It's hard to believe we are on the cusp of March MATness 2017!
How did it all start?
Now in its 5th year, March MATness is a global celebration of the original Mat exercises and brilliant body conditioning system that is our beloved Contrology.
Read more here.
OMG I love the Mat exercises!
Yes.
It's true.
I'm endlessly fascinated with all of Joe's Mat exercises. He stretches us to the very edges of our capabilities with infinite variations on a theme.
My personal Mat workout consists of the 34 exercises from Joe Pilates and the 3 extra ‘Series of 5‘ exercises reportedly added by Romana Kryzanowska: Single Straight Leg Stretch (Scissors), Double Straight Leg Stretch (Lower Lift), and Criss Cross. Another staple is Thigh Stretch, an exercise Jay Grimes learned from Joe Pilates in the 1960s.
Which brings my total to a whopping 38 exercises!
Sometimes I like to add the High Bridge after the Shoulder Bridge. Because I can.
And if you can you should.
Every little bit of this workout can be completed in under 30 minutes.
Let's get the party started with the Hundred on Wednesday March 1, 2017.
The Order of the Universe
I'm a huge fan of Joe Pilates' original order of the Mat exercises.
What a precious gift from Joe Pilates.
We've got an entire month (and beyond) to focus on his brilliant sequencing.
Thanks Joe.
If you're new to the order of the Pilates Mat exercises get your list of the exercises here.
Stay tuned in March for the debut of My Mat Poster…coming soon!
3 Cheers for our Faves
This year I'm thrilled to have a few more favorites on the Mat than in previous years. Maybe you do too.
Since last year's MATness I have come to thoroughly enjoy Swimming.
Way more than I ever thought possible…
Other stretchy favorites include Control Balance and Bicycle.
Don't get me started on the rolling exercises… #goodtimesroll
Wanna take a closer look?
On the Mat, perfecting your exercises can take time.
Use these posts to dive in deep this week and sail on through the weekend:
- I am my own Spine Corrector: How to Lower your Legs in the Hundred
- Pilates Mat Exercise #2: The Roll Up
- A Brief Pilates Tutorial on the Roll Up
- Pilates Mat Exercise #3: The Roll Over
- 3 New Thoughts on an Old Favorite: The One Leg Circle
- 10 Helpful Pilates Posts to Get the Ball Rolling
- Pilates Mat Exercises #6-10: The Ab Five
- Desperately Seeking Neck Pull on the Mat
Maybe you're ready to link your exercises together into one glorious chain of movement?
Tighten up those transitions between exercises all month long:
Or you can watch the playlist on YouTube.
MATness All Month Long
I hope you'll join me here for Mat-centric posts as we move and sweat our way through the MATness.