Pilates Practitioner 101: Summer Cutback

To kick off my summer Pilates session last week, we’ve returned to our regular mat routines with the rings again for another full Pilates routine. We’ve warmed up with our arms over in a stretch and did some new leg extension exercises, including a Spine Stretch by tilting our legs to the right and to the left, and Angel Wings. We’ve also did a bunch of exercises with the rings: the 100 on our back and stomach, the Chest Lift with and without rotation, the Criss-Cross, the Roll-ups and Mini Peel-ups, the Single and Double Leg Stretch, the Single Straight Leg Stretch. We’ve also added two Swimming cycles, the Sidekick Series with the Hot Potato, the Double Leg and Single Leg Lowers for top and bottom leg, the Side Sashay/Reverse Side Sashay, the Bicycle and Backpedal, and the Single and Double Leg Circles to our routine. We’ve also did some Planks by pulsing our feet with bent elbow and then extended arm, Side planks with the Mermaid Stretch, the Swan and Swan Neck Roll, a Downward Dog, and a couple of Cat-Cows, and finished it with the Pilates stance.

The Pilates Magic Circle is a simple, but effective equipment used for improving and toning muscle growth for Pilates exercises. Made from rubber, it provides your body feedback as to which muscles it's targeting. It has many benefits when you use it for your Pilates practice. The ring has a low maximum resistance edge, which is less likely to result in injury. Your workouts can be easily done at home. It helps builds and tone muscles with any form of resistance training. It allows your body to target multiple areas. It adds to upper body stability and improves your balance. Easy to store and portable when you take it on your travels. And a wide range of Pilates ring exercises are available online.

For my 20th Hydro Pilates session, we’ve warmed up with some Body Twists and Side stretches in the cold water and used the resistance band for our props for the whole workout routine. We’ve did some Knee Raises, Leg Lifts, Squats with straight and bent legs, and some Press-and-Pull Side Stretches on both sides, and the Hinge stretch. We’ve also did the Plank and the One-legged Planks by pulsing our feet in the water, and also performed the Single Leg Circle on both sides. We’ve also did arm circles and the Side Planks to do some some Bicycle/Backpedal exercises and the Side Sashay/Reverse Sashays. The two new exercise we've done were the Knee Pull-ups and the Pendulum. We’ve also did the Tree pose without using the pool's edge. We've used the steps to do the Reverse Plank with one leg and one arm too. We’ve also done the Warrior stretches with Warrior 3, and another set of the Press-and-Pull Stretch poses, and the Chair Squat pose, too. To finish the session, we’ve done the Mermaid Side Stretch and the Spinal Twist and the Pilates Stance.

For my 21st Hydro Pilates session, we’ve warmed up with some body twists and side stretches in the cold water of the pool. We’ve did some knee raises, leg lifts, squats with straight and bent legs a new exercise when we pulled our arms back in a lunge for both sides, and some press and pull side stretches on both sides, knee pull-ups, and the hinge stretch. We’ve also did the plank and the one-legged plank by pulsing our feet in the water, and also did it with one leg circles on both sides. We’ve also did arm circles and the side plank to do some some bicycle/backpedal exercises and the side sashay/reverse sashays. The two new exercises we've done were the reverse plank against the pool with standing on our toes and extended our legs. We’ve also did the tree pose, in which I was able to balance on my right leg. We’ve also did the Warrior stretches with Warrior 3, a set of the press and pull stretch pose, and the chair squat pose in the water, too. To finish out the session, we’ve did the mermaid side stretch and the spinal twist and the Pilates stance.