You’ll need your reformer box and pole.

On the Wunda Chair and Mat we'll be focusing on working from the top half or the tail half of our bodies! While every exercise requires the whole body. Setting ourselves up for success from the Top to the Tail makes the most difference!

On the Cadillac/Tower we will work on how the top half of the body helps to support the bottom half and vice versa! Pilates allows us to use the whole body to help with strength from Top to Tail! Let's explore how the springs on the Cadillac/Tower make us connect to the whole body in each exercise.

See ya in class,

xx-LL 💋