Do you ever wonder how you are so strong on one side in one exercise and then in another exercise it switches? No, just me? Ha! I am pretty sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to being asymmetrical! So, this week we take on our sides! One side at a time that is.

On the mat we will play more with exercises that are play with asymmetry and then seeing how we can take what we learned and change up how we do our symmetrical exercises.

Then, over on the Reformer we play around with exercises where we take away one leg or one arm. Get ready to do Stomach Massage with one leg! It’ll be fun I promise.

Can’t wait to see a side of you!

xx~LL

P.S. Which side will you be doing twice next time?

It’s that time of year! The holidays are here. Crazy schedules, lots of food, parties candy! This is the time when your Pilates mat practice counts the most!

This week, we will go a little out of order, and make our way to our fabulous hundred. Like it or love it the Hundred ahem the Holidays are here!

And this week I hope you find more than a few times to hit the mat. I know I will!

xx-LL

It’s easy to think that Rolling like a ball is just a back massage. Or that Seal is weird – and don’t even try open leg rocker. But…. there is so much good stuff happening in these rolling exercises. And even if you think your tailbone will hate it, trust me, if you’re doing it right you will not be perching on your coccyx.

Grab a mat (and if you are sensitive maybe another one or a small folded blanket) and get ready to feel the full body strength of all the rolling exercises. Understanding Pilates rolling exercises will change your entire Pilates practice. Are you ready?

xx-LL

While not everyone has a set of hand weights laying around if you do grab them. If you don’t or you have a shoulder or neck injury skip the weights and join in for class anyway. Props are only a suggestion to help you feel something different in your mat practice.

xx-LL

While Tree is often an unsung hero of the Reformer it’s rarely done on the Mat. But, when it is its effects are amazing!!!

Don’t worry, if you have no idea what the Tree is we will go over it at the beginning and enjoy its effects for the rest of class!

Are you ready to fall in love with the Tree?

xx-LL

Too often we skip Control Balance at the end of our practice. Sometimes we run out of time, other times we think we are not ready for it. But, you may be ready sooner than you think! And, sometimes it’s just a matter of learning how to be upside down, stand on your shoulders and breathe!

This week let’s take the oath to Control balance! It’s a little road less traveled but the feels are worth it!

xx-LL

I don’t know about you but sometimes my lower abs just feel like they are on vacation. My legs LOVE to do ALL the WORK. This week’s class we are getting low! Every exercise we examine how we can get a little more work from the lower abs. And, while we do it get ready to feel those hamstrings and seat work.

xx-LL

Have you ever heard that the exercises you don’t like you should do twice? Well, I say it all the time and then one day my teacher Jay Grimes heard me say how I don’t like an exercise and he told me to do it twice everyday!! Ha, a taste of my own medicine.

This week on the Mat we will find ways to fall in love with the Leg Pulls, you know the two exercises you love to forget exist. And, then over on our Reformer we will use our practice to prepare us for the Control Push ups! Don’t worry, if you know you don’t do these two exercises I give plenty of ideas to keep you flowing until you’re ready to take them on.

xx~LL

P.S. Bonus points for those who can count how many times I said the Control Push Ups name incorrectly! #perfectlyimperfect

I don’t know about you but this is the hardest part of the holidays. I can get through Halloween and Thanksgiving, but my will power not to indulge at every party is waning.

Thankfully, all year long we have been practicing quality over quantity in our Pilates practice and that applies to party treats too!

This week, we will get through the whole mat in 30 min (complete with modifications if needed) because a little of each exercise will go a long way in our Pilates practice.

xx-LL

A wall is an excellent source of feedback. It’s the prop we all have handy and it can help us dive deeper into our own practice. In this weeks Mat class we use the wall to give us information and to support us in much of our practice. On the Reformer we use the idea of the “wall” as our carriage. How can our legs use the wall? Our feet use the floor?

Get ready to use your imagination!!

xx~LL

What if we didn’t start with the Hundred? What if we started with Pushups? Would that make Teaser easier? Harder?

This week let’s flip class around to see the magic behind the madness of Pilates! It may just answer most of your Mat related questions.

See you on the mat!

xx-LL

In this week’s class, LL wants you to feel your body go in two different directions. Normally in life, we prefer not to be pulled all over the place but in this case, on your Pilates mat, you will love how this tug of war feels inside your body. Plus, connecting your body to Pilates and your mind on your mat will allow the outside world to disappear. So, what are you waiting for? Put those people vying for your attention on hold. Snag some floor space and enjoy the work of Pilates in your body.

xx-LL

After many requests for more Upstretch class and more down stretch class, this weeks class will focus on both reaches! On the Mat we will first find our Up and Down Reach (aka Stretch) and then thread that throughout the class. If you have a soft ball or cushion it’ll help in the beginning.

On our Reformer we will find these reaches in the beginning and then use them to challenge some of the exercises we don’t always get to do. If you have 1lb weights grab them just in case you decide to do the modification.

xx~LL

Good morning, aloha! Welcome to Maui, I’m here with Arlene again.

It is Day 2 and we are about to do a mat class. This one is actually going to introduce some archival standing stuff. And then see how that just warms up the body and then doing the rest of our mat work. So, I hope you enjoy it!

xx-LL

I think it’s important to be grateful for what we can do. And so, whether you’re in the States trying to put enough cranberries on that dry turkey or you’re outside the States wondering why we try so hard to make dry turkey taste good, we can all give Planks…ermm Thanks!

On the Mat, we will explore what we are rocking, rolling and how long our Plank is. And, on the Reformer, we will be grateful for the support of the springs, carriage and more as we see how many planks we can fit into this flow.

See ya in class,

xx~LL

P.S. I am super grateful for each of you!