Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Pilates: The Essentials

PILATES WARM UP ROUTINE : SEATED



STARTING POSITION


BREATHING


Seated. Spine and pelvis neutral and vertical
Knees bent, 
Soles on the floor
Palms on ribcage

Inhale
Through the nose
Exhale
Through pursed lips
Inhale
Through the nose. Feel back and side of ribs expand
Exhale
Through pursed lips. Allow ribcage to close.

IMPRINT & RELEASE


Knees flexed. Feet hip distance apart.
Arms by sides palms down by the femur joint


Inhale
To prepare
Exhale
Contract abs, depressing belly button towards the spine, shorten the oblique muscles
Inhale
Release
Exhale
Repeat

HIP RELEASE 1


Knees flexed. Feet hip distance apart.
Palms down by the femur joint

Inhale
To prepare
Exhale
Release hip joint, allow flexed knee to open  out to side
Inhale
Return hip joint, allow flexed knee to come back to start
Exhale
Repeat

HIP RELEASE 2


Knees flexed. Feet hip distance apart.
Arms by sides palms down by the femur joint

Inhale
To prepare
Exhale
Flex heel, allow flexed knee to straighten foreard
Inhale
Drag heel in , allow flexed knee to come back to start
Exhale
Repeat

SPINAL ROTATION


Seated. Spine and pelvis neutral and vertical
Knees bent, 
Soles on the floor
Arms stretched forward
Palms facing each other

Inhale
Separate palms. Swing one arm out to side.
Exhale
Continue to reach out, upper torso to rotate, allowing front chest to open
Gaze following
Inhale
Breathe
Exhale
Stay keeping top arm active
Inhale
Engage abs start bringing top arm back to front
Exhale
Rotate torso back to starting

HIP ROLLS


Knees flexed. Feet hip distance apart.
Arms by sides palms down by the femur joint

Inhale
To prepare
Exhale
Scoop belly. Depress belly button towards the spine. Sequentially articulate the spine into flexion (like an angry cat head looking down). Avoid tensing upper shoulders, keeping shoulders away from the ears.
Inhale
Keep abs engaged keeping head down
Exhale
Sequentially articulate spine back to starting position

SCAPULA ISOLATION


Knees flexed.
Feet hip distance apart.
Arms reaching up.

Inhale
Protract scapulae, widening between the shoulder blades
Exhale
Returning back to neutral

ARM CIRCLES


Knees flexed.
Feet hip distance apart.
Arms by sides palms down.

Inhale
Reach arms towards ceiling and over head without popping the ribs up
Exhale
Circle arms out to sides and around

HEAD NODS


Supine. Knees flexed.
Feet hip distance apart.
Arms by sides palms down.

Inhale
Lengthen back of neck
Exhale
Gently nod
Inhale
Release and lengthen back of neck
Exhale
Repeat

ELEVATION & DEPRESSION

Knees flexed.
Feet hip distance apart.
Arms by sides palms down.


Inhale
Slide shoulders up towards ears avoid tension as u glide
Exhale
Glide shoulders away from the ears , widening collarbone