Swan Dive on the Wunda Chair

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  • May 29, 2023

On the Wunda Chair, you can feel if your body loses length in your extension because you have less support than you would on the Mat or Cadillac.

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Swan Dive on the Wunda Chair - Online Pilates Classes

Swan Dive on the Wunda Chair

You can do the Pilates exercise Swan on every single piece of Pilates equipment in the studio. And, the Swan Dive is also something that you can explore in as many places. So, if your Swan is ready to take flight playing with it here on the Pilates Wunda Chair is a lot of fun as well as a great amount of strength! On the Wunda Chair, you can feel if your body loses length in your extension because you have less support than you would on the Mat or Cadillac. Also, because of where the springs are you have to focus on not letting the pedal push you around.

Reach your tailbone long and away as your heart pulls forward and up.

With one middle spring on (or slightly heavier) place sticky pad at the edge of your chair and come on like your would for Swan. Then move a bit more forward over the pedal. You want your legs long and hugging together, tailbone reaching long so you don’t collapse in your lower back. Shoulders pulling onto your back and heart pulling forward. Its easy to let the ribs fall towards the floor here. There is no support for them to lift up away from gravity. But, keep your upper abs engaged here to maintain length in your upper back.

Bend your elbows and pull your chest forward as you go down towards the pedal and your legs lift up and away. As you reach your legs long and your chest forward you and the pedal will rise. This will tip your chest up, continue to stretch your front and your legs will reach long and low. Then before you lose it you’ll tip back the other way. Legs will lift up push your chest forward and down to the pedal. Repeat this dive 3-5x. You should feel as if you are one long piece.


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 OPC Teachers
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pop up summer tour | online pilates classes

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.

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

I WANNA ROCK

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

When I first started teaching another teacher in the studio I was at who had 20+ years of teaching was struggling with her client. They kept wanting to lift their head to extend. In every exercise no matter what she said their head would lift before their chest. She said "the worst thing we ever did was call the neck the neck." Now, I don't think its the WORST thing. I have some thoughts on chairs and shoes. But, its up there! If you've been struggling with Swan, Swimming, Rocking and some of our other fun extension exercises this week is for you!

Grab a magic circle for a fun warm up on the Mat and Reformer. Don't have one? No problem I've got options for ya!

See ya in class,
xx-LL 💋

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

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

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

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


UPTOWN FUNK

Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

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It might seem like a funky way to improve your spinal movements, but by using different variations we’ll help you connect your legs to your center. And once you do that you can listen to your body and explore where you need to create more space or find more muscles!

By the way, if you took last fall’s BOOmerang class, you’ll absolutely LOVE the mat workout this week!!

Props Needed:
Mat: Grab a Barrel or Blanket
Reformer: Reformer box & Pole

See you in class,
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Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

It's summertime and I'm thinking of beach balls! You could do this at the beach, but it would be really sandy! Anyway, I really want to play with the ball because I've had so much fun the last few times we've used the ball as a theme in class and I hope you do too. So, grab your ball—it can be any kind of squishy ball and let's dive into this unique Pilates experience designed to strengthen and stretch your body in fun, innovative ways!

See ya in class,
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    MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, a ball 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 reformer!

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


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    Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

    Side Kick Series and Kneeling Side Kicks are great full-body exercises that require a lot of connections from front to back and head to toe. In your classes this week we will work on the connection of our upper back, glute/Thass®, and abdominal strength to help with these exercises and see how your practice links together. Single leg work on the reformer as well as side body work will give you more information to help you in your Side Kicks. No props needed for this class.

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    Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

    Roll Up. Love it or leave it?

    However you feel about it might change over the next week as we explore how to use our side waist and leg muscles to improve your Roll Up!!

    It might seem like a funky way to improve your spinal movements, but by using different variations we’ll help you connect your legs to your center. And once you do that you can listen to your body and explore where you need to create more space or find more muscles!

    By the way, if you took last fall’s BOOmerang class, you’ll absolutely LOVE the mat workout this week!!

    Mat: Grab a Barrel or Blanket
    Reformer: Reformer box & Pole

    See you in class,
    Rachel

    MAT EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, barrel or blanket and a mat!

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

    REFORMER EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Your awesome self, reformer box, pole 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:

    I happened to hear an oldy but a goody the other day. One that when it came out my parents for sure would not have wanted me to listen to. But, I was curious about the lyrics and found an old music video. And it made me think about how we often tell you about what to do with your hip points, tailbone and even the crest of your hip. So, for a long time, we've been asking you to to dip as we dipped. Ok, maybe not as dramatic or even something you'd do on a dance floor. But for this week, we'll be focusing on our pelvis, where it is in space. So you can dip wherever you are whenever you want!

    No props needed.

    See you in class,
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    Online Mat, Reformer, Cadillac & Wunda Chair Pilates Class Descriptions:

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    Let's have fun focusing on twisting, side bending and the spine shapes in between that help and our helped by our Wild Sides!

    Mat class: Magic Circle
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    Wunda Chair class: Theraband or an old pair of leggings!

    See ya in class,
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    ONLINE MAT, REFORMER, CADILLAC & WUNDA CHAIR PILATES CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

    In Pilates we often talk about the 5 spinal shapes… do you know them? No worries if you don’t yet as this month we’re going to explore them all! How tall, round, extended, rotated or bent from our sides that we can be gives us more power & control during exercise. Let’s see what we can feel when we put the focus on working toward these particular shapes… And, lookout for combo shapes!"

    On the Reformer, please have a ball, Magic Circle and your pole. A couple of pillows and a Swiffer handle all make great substitutes!
    Mat, Tower/Cadillac and Wunda Chair: No props needed.

    See ya in class,
    xx-LL 💋

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    Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

    Side Kick Series and Kneeling Side Kicks are great full-body exercises that require a lot of connections from front to back and head to toe. In your classes this week we will work on the connection of our upper back, glute/Thass®, and abdominal strength to help with these exercises and see how your practice links together. Single leg work on the reformer as well as side body work will give you more information to help you in your Side Kicks. No props needed for this class.

    See you in class,
    Mindi

    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.


    I WANNA ROCK

    Online Mat & Reformer Pilates Class Descriptions:

    When I first started teaching another teacher in the studio I was at who had 20+ years of teaching was struggling with her client. They kept wanting to lift their head to extend. In every exercise no matter what she said their head would lift before their chest. She said "the worst thing we ever did was call the neck the neck." Now, I don't think it's the WORST thing. I have some thoughts on chairs and shoes. But, its up there! If you've been struggling with Swan, Swimming, Rocking and some of our other fun extension exercises this week is for you!

    Grab a magic circle for a fun warm up on the Mat and Reformer. Don't have one? No problem I've got options for ya!

    See ya in class,
    xx~LL 💋