7 Pilates Exercises to Strengthen & Stretch
Hi friends! I am so excited to share with you these 7 Pilates Exercises to Strengthen & Stretch. I have found that pilates has been the best workout for me for getting my core back in shape post-baby. I hope you enjoy these exercises!
ROLLING LIKE A BALL
Breathing technique: Inhale as you roll back, exhale as you roll up
Sequence:
1. Sit forward on the mat with knees bent and pulled into chest. Wrap arms around legs and grab ankles. Balance on tailbone and lift toes off mat. Tuck chin to chest (the tighter the tuck, the faster the roll and more control is needed).
2. Sink back and pull navel to spine. Roll back onto shoulders as hips roll into the air.
3. Exhale and roll back up to balanced position on tailbone. Keep heels lifted and glued together and do not let toes touch the mat.
4. Repeat 4-6 times.
Primary muscles: Abdominals (including rectus abdominals)
Focus: Improves balance, massages the spine and articulates the spine
SINGLE-LEG STRETCH
Breathing technique: Inhale as roll vertebrae down, exhale then switch legs
Sequence:
Sit balanced on tailbone with knees bent, arms wrapped around legs and hands holding knees. Toes are lifted off the mat. Abdominals are scooped.
Inhale and roll vertebrae down while pulling one knee in towards chest and straighten the other down towards the mat. Keep neck lifted and slightly tucked. Maintain abdominal scoop and control of core. Toes are pointed and back is falt.
Place inner hand to the ankle and outside hand to bent leg knee.
Complete 8-10 sets.
Primary muscles: abdominals
Focus: Torso stability, leg stretch, strengthen abdominal wall
SINGLE STRAIGHT-LEG STRETCH
Breathing technique: Inhale for one set, exhale for one set
Sequence:
Lie on back with both knees pulled in towards chest and arms wrapped around legs with elbows extended and hands holding knees. Neck is lifted and slightly tucked.
Anchor toro on the mat. Inhale and extend one leg straight up toward ceiling and grasp both hands around that ankle, toes pointed. Extend the other leg straight out to hover just above the mat. Pull your upper leg towards you with two short pulses as you inhale.
Exhale as you switch to the other leg.
Complete 5-10 sets.
Primary muscles: abdominals
Focus: Strengthening the abdominals and stretching the hamstrings, core stabilization
CRISSCROSS
Breathing technique: Inhale when you lift to twist, exhale when you complete the twist
Sequence:
Lie on back with hands behind head and shoulder blades up. Knees are tucked in towards chest, toes pointed.
Inhale and reach one elbow across body towards knee and extend other leg straight out in front. Alternate sides, reaching other elbow towards opposite knee. Look back at elbow to utilize obliques.
Complete 5-10 reps.
Primary muscles: abdominals, obliques
Focus: Strengthening the abdominals including the obliques
SPINE STRETCH FORWARD
Breathing technique: inhale to lengthen neck, exhale as stretch forward
Sequence:
Sit tall on mat with legs extended at hip width and feet flexed.
Extend arms straight out in front with palms pronated.
Inhale and lengthen neck.
Tuck chin to chest and round spine to a C-curve. Exhale as you stretch forward, pushing navel to spine.
Inhale and reverse the motion.
Repeat 3-5 times.
Primary muscles: abdominals,neck, shoulders, hamstrings
Focus: Good posture, articulation of the spine, stretch hamstrings, focus on breathing
THE SAW
Breathing technique: Inhale to lengthen, exhale to stretch forward
Sequence:
Sit tall on mat with legs extended in front, hip width apart and feet flexed.
Extend arms out at shoulder level with palm pronated. Inhale and lengthen neck.
Twist from the waist keeping a tall back and flex forward from the hips extending hand past opposite foot. Exhale as stretch forward.
Initiating the moment from the navel, draw torso up to starting position and repeat to the other side.
Complete 4-5 sets.
Primary muscles: abdominals, obliques, hamstrings
Focus: Strengthening the abdominals including the obliques, stretch hamstrings, focus on breathing
SWIMMING
Breathing technique: Percussive breathing-inhale for 5 counts and exhale for 5 counts
Sequence:
Lie prone on mat with arms extended overhead.
Inhale, lift right arm and left leg while pulling navel to spine. Lift head and neck off floor looking down.
Switch arms and legs moving like swimming in water.
Complete 3-5 reps of 5 inhalations/exhalations.
Primary muscles: back, gluteus maximus, hamstrings
Focus: core stabilization, stretch and strengthen back, gluteus maximus and hamstrings
Readers, are you a fan of pilates? What do you do to strengthen and stretch?