- Difficulty: Intermediate | Advanced
- Equipment Needed: Wunda Chair (I love using the Balanced Body Wunda Chair.)
- Reps: 3 sets of 3 then try with only one leg
- Warning: May not be suitable for some shoulder issues
- Questions: Contact us here
Tendon Stretch on the Wunda Chair
Tendon Stretch on the Pilates Wunda Chair is a great place to learn and practice before trying it out on the Reformer. Anything you do on the Reformer with Tendon Stretch you can do here on the chair. And, because you start with the pedal down the worst thing that can happen is that you don’t move the pedal! You can really practice the shape of the exercise and also practice reaching down through your legs and up through your center without feeling like the carriage is going to just open up and run away on you! And, if you’re already doing Tendon Stretch on the Reformer practicing it on the chair can help you fine-tune without messing up your Reformer flow.
It sounds counterintuitive to press down but focus on the down reach.
With a one top spring and one bottom spring on start by sitting facing away from the chair, arches of your feet on the pedal and legs tight together. You can do this in parallel or turned out as you need. Your hands are on either side of your legs on the front of the chair. Round your back, straighten your legs. Drop your head towards your shins and lift your center and your low ribs up to the sky as you press your lower back and legs into the pedal. I know it sounds counterintuitive to press down but you really need to reach down.
Once you have found your reach in two directions begin to lift the pedal with your center and then reach the pedal back down. Notice how I did not say hop the pedal up. If you lean back or try to give it a little jump the pedal will lift. But, your goal isn’t to lift the pedal. Your goal is to reach in two directions equally and draw the pedal up then reach the pedal down. Couple notes, if the springs are too heavy try one middle one bottom or two bottoms. Also, if you feel your legs grazing the chair lift your seat more forward as you move through space. Try to do 3-5 lower and lifts of the pedal without crashing or letting the pedal push you around.
Be sure to check out more of my Wunda Chair workout videos. I want to help you continue your Pilates Wunda Chair training!
