Kiralates

✨Headstand head front on the reformer ✨

I was inspired by .scagliola doing the headstand on the reformer. Her work is exquisite!

The headstand on the reformer is a super advanced exercise. This emphasises the importance of working with the Pilates system. Pilates is not random exercises that a teacher puts together to create a burn. It is a system of exercises where the intermediate and advance exercises build from the basics.

The beauty of this system is because you are building you see the journey of your clients getting stronger and stronger.

If I were to pick exercises in the system to build the headstand i’d see long stretch, up stretch and balance control front on the reformer. And, kneeling press down, on the head, using the wunda chair.

If you haven’t done this exercise before do it with an experienced teacher.

It is Spring in Sydney and the beautiful weather motivates me to post again! This is part of my gorgeous, stretchy Cadillac workout that I did after teaching today 🌸🌱🌷🌼

✨Pull Ups Sides✨

One of my favourite exercises to work the whole body 🙌 It has a deep powerhouse focus and stretches the back. It also strengthens the obliques and challenges the body unilaterally.

✨The kneeling press down ✨

This is an exercise designed to challenge your balance. As you roll forward to put your hands on the pedal you have to make sure you are anchoring your shins by pressing your heels together and down. I also think of my sit bones reaching down as I lift my inner thigh muscles and pull my stomach muscles in and up. From there I have the stability to roll.

You get a beautiful stretch as you push your palms into the pedal and lengthen the spine to press down. The challenge is the up. Squeeze your seat and curl your tail bone down to the floor as you scoop the tummy up into the small of your back. It’s a serious challenge!!

This is the most beautiful exercise on the reformer ❤️ It not only looks so beautiful it feels so beautiful to perform!

This is an exercise that focuses on back extension. However, like all of the exercises in the Pilates system, it works the entire body including the inner thighs, bottom and scoop of the tummy.

I love this exercise so much! It is the best exercise to stretch the quads and hips, my super tight area. You feel amazing afterwards 🙌

The spring resistance is great to load the spine. And, the chest expansions stretch the chest and front of the shoulders.

The second long box series is an advanced series that I feel gets neglected in studios. It is so important to do because the series works the hip extensors and the back extensors. Which are crucial in this day and age where we spend all of our time on our phones and computers.

The swimming is also such a great exercise that strengthens the deep abdominals and back muscles. It is a great coordination challenge.

Rowing on the arm chair is the most delicious place to do the rowing. I love the feedback that the chair gives you as you reach the arms and feel your whole spine lengthening up the back of the chair.

It also gives the most gorgeous stretch for your lower back as you roll forward and scoop your lower belly deeply into the back of the chair. And, the beautiful spinal articulation as you roll your sound back upright giving you the most wonderful lift.

It is a great place for clients to feel the connection of your arms to your back.

It is definitely a favourite for all of my clients too!

Some spine corrector play 😊

🐍 Snake and twist