♥ Pilates Loves ♥

Happy Valentine's Day! I do love Pilates and so much that I spent all morning working out on the Trapeze Table. Great love and great workout!

In the spirit of the day I would love to share my most favorite luscious and juicy Pilates exercises.

1. Rolldown on the Trapeze Table (TT)
2. Parakeet (with Roll-up and Monkey!) on the TT
3. Carola's Breathing on the TT
4. Short Spine on the Reformer
5. Semi Circle on the Reformer

What's your favorite?

Bikini Gratitude

Just a quick post to say Thank You to Joseph Pilates. Because of you, I will be wearing a bikini this summer. 

Teaser On The Long Box

Being out of commission in the Pilates world is not fun. Especially when Reformer 3 training is in session and I have a lingering injury that needs to be looked after - even when the rest of the body wants to do it all! That was my experience last weekend. So when everyone else was working on the really hard stuff, I was watching. I was crying out (quietly inside). I so wanted to try it all. LET ME TRY IT ALL! *Sigh*

Feeling better I am. Yay. Better enough to try the teaser on the long box today. What fun! And also a realization. I do not like to go into teaser from table-top legs. Hmmm...you would think that way would be easier to do but I find it much more of a challenge. Give me a full teaser ANY day. I'm not sure how may times I tried it - 4, 5, 6? It was challenging and fun and sure made me feel like a strong Pilates Pretty when I was up there balancing on that box.

On that note, my Teaser II has improved tremendously.

Teaser is such a tease.

Legs and Springs

So for years I was a reformer feet in straps fan. How much fun was that to engage the "thuddock" (thanks Clare) and pull those straps toward the floor causing the carriage to slide you across the frame. It felt great. Then to move into big circles. So free. When you finally really "got" the technique, you felt in control of the exercise. It was liberating.

Enter supine leg springs on the trap table. OMG. The difference is huge. The springs on the trap table give you a deeper level of feedback and a more intense workout. The change in the look of your legs will be fast and fierce. Use the heavier leg springs to strengthen your "thuddock" or the lighter springs to work on your pelvic stability. Either set of springs will do amazing things for your lower half and really show you the stability of your pelvis or the strength in your thigh and buttock (thuddock).

*Highly Recommended*

It Can Be Done

Also known as Inspiration leads to Aspiration.

Last weekend was Reformer 3 training for me. Imagine my delight when I watched this video for the first time today and witnessed all of these SUPER ADVANCED reformer exercises - beautifully choreographed and performed IN A SEQUENCE with grace and flow. Sure, if you have been practicing Pilates for a good amount of time you can do a few of them here are there. Now, my Pilates Pretties, it is time to master each one! I am inspired to execute them with integration, grace, beauty and ease. Thank you Jean-Claude. You are a Pilates inspiration.

In Blue Jeans?

Tonight I was at the Pilates studio to practice teaching and observe a Trapeze Table class. I am currently in training to become a Pilates teacher. After teaching a reformer session I jumped up on the Trapeze table to do some roll downs until Sarah showed up. I was still in my jeans even though I brought workout pants. It felt so comfortable and a little rebellious. I mean, what would Joseph Pilates say about doing his work, Contrology he called it, in blue jeans? Well, we will never know but it felt great and it gave me a great name for my new blog. Perfect.

I dare you to practice in your blue jeans.