March MATness Day 14: The Double Kick

[ChannelRunner2]

Today is the final day, March 14, of the set of exercises about which Andrea Maida writes: “Now we have arrived at the extension exercises – a lot of tough work for the back – but now it’s all ready to go, thanks to the previous 11-14 exercises. The Swan Dive is a big full move to get the juices flowing, followed by the Single Leg Kicks and Double Leg Kicks which aid in the stretching of the front of the lower body – and furthermore strengthen the buttocks and hamstrings for the tasks ahead.” (via pilatesandrea.com/on-the-or... ).

As always, if you need to warm-up, do at least The Hundred, maybe all of the previous 13 exercises. Then repeat this exercise 5 times.

Follow Joe’s instructions from the excerpt from Return to Life. One adjustment that is made almost all the time: Rather than resting the chin on the floor, rest on one cheek and then the other, as Lesley and Andrea are doing. (Note that in some editions of RTL, the first photo (Pose 1) of the One Leg and Double Leg Kicks were swapped. The written instructions are correct, though. Thanks to Anita Park of Explore Pilates for catching this!)

Instructions from Online Pilates Classes – no specific modifications: youtu.be/DmC80q6xp9I(Not working as expected?)

You can read more about the exercise and written instructions at the OPC page for it: onlinepilatesclasses.com/pi...

Another set of instructions from the Pilates Lesson Plan, including a video and modification suggestions, are here: georgewatts.org/lesson-plan... (via pilateslessonplans.co.uk/fr... )

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If you’re struggling with this exercise, check out this video from Andrea Maida: youtu.be/QnbrAMVwC10(Not working as expected?)

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Standing variations for exercises 11-15: instagram.com/reel/CYri3yEB...

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Photo from Return to Life as published by Presentation Dynamics. Photos are far better reproduced in the paperback published by the Pilates Method Alliance in 2010, which isn’t available electronically. (See this post for the title page: healthunlocked.com/strength... )

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★ Our March MATness summary page: healthunlocked.com/strength... ★

[dijep 30D Graduate]

Today I'm going to catch up today with last 3 exercises. I've read all your posts and enjoyed watching the videos. I really enjoy watching Lesley with her very clear explanations and amazing demonstration. Watching her do the Swan dive .... amazing !I'll update you later on how I get on.

[TheTabbyCat Graduate in reply to dijep]

Aren't they just nice to watch dijep? That flying swan just takes my breath away, it's so impressive. I'm amazed at how Lesley continues to talk us through the movements while she's doing them.

[dijep 30D Graduate in reply to TheTabbyCat]

Exactly she is amazing. All her movements look so effortless. I wonder how long she's been practicing Pilates.

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to dijep]

Well... I had to look that up, of course!

Here's the short answer: Teaching since 2008. Longer via onlinepilatesclasses.com/ab... :

"Lesley Logan, a 2nd generation certified Pilates teacher [she studied with Jay Grimes, a student of Joe Pilates; Andrea Maida also studied with him...], breathwork, habits and mindset coach, is the founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, the first free online catalogue of Pilates exercise tutorials, where you can also find weekly Pilates classes and workshops. Teaching Pilates since 2008, she has run multiple studios, has trained hundreds of people to become teachers themselves and has taught thousands of students around the world. When not teaching from her studio in Las Vegas, Lesley she’s hosting her podcast Be It Till You See it or traveling the world leading Pilates retreats. Connect with Lesley on instagram @lesley.logan or through the contact page on this site. Read Lesley’s full story here." "Here" is here: lesleylogan.co/about-lesley/

Unfortunately, there's no date attached to "One day friend invited me to a Pilates class – which I honestly thought was a late-night infomercial product." So, we don't know when that was...

[dijep 30D Graduate]

I did 20 minutes of yoga and then ran through from saw to todays double leg kicks. I have done saw and the single and double kicks before but it was so interesting listening to the explanations of some of the movements within the practice. I was particularly struck by the twisting in saw and keeping your opposite hip down, on one side I find this fine on the other its more difficult ... interesting. Then in the double leg kick it was her demonstration of where to lift the arms and how not to do it ... brilliant.

And now I know what those extra bits are called and used for on Pilates mat 😂

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold]

As usual, still catching up, and to help me, I made myself a list to tick off.

So today, double Kick. Will see if I can do a few others later today, but unite happy with today’s running and stretching and a bit of Pilates !

March Matness

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to CBDB]

That's a great way to catch up! 🥳