March Matness Week 3

[ChannelRunner2]

It's hard to believe that we're already in week 3! I've had days that felt like years, so maybe that's why... 🤣 It does sound like you are enjoying the Matness and might even incorporate some of the exercises into your routines. Joe would be thrilled!

This week we'll have one day - Saturday - that will feature two exercises! Because the original mat sequence consists of 34 exercises, we have to double up. And we'll finish the week with the quintessential Pilates exercise: The teaser. I still don't know why it's called that...

As a reminder, the summary post from last year can be found here and the individual exercise posts contain options for modifications (in a slightly edited version since, of course, a link had to be broken...): healthunlocked.com/strength...

‼️Please share in the comments your experience with the first seven exercises! And do let me know if you come across any more broken links... So far, we seem to be in luck and most of the links are still working... ‼️

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And now 🥁 to the important stuff: This week's exercises ⤵

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March 15 - The Neck Pull: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 16 - The Scissors: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 16 (Exercise 17) - The Bicycle: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 17 (Exercise 18) - The Shoulder Bridge: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 18 (Exercise 19) - The Spine Twist: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 19 (Exercise 20) - The Jack-Knife: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 20 (Exercise 21) - The Side Kick: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 21 (Exercise 22) - The Teaser: healthunlocked.com/strength...

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So, roll out your mat and have fun! 🥳

[Wine 30D Graduate]

she made it look easy the neck pull was impossible so I just did it from the sitting position so I couldn't do the neck pull as I couldn't get back from the lying position with my hands around my neck I had to undo that and get up assisted...if any of this makes sense brilliant...pilates needs to be practiced I am enjoying learning the moves thank you

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Oh, yes, Pilates is definitely a practice! I still struggle with the Neck Pull. It's probably why Pilates (the man) invented the strap on the bottom of the Pilates mat. You can hock your feet into it, which helps a lot when you're trying to get back up. (If you're curious, here are a couple of classical mats: pilates-gratz.com/collectio... )

You can try keeping you arms stretched out in front of you or even bent the knees.

[Wine 30D Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Thank you i think arms in front might get me up

[Wine 30D Graduate]

the scissors ...i surprised myself that my legs went up but i wasn't as straight as in the video but did the legs back and forth..unfortunately my thumb wasnt on my back so like she said i was bent...i did like this exercise

[Wine 30D Graduate]

bicycle omg i got up there but my legs dint go down as much as hers and my arms and wrists tried their best to support how low i managed to go ...did the best i could...wow

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

It's awesome that you tried, Wine ! Joe invented a barrel contraption that supports your back presumably because a lot of clients struggled with what you experienced. I suppose pillows might be helpful, too.

(To see some versions of these: pilates.com/collections/pil... )

[ChannelRunner2]

To mix things up, I'll share an article in German! No, don't worry, it's really about the pictures!

Apparently, Pilates teacher and author Reiner Grootenhuis also is a photographer. He was approached by a symphony orchestra that wanted to promote wellness in their program brochure... The videos shared are pretty amazing showing one of their musicians and a teacher in Grootenhuis' studio doing Pilates to live classical music.

pilates-powers.de/pilates-b...

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Lovely! Beautiful Pilates studio! I don’t quite wear an outfit like these two, when I do yoga 🤣🤣🤣.

I’m still doing these exercises, but have dropped into the habit of popping into these posts at the end of my post-row or run stretches, choosing one or two to try out and doing these. So have been enjoying neck pull, scissors and spins twist.

[Wine 30D Graduate]

shoulder bridge kept on thinking i would have a cramp...the spine twist i liked very much though

[Wine 30D Graduate]

jack knife the only way i could get myself over was have cushions under my back...why is that...then of course coming down meant all of my top body coming up also so i am not ready for this move but it was brilliant

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Yes, Jackknife is a more advanced move! Also, the way Joe developed it, it comes after all the prior exercises have warmed and loosened up your body...

[ChannelRunner2]

Oh, I just have to share this!

Via facebook.com/marjon.grunsven

Marjon practicing The Sidekick with... goats

[Wine 30D Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

gorgeous goats

[Wine 30D Graduate]

side kick i did the best i could..it is a great move..she did more she wanted to put our leg up and flex down also to circle the leg..the exercise at the top just seemed to be asking for the legg to go fwd and back so i did that

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Yes, the original from Joe Pilates only had forward and back. Romana, one of Joe's students who helped spread Pilates, the method, expanded it into a series.

[Wine 30D Graduate]

the teaser was really challenging again Lessley had so much control because she has really done the work to get to that place...saying this I did like the teaser couldn't stay in position for long and managed it the best the first time by the third the legs weren't there at all...i love learning all the pilates exercises ..really regret not doing this last year...Thanks ChannelRunner2

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Glad you're enjoying it! And, yes, just do what you can. It's a practice, after all, so you'll get better the more you try it...