503-705-4762

Tag: Sellwood Pilates

Strenghten Your Core and Stretch Your Back With Pilates Open Leg Rocker

Here Maddie demonstrates one of our November Five, the Open Leg Rocker.

As with all of the rolling exercises (and spine stretch and half roll back for that matter) the challenge is flexing your spine, or rounding your back, while keeping your shoulders down away from your ears.

If you find yourself “clunking” your back on the way down pull your belly button in and look at it. Imagine wrapping your front ribs internally.

 

Pilates Digging Trenches for Back Strength

Looking for some new moves to add to your home program this week? Here Elie demonstrates one of your November Five, the Pilates exercise Digging Trenches.Try this move at home (with or without the foam roller) to strengthen your back, core and shoulders.

Zip up your abdominals, press your forearms down into the roller and lift your back and chest. Slowly lower back down.

 

 

Notice how she keeps her back long, and shoulders away from her ears? Try for one minute of this move several times this week.

Pilates Mat Class This Wednesday at 6:30 pm

Looking to get in an extra Pilates session this week? Join our Wednesday night group this Wednesday November 14th at 6:30 pm. In this hour long mixed level Pilates mat class we build strength, improve balance and increase flexibility with moves like our November Five exercises, plus I’m still on my campaign for the perfect plank so expect lots of plank variations!

 

 

This is an ongoing group (five people max) that meets once a week at Fluid’s Sellwood Studio and this week I have one available spot with your name on it.

Please call, text or email me if you would like for me to hold this space for you. 503-705-4762

Anne@FluidPortland.com

The April Five

Looking for some new moves this month? Fluid Movement & Massage offers five moves each month that incorporate yoga, Pilates, and strength work to help you increase your strength and flexibility. We suggest you do at least one minute of each of these every day.

The April Five

 

1) Leg Pull Back:

  • From seated, press up to a reverse plank with hands under your shoulders and fingers facing forward.
  • Exhale as you lift one leg; inhale as you lower your leg back to the ground.  Switch sides.
  • Shoulder stretch, core strength, hip stabilization.

2) Double Leg Stretch:

  • On your tummy, hands behind your back.
  • Exhale as you kick both legs in, then inhale as you extend arms and legs and reach out through your chest.
  • Back extension, shoulder stretch.

3) Swan Dive:

  • Start from a plank with knees down.
  • Slowly roll down through your spine onto your pelvis, lower belly then lower ribs.
  • Press through your hands to come back up to a flat back position.
  • Keep abdominals turned on; think of getting longer instead of gripping with your glutes.
  • Strengthens spine extensors, arms, and tummy.

4) Crescent Lunge:

  • From standing, step your left foot back into a lunge with your left heel off the ground.  Press into the ball of your back foot as you lift your inner thigh towards the ceiling.  Right knee stays over your right ankle.
  • Lift arms up towards the ceiling and lift your chest to come into a small backbend.
  • Hold for one minute then switch sides.
  • Hip stretch, balance, leg and back strength.

5) Bow:

  • Lying on your tummy.  Grab your right foot with your right hand and pull your foot towards your hip.
  • Slowly start to lift your foot up to the ceiling.  Hold here for five breaths then switch sides.
  • Quad/ hip flexor stretch.

Have questions about these? I will gladly take you through these exercises or answer any questions you have, just give me a call.

~Anne 503-705-4762

New Pilates and Yoga Videos!

My super helpful IT guy Paul (of Mambo Media) just uploaded some new Pilates and Yoga videos for me. Hooray! The “Pilates for Back Strength” one features yours truly demonstrating Pilates stabilization exercises. This series is especially useful if you suffer from low back pain. Just remember to keep your belly button pulled in to your spine and breathe!


 

The “Yoga Vinyasa Flow” video shows a basic flowing Vinyasa series with a few standing balance poses. This is a good example of the series we go through in the Monday night Yoga class at my Sellwood studio.


 

Want to try out some of these moves? Call Anne to reserve your spot in an upcoming class or to meet with her for a private consultation. 503-705-4762.