We are all facing new challenges these days as we learn to fill our time productively without venturing out into the world. Many of us are struggling to find the time and the discipline to take care of ourselves physically and mentally. You can only walk in circles in your living room so many times before you get dizzy. And push-ups and sit-ups can get boring pretty fast. Those of us who are regulars at Evolve Pilates in Celebration Pointe sure are missing our favorite instructors and their classes right about now.
But the good news is that you can still perfect your Pilates technique during this time, even though you can’t attend your favorite gym and fitness classes. There are plenty of at-home Pilates workouts you can do to help you stay in shape, get your endorphins flowing and ensure that you’ll be stronger than ever when classes are back in session at Evolve Pilates.
If you’ve ever taken a Pilates class, chances are you’ve done some form (or many forms) of the One Hundred. All you have to do is roll out your mat, lie faceup, lift both legs toward the ceiling at a 45-degree angle and curl your head up to feel that tension in your abs. Then, just pump your arms up and down by your side with your palms facing down. You can repeat this as many times as you want, inhaling for five counts and exhaling for five counts.
OK, these are exactly what they sound like and are great for hip mobility and flexibility. Simply lie faceup on your mat with your arms by your sides, and raise one leg in the air. Then slowly draw a large circle with your foot. You can pretend you are tracing the circumference of a large hula hoop. Do five circles clockwise, and then do five counterclockwise. Then switch legs. You can also do leg circles with a band to create more tension if you have one. Learn how in this video from one of the Evolve Pilates instructors.
Again, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Keep your feet about hip-distance apart. Place your arms by your sides, palms facing down. Inhale, and then exhale as you lift your body up, getting your spine into a bridge position. Try to focus on doing this one vertebra at a time. Pause at the top of your posture, and reach your knees in front of your toes, opening up your hip flexors. Inhale as you do this. Finally, exhale as you slowly bring your spine—one vertebra at a time—back down to the ground. Repeat eight to ten times.
To complement your solo exercises, you can also browse the video and virtual content from Evolve Pilates. Nothing beats the in-person class experience, but we all need to help motivate each other to keep our bodies moving during this unprecedented time. So check out the selection of free workout videos on their site, and see if you can snag a spot in a virtual class via GoToMeeting or Zoom.
We can’t wait to see you back in class at Celebration Pointe as soon as it’s safe to reopen!
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