March MATness Day 31: The Push Up

[ChannelRunner2]

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:

youtu.be/9TRKpcrHJTk(Not working as expected?)

We get a separate video with tips!

youtu.be/BkJn1bIMeaA?t=18(Not working as expected?)

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:

youtu.be/wOpFx9GPoy0?t=556(Not working as expected?)

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... ★

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold]

Fabulous. It’s been so great to see these individual Mat exercises and with these videos and trying each one (I’m still catching up), also understanding the nuances differences of Pilates vs Yoga. Here, a good example is that it’s not a down dog pose (straight line from arms to back) but rather an extension from roll down (rolled back).

It’s also intriguing seeing the continuation from the day prior to the current exercise. Is there actually a practice (or video) where you do all 33 after each other as a whole flow?

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to CBDB]

Here's the full 34 exercise sequence demonstrated by one of my fav online teachers, Beth Sandlin from Trifecta Pilates:

[I removed the link since the video was set to private...]

If I recall correctly, though, she's not cuing it...

(edited 29 March 2024)

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Oh no, I found a broken link. At least opc has still the full version available. 😘🙏🧘🏻

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to CBDB]

That's a bummer! I am not finding a replacement from Beth either... Only a mailing list sign-up: trifectapilates.com/34

She seems to have hidden quite a few videos on the Classical sequence...

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to CBDB]

Here's a 1 rep drill version - doing one rep of all 34 exercises with cuing (plus the whole ab series, a thigh stretch, the side kick, teaser and kneeling side kick series):

youtu.be/YToBNO0oYaY(Not working as expected?)

[TheTabbyCat Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Amazing!Thanks for posting all these amazing workouts ChannelRunner2 as I've already mentioned I'm just enjoying being a spectator. I love watching LL and I'm still amazed at how she ,not only makes every movement look effortless ,she manages to talk us through them.

Thanks again for a fab March MATness

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Fabulous. I think once I’ve managed to get through the series, the 8min one-rep version might just be in my aspirational list of regular go-tos…. Once I manage the individual exercises … and that might take a bit. But fabulous!!!

[TheTabbyCat Graduate in reply to CBDB]

The 8 min, 1 rep "performance " by Lesley, just held me spellbound. This MATness has been a real insight to the Pilates workouts.

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to TheTabbyCat]

it has, hasn’t it!

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to TheTabbyCat]

A lot of people say that the 34 mat exercises are just one exercise with 34 variations. Watching Lesley perform it, I can really see why! When I do them 🤣, well, let's just say I am not there yet... 😉

[TheTabbyCat Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Aww I'm sure that you're getting there CR2, you'll be doing the demos for the next MATness!💪👍

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to TheTabbyCat]

👏👏👏yes, please … 🤣🤣🤣