Happy June!  Come slide into a fun Pilates & Core workout with me...

We'll be using Gliding Discs, an effective way to transform your abs & core from home, without ANY fancy or expensive equipment!

This series will spice up your Pilates home workouts so you can strengthen & tone.  It mimicks some intense Pilates Reformer work  (if you don't know what a reformer is no worries) like Bridges and Wheelbarrow. Then we flow into dynamic yogic flexibility moves, to boost with posture and stretch out tightness.  

I'm using Slidez from SKLZ in the videos but if you do not have a pair, you can use a towel under your feet and hands (on hard floors) or paper plates (on carpeting).  Use this like to purchase on Amazon http://amzn.to/2s4skZ5 

The Workout:  

Each clip is a mini sequence or circuit of exercises. You may do them all in a row, a great Pilates total body workout or add a sequence into your current routine for added core challenges....

I offer rep ranges in the clips, but you can also try HIIT style, by performing each move 45 seconds then resting for 15 seconds.

For best results, try performing the whole workout 3 times a week.

Super Slide Sequence 1- Begin to Burn...

Cat Cow- Spine Mobility

• Start with knees right under hips and hands stacked under shoulders.

• Inhale, round the spine. & initiate movement from the belly by drawing rips up to ceiling then tucking chin to tail.

• Exhale to arch by sending hips back dropping belly and looking up. Keep shoulders back off ears and stabilize the slidez with hands.

WheelBarrow - Core Power 

I broke down in the video the difference between hinging at shoulders vs hips, during wheelbarrow you will do both!

• Come into a kneeling plank body in a long line from head to knees ,hands over slidez. Drop shoulder down to waist & open chest, & wrap those ab muscles tight to spine!

• Slide arms forward opening the armpits and sending the hips toward the floor, exhaling.

• Bring hands back under shoulder as you bend hips back to start, inhaling

Super Slide Sequence 2 Booty & Core

Alternating Leg Stretch- Core & Hips

• Place slidez under heels with knees bent & parallel. Find neutral (natural spine curve) position in the lower back, with a small space between the low back & the mat.

• BRACE abs tight around the spine, like a corset, to stabilize the torso. Slide right foot out. Return to center. Slide left foot out..

Reach & Crunch - Abs!

• Place hands behind nape of neck & gently curl chin to chest exhaling. Using leg pattern above, lower chest & head and slide to stretch one leg out, inhaling.

• Slide and bend leg in as you lift chest exhaling. Then lower head as you switch leg, continue alternating the legs. As head lowers one leg extends, crunch up as you bend the knee:)

• Try to pelvis still, low spine neutral, side waist long & elbows wide.

Pulse Reach- Ab Burn!

• Pulses in Pilates and Barre workouts are small micro movements in the center of the contraction, repeated quickly to intensify the burn.

• Extend one leg out in crunch position, extend same arm long and reach it past the bent knee.....Crunch up an inch higher then lower back an inch for the pulses.

Bridge ---Bridges are great to balance out hip tightness & open the front body as we work the booty, & the lower back. 

• Lay face up on mat, bend knees & place sliders under heels with feet parallel. Press shoulders & arms into the mat, to keep a neutral neck position and not send your bodyweight into the neck bones.

• From neutral, tilt hips back to mat, imprinting the spine & slowly lift hips up, Roll spine up one verterbra at a time. Exhale.

• Hold sliders still, inhale and roll spine down to mat, and come back to nuetral spine,, repeat.

• Keep knees parallel to each other & press evenly into those gliders with both feet!

Bridge & Extend - More Booty Lifting...

• From a high bridge exhale & slide both legs out long. Keep hips up by engaging glutes and thighs, as well as tightening abs.

• Slide legs in, bending knees with high hips as you inhale.

Split Bridge Lift- Booty Burn!

• Keeping hips up exhale & slide 1 foot forward.

• Then keeping hips up inhale & slide foot in. Then slide other foot forward and bring it in

• .Keep alternating (& breathing) and repeat

Pilates Roll Up- Classic Pilates goodness!

• Lay back long with feel stabilizing slidez. Arms are long to sides, collarbones are wide and belly muscles are pulled in. Lift chest & head, pull abs tighter, exhale. Then lift upper back, then middle back & lower back - they should peel off the mat one inch at a time.

