Hi there and welcome to my beautiful new website!
If you’re a long-time blog subscriber, thanks for your patience. Today’s post is near and dear to my Pilates-lovin’ heart and it’s making a bunch of super-cool light bulbs go off in my mind and my Pilates practice.
My body has been on a slow-and-steady repatterning journey for about five years now. Funny how body annoyances can have value and lead to amazing discoveries in our movement lives. TBH, it’s not funny, but it’s been a huge leap in my understanding of the body and the Pilates method.
Annoyance. Brings Value.
And that brings me to today’s topic:
Exercise Relationships
Jay Grimes is famous for saying “We only have one exercise and 500 variations.”
Man, that guy is always right. I love the way exercises interact with each other and coax along the body’s understanding. A key exercise will elevate your understanding system-wide.
A Wunda Chair Workout for the Star Challenged
This is my answer to jump-starting my proficiency in the Star on the Wunda Chair.
Does it really have to be so impossible? Aren’t there heaps of exercises to help with this one?
They tell me Pilates is a system…
Oh yes, have a Ladder Barrel handy as well!
This is a 10-15 minute workout. Use the video at the end of this post and join in the fun!
On the Mat:
- Hundred
- Ab 5
- Side Bend
Ladder Barrel:
- Side Sit Ups
- Side Stretch
Wunda Chair:
Pro-tip #1: Use a spring setting that makes you have to work to lift the pedal. The spring should not push you around.
Pro-tip #2: At first, don’t expect the pedal to move. You want to cultivate your ability to stand your weight on the pedal and figure out how to lift it by coordinating your oppositional forces. Do not shift your weight onto your arm. Commit to the standing back body.
- Side Pull Up
- Tendon Stretch
- Tendon Stretch One Leg Side
- Star
This is just one of many workouts that live on my YouTube channel.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
If you find other helpful exercises to add in, hit me up in the comments and share your success.
Thanks for watching!
Find the workout here 🙂 Enjoy!
6 Responses
Hey Andrea- I like your new website. And this 18 minute class is great
Wondering if you might sometime program some no flexion workouts for those of us who are older and many have osteoporosis issues. I love Sonje’s work and wondered what your ideas might be on this issue.
Thanks and congrats on the new site!
Have a great holiday season!
Linda
Hi Linda 🙂
It’s great to see you here again! Thanks for the kind words on my website – I am pretty thrilled with it myself too. And glad you are enjoying the workout in this week’s post. Yes, I am happy to create a workout that does not include flexion and share my thoughts on osteoporosis issues. Have a wonderful holiday and I hope we can see each other again (even virtually) in the new year! Lots of love to you and your family, xo
Love this! My nemesis too… actually anything that involves my sides lol
Hi Daniela 🙂
Thanks so much for reading and reaching out here to share your thoughts. Welcome! Yes, Star is a crazy one for me on the Wunda – also there’s been a request for the same treatment of Star on the Reformer… oh dear… so stay tuned for that one if you are a Star fan LOL. And just like you, anything involving my sides is my nemesis as well. Thanks for letting me know I am not alone on that one. Keep up the good work, xox
Yay A!! The STAR is still elusive but…thanks for the tips!!
I’ma going to have to change this to: Pro-tip #2: Never expect the pedal to move.
lol!! xo
Hello ! Thank you so much for reading – it is lovely to see you here in the comments again… and that there is something to comment ON LOL
Actually after my last workout – your pro tip is apt – the more proficient I think I am the less the pedal moves ha ha
Let’s catch up soon! Keep up the good work xo