March Matness Week 4

[ChannelRunner2]

And here we are in week 4 already! The exercises will be challenging, so try out modifications. They are not cop-outs, they will help your body get to the point where it may let you do the "original," eventually.

On Sunday, we're doubling up again with two exercises that are, basically, the same - one forward and the other backward... And never particularly imaginative with words, Joe named them both The Leg-Pull - with "Front" added to the one that goes to the back 🙈. Yes, I know... Doesn't make much sense... 🤷‍♀️

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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...

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➡️ 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 22 (Exercise 23) - The Hip Twist With Stretched Arms: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 23 (Exercise 24) - Swimming: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 24 (Exercise 25) - The Leg-Pull - Front: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 24 (Exercise 26) - The Leg-Pull: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 25 (Exercise 27) - The Side Kick Kneeling: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 26 (Exercise 28) - The Side Bend: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 27 (Exercise 29) - The Boomerang: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 28 (Exercise 30) - The Seal: healthunlocked.com/strength...

March 28 (Exercise 31) - The Crab: healthunlocked.com/strength...

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So, roll out your mat, give them a try and have fun! 🥳

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold]

Modifications, here I come!!

[Wine 30D Graduate]

the circles i did with bent arms as couldnt get up other wise but the legs were bent then did the modifications but the elbow wasnt on the ground but was bent....yes if i practiced i think i could definitely do the modifications in line with how Lesley did it...felt it in the core so I am chuffed about that..

[Wine 30D Graduate]

swimming i tried it but couldnt raise up as much as she did definitely have to work on flexibilty but it was good i tried the modification and really couldnt raise my arms or legs that high off the floor..really interesting....genius exercise...loved the child pose at the end

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Kudos for trying, Wine ! I still struggle a lot with swimming! I still feel like I can't get my legs and arms up... Sigh.

[Wine 30D Graduate]

leg pull front ..i am so sure i did this wrong but really great exercise

[Wine 30D Graduate]

leg pull wow very hard..i think my num went down a lot hard to keep straight and do the leg lift wow

[ChannelRunner2]

Yes, the leg pull exercises are quite challenging! To continue my sharing of the Pilates teacher Marjon van Grunsven posting her renditions of the Mat exercises, here is she doing the Leg Pull Front and the Leg Pull. Mine don't look anywhere near this! 🤣

You can see the original photos at facebook.com/marjon.grunsven

Marjon doing Leg Pull Front and Leg Pull

[Wine 30D Graduate]

side kick kneeling, again my body is too big ,did one side without a block, did the other with and that meant i wasn't leaning and the hip was above knee...this was hard i didn't do the bicycle, but the front back leg part was low not as high as hers and the circling again was lower than hers and for her to have her hand palm down on the ground ...how did she do that.....again had a go...believe it or not i am enjoying learning about the pilates moves what a great strength exercise

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Glad to read about your experimenting with making the exercises work for you, Wine , and that you're enjoying learning about Pilates!

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold]

I’m catching up, and somehow didn’t manage to get to the mat for week 4.

Hip twists. I have to admit I struggle with straight arms and have been tempted to do them with bent arms. Did the can can modification, but boy are my kicks or circles small.

Also, just for info, in day 22 I found a broken link for the Standing variations for exercises 21-25 by RAD Pilates.

Again, thank you! Having the different deep dives with different videos from different practitioners for every move is fantastic!

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to CBDB]

Glad you're enjoying it, CBDB ! And thanks for nudging me to offer it up again this year!

After a lot of scrolling, I found the RAD Pilates video! They posted it over 100 weeks ago...

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Apparently, Instagram changed it's links 🙈 So, I'll have to go through fixing the other links to standing variations from RADPilates, too! (Just checked Day 26...) I won't be able to do that until later today earliest...

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Yeah, I wouldn’t worry, as there are so many videos that work. And it might be that Instagram will change links again.

I had something similar with links to the runs in NRC 10k plan, which seemed to change every 4 month or so. Real nuisance.

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to CBDB]

Oh that's annoying! I'll see if RAD Pilates has these videos on YouTube, too. I seem to remember that they were posting things there as well...

[Wine 30D Graduate]

side bend stronger on my left arm shoiulder then my right i wobbled more ..i really thought i would be stronger on my right side...very interesting move

[Wine 30D Graduate]

Boomerang oh I did enjoy this one very much

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

I like that one, too! So much fun, though also pretty challenging...

[Wine 30D Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

Yes I did the best I could

[Wine 30D Graduate]

The seal oh boy couldn't do it but rocked back and forward

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Yes, it's a tough one, though once you get what muscles you need to use (abs... of course but you need to feel that in your body, imo), it, too is fun!

[Wine 30D Graduate in reply to ChannelRunner2]

I am not there yet on this one

[ChannelRunner2]

Note that I originally missed adding an exercise for March 28th, which has another double: The crab. I've now added it to the post above. It is a very challenging one, so maybe I left it off subconsciously 🙃

[Wine 30D Graduate]

Tried the crab couldn't do the modification.. Did partial rock twice gave up... I wish I could have done it though... Points for trying

[ChannelRunner2 in reply to Wine]

Yes! Definitively points for trying!