We have arrived! Not only at the last exercise, we’re also standing again! (Unless, of course, you’ve done standing variations all along…). The Pilates push-up, excuse me, Push Up, is a bit different than other push-ups (not only in the way it’s capitalized…). We’re keeping our elbows tucked and arms close to our bodies.
Andrea Maida points out that “I am sure Joe Pilates did not invent the Push Up, but at the end of the workout it is a perfect example of stretch and strength and control. You must roll down and place your hands onto the mat in front of your feet, you must take 4 precise steps out with your hands to your push up position and you must lower and lift the entire weight of your body several times. Oh, and then you’ve got to walk back in, hands to feet, roll yourself up and do it all over again.”
And all that is based on Romana Kryzanowska’s words: “You can say what Pilates is in 3 words: stretch with strength and control. And the control part is the most important because that makes you use your mind.” (pilatesandrea.com/on-the-or... )
Romana was one of Joe Pilates’ students. She took over his studio after Clara, Joe’s partner, died – rather reluctantly in John Steele’s telling. Many Pilates teachers claim that she taught authentic Pilates, though her ballet training brought a lot of modifications, including adding series, which aren’t in the book Return to Life. Also the v-foot-position is probably her influence… Given that Joe encouraged modifications, there might not even be the authentic Pilates exercise… It’s more important, as Romana pointed out, what attitude we bring.
Enough talking, let’s tackle the Push-Up!
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As always, if you need to warm-up, do at least The Hundred, maybe all of the previous 33 exercises. Then repeat this exercise 3 times.
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Follow Joe’s instructions from the excerpt from Return to Life. And make sure to modify to ensure your body gets what you need today.
Instructions from Online Pilates Classes:
We get a separate video with tips!
You can read more about the exercise and written instructions at the OPC page for it: onlinepilatesclasses.com/pi...
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If you’re struggling with this exercise, check out Andrea Maida’s tips and hints in this March MATness video from 2019:
Another set of instructions from the Pilates Lesson Plan, including a video and modification suggestions, are here: georgewatts.org/lesson-plan... (and pilateslessonplans.co.uk/fr... )
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Standing variations for exercises 31-34 from RAD Pilates: instagram.com/reel/CafNSQXp...
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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... ★
