Hot Pilates How-Tos — Page 5 of 6 « Pilates

How To: Do the Mini-Teaser pilates exercise

All practioners of Pilates are familiar with the original Pilates exercise "the Teaser." These "mini-teasers" are precursors to the full teaser to teach you how to do it right. By learning proper form, you will learn to strengthen and tone your abdominals without straining your lower back. Please remember that everyone's back is different both in flexibility and structure, so Teasers may be easier or harder for you depending on your individual structure. Watch this fitness how to video and yo...

How To: Do the Heel Squeeze pilates exercise

The Heel Squeeze is derived from the principles of classical pilates exercises. This pilates tutorial teaches how to engage the gluteus maximus muscles without engaging the lower back muscles. We demonstrate this exercise both with and without a small ball, but the ball is definitely not necessary to reap all the benefits. Focus on keeping the pelvis flat on the mat, the abdominal muscles pulled in and flat and tension out of the neck and shoulders while your tone your derriere. Watch this ho...

How To: Do the Seal pilates exercise

The Seal is an original pilates exercise that increases core strength and balance while delivering a fun exercise. The goal of clapping the feet like a seal claps its flippers is to stabilize the torso against the movement of the legs and increase the time your suspended on each side of the movement by just a second or two to develop ab strength and balance. The Seal exercise is probably our favorite exercise as it always makes clients smile. Watch this fitness how to video and you will be st...

How To: Do the Scissors pilates move

The Scissors is an original pilates exercise that strengthens the abdominal muscles and increases hamstring flexibility. If your hamstrings are tight initially, decrease the range of motion so that you can keep your knee straight, otherwise your hamstring flexibility won't increase as quickly. The Scissors will deliver flatter abs and lean sculpted legs. Watch this fitness how to video and you will be strengthening your body with pilates in no time.

How To: Do the shoulder bridge pilates exercise

The shoulder bridge is an original pilates exercise that builds core strength and strengthens the hamstrings and glutes. Keep your abdominal muscles contracted throughout the exercise to support the lumbar spine. Watch this how to video and you will be strengthening your body with pilates in no time.

How To: Do a double leg lift pilates move

The double leg stretch is an original pilates exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles and your core. Reaching your arms and legs away from your torso challenges your core strength. To increase the core challenge, don't let your head and shoulders drop as your arms and legs reach away and pull in your abs to keep them as flat as possible. Watch this fitness how to video and you will be strengthening your body with pilates in no time.

How To: Do a side leg lift circle pilates exercise

The side leg lift series is part of the classical Pilates repertoire and the circles strengthen the core, flatten the abdominal muscles and tone the inner and outer thighs. If you feel strain in your lower back, bring your legs slightly forward of your body, but for a real challenge, maintain a perfectly straight line and bring your top hand to your hip. Watch this fitness how to video and you'll be strengthening your body with pilates in no time.

How To: Do a one leg kick pilates exercise

The one leg kick is an original pilates exercise that strengthens the hamstrings and glutes. You'll tone the back of the legs and firm your butt while increasing your abdominal strength as you hold your abs off the floor. If you have tight quads, only bend your knee as far as is comfortable or feel free to pulse only once. Watch this how to video and you will be gaining core strength with pilates in no time.

How To: Target your obliques with pilates

The obliques exercise is a classical pilates exercise which targets the abdominal muscles to flatten the stomach and strengthen the core. Keeping the elbows wide helps keep the shoulders down and increases the rotation in the trunk, which helps shrink your waist. Be sure to stretch your legs fully each time and stop the knee at 90 degrees of hip flexion to encourage greater strengthening of the abdominal muscles. Watch this how to video and you will be strengthening your obliques with pilates...

How To: Do the Swan Dive Graceful Rock pilates exercise

Swan Dive Graceful Rocks is a variation on the original Pilates exercise "Swan Dive." It strengthens the gluteus muscles (so your butt will get firmer.) and increases flexibility of the spine. Keeping your abdominal muscles engaged throughout will increase core strength and protect the lower back. Watch this how to video and you can gain strength through pilates.

