One of my teachers, Pilates Elder Jay Grimes, mentioned how Pilates is based on one mat exercise.  Can you guess which one?  Well while you index your brain on all the Pilates exercises that can sum up Pilates into one, let’s learn one of it’s precursors.  The answer - at the end of this post!   This particular exercise is probably not what Pilates taught, but the idea is there.  The exercise and it’s progressions are this week’s video.  Just stick with the first one for a while.  It’s surprising how simple and effective it is.  It works for any age and any body.  It teaches the feeling of a 2 way stretch without fancy apparatus, fuss, bells or whistles.  You can do it on a bed, floor, or patio furniture, maybe even a hammock!

This ab exercise uses the limbs to help lengthen the center, and engage the abdominal wall.  Whatever level you are, you will feel it!  You want to wrap your glut and stretch out through the pinkie toe and hold it at a level that can engage your stomach.  Too low and your lower back may arch.  Too high and you may not feel anything.  I like to start at 45 degrees and go up or down from there.  The scapula of the opposing limb reaches up to the hand (Arms Overhead post) through your pinkie finger.  Take your pinkie finger and opposite toe and feel like there are people at both ends pulling them away from each other, without adjusting your pelvis.  In turn, that helps narrow the waist.  It’s an amazing and safe way to feel the sensation of lengthening your core.  This exercise is referred to as the dead bug exercise, but there is nothing dead about it, so let’s call it The Alive Abs Progression. More vibrant and true.

And I didn’t forget, the one exercise that is in every Pilates exercise is….. drumroll please…. Double Leg Stretch.  Can you see how Alive Abs is the precursor of the Double Leg Stretch?  Try it and let me know what you think. 

Here is a great progression ab video for any body.
Stop at the one that is hardest for you, and work on it!
You have to earn the progression!