• Reach spine forward to a bend. Think of lengthening the torso over the legs as you stretch. Inhale.

• Rock pelvis to mat to initiate the roll back, exhale as abs & glutes engage, & feet press to gliders...Roll back down one inch at a time inhaling.

• Try not to excessively round and lift shoulders to ears, you can bend knees or use hands to modify

Super Slide Plank Sequence

Plank - Ultimate for Core Strength

• Start with sliders under hands & hands right under the shoulders. Squeeze your butt and abs to stabilize the body. Keep the lower back neutral, don't arch or round it

• Neck stays in line with spine, look forward not back to your feet. Think open chest & collarbones open and shoulders back.

• Open feet wider to make it easier, narrower stance is more challenging.

Plank Arm Reach - Ab and Upper body burners!

• From your plank: Slide one long arm forward. Maintain perfect long plank form by bracing abs in.

• Slide hand back under shoulder. Alternate arms.

Plank Knee Taps - Lower Ab Targeting

• From plank, keep torso still, bend knees and tap them to mat. Extend knees coming right back to plank. Keep shouders stable over wrists.

• Exhale as you lower the knees inhale as you lift the knees.

Cat Twists- Stretch it out!

• As you bend knees and hips send hips towards feet hands on top of slides.

• Slide one hand under opposite shoulder, looking under that armpit. Slide back to the stretch postion with hands in front of you. Then twist to other side.

• Exhale as you twist and inhale as you slide back to the center position.

Cobras- Open the heart.

• Place slidez under hands & start on belly. Press feet and pelvis down but tighen abs.

• Press into hands to straiten arms and start to lift the chest for baby cobra. Draw shoulders down and open the front chest Maintain tight abs and heavy hips. Exhale.

• Bend elbows to release and return to mat. Inhale

• For HIGH COBRA extend the arms fully, as you come up. Be careful not to overarch the low back.

Cobra Reach- variation on a classic

• Hold a high cobra, exhale and extend one arm forward.

• Inhale to bring it back in maintaining the back extension.

• Alternate sides- Maintain long spine as you stretch

Final Super Slide Sequence- Leg Focus

Squat - Functional and oh so fun!

• With on foot under slide, bend at knees and hips, as if you were going to sit in a chair.

• Try not to arch the low spine. Keep knees bent directly over the mid foot as you squat.

• The lower you go the harder the alignment is to maintain...

Skaters- Slider leg shaping

• Come to a squat position, bending at knees & hinging at hips. Tighten abs exhale & slide foot to the side by straightening the knee. Keep stabilizing knee bent directly over midfoot,

• Inhale bend knee to returnkeeping hips hinged and abs wrapped around waist to support that long spine.

• Keep shoulders down towards waist & spine neutral with hips & shoulders squared.

Split- Stretch and Tone

• With feet in a V, and legs long, slide out, keeping weight balanced between both legs.

• Squeeze abs in tight as you engage inner and outer thighs to slide back in.

• Keep the crown of the head on the celing, you may reach arms out as you open legs.

Slider Plie- Dancer legs

• Stand with feet wide, toes turned out. Spine stays long as you bend knees coming into a plie

• Keeping the hips low & still .......slide foot by extending 1 leg out.

• Slide it back in returning to your plie.

• Keep the spine long with the tips of your ears reaching for the sky. Tail drops between heels, reach hip points forward and wrap the back of the thigh muscles.

Triangle Stretch- Get flexible.

Slide leg foward and straighten both knees into a split position.  Square hips to shoulders tighten abs and reach torso towards from knee.  Hold for 20- 60 seconds

Kneeling Stretches

• With slider under knee, in a kneeling lunge, press into front foot and extend front leg as you send hips to back foot. Pause to stretch the back of the thigh and then repeat.

• To stretch & open the front of the hips, slide knee back and forth a few times to deepen into hip flexors.

I hope you enjoy this Pilates workout and all the new moves.

Keep me posted on your progress, tag me on instagram with my hashtag #JessiFitPilates so I can see you!

And if you haven't already, grab my FREE ebook

http://www.jessifitpilates.com/free-ebook/

xoxo

Jessi

Photo Credit: Stephanie Hirasawa

Music Credit: Ben Sound "Sci Fi"