How To: Do a pilates single leg stretch

The single leg stretch is a classical Pilates exercise for strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles. For increased abdominal challenge, stop the knee at 90 degrees of hip flexion instead of hugging the knee into the chest. Actively stretch through the legs, flatten the abs and keep the shoulders down with each movement and this exercise will tone many muscles in the body. Watch this how to video and you'll be getting in shape with pilates in no time.

How To: Become aware of your pelvic placement

Pilates exercises involve strengthening the core and flattening the abs, so why are your instructors always talking about the pelvis? This how to video explains the importance of pelvic placement and how it relates to the lower back and the muscles around the hip joint. Just becoming aware of your pelvic placement as you drive your car, walk down the street or do any household activity can help you improve your alignment and strengthen the deep postural muscles of your body.

How To: Do the Saw pilates exercise to increase flexibility

The Saw is a classical pilates exercise that increases the flexibility and strength of the core. Be careful not to turn this into a hamstring stretch. The goal of the exercise is to use the abdominal muscles to rotate the spine, then flex the spine over the leg scooping out the abdominals. If you have tight hip flexors or hamstrings, start sitting on a small cushion so you can begin the exercise in upright alignment. Watch this how to video and you'll be performing the Saw pilates exercise in...

How To: Tone your arms with a pilates arm series

In this pilates how-to video, Diane Preusch demonstrates a Pilates arm series. Diane tries to adopt exercises that use things from around the house to do these pilates exercises. This series of exercises is adopted from the reformer machine. You will need arm weights but if you don't have weights you can use cans of soup.

How To: Stabilize core muscles with pilates

Pilates, core support and core stabilization are more than just a buzz words these days, they are a way of life. This pilates how-to video keeps you fresh on all things core - Pilates, abdominal routines and abdominal anatomy, pelvic floor strengthening and other posture and alignment topics. Watch to learn how to stabilize your core with a few pilates exercise tips.

How To: Do pilates shoulder stretches

In this pilates how-to video you are shown two exercises which strengthen and stretch your upper body. Learn to open your shoulders by doing the overhead and shoulder stretch on a regular basis. They can be done with a wooden pole or a thera-band. If you don't have either available you can use bathrobe belt or leash to do pilates shoulder stretches.

How To: Prepare for the challenging pilates teaser exercise

The pilates teaser exercise is tough. This pilates how-to video demonstrates some prep exercises to help you master this challenging exercise. Do the prep work for the teaser on a regular basis to work your way up to the full version of the teaser movement.

How To: Do a pilates glute series

These three pilates glute exercises will help tone your butt and thighs. Get in shape to wear a bathing suit by doing any one or all three pilates moves. Watch this pilates how-to video to learn how to do this glute series.

How To: Practice chest lifts for pilates

Chest Lift is a basic ab exercise that focuses on the rectus abdominus, the long "6 pack abs" muscle that runs down the front of the abdomen. This pilates how-to video will show you the proper way to do pilates chest lifts. Keep doing these chest lifts to sculpt and tone your abdominals.

How To: Practice proper breathing for pilates

Proper breathing is a very important part of Pilates exercise. Many Pilates exercises are taught with specific instructions on how to use the breath with them. Often in our daily lives our breath becomes very shallow, most people only breathe into the upper part of the chest. Watch this pilates how to video to learn proper breathing techniques.

How To: Isolate core muscles with pilates single leg lifts

Straightforward ab work with modifications for beginners and experts are shown in this pilates how-to video. Practice doing single leg lifts and changes with this pilates core workout. These pilates single leg lifts are sure to help tone and strengthen your abdominals in now time.

How To: Practice three Pilates spine twist supine exercises

In this Pilates how-to video Diane Preusch, co-owner of Pilates Center of Bend in Bend, demonstrates Spine Twist Supine, a great warm up exercise that stretches your back while strengthening your abs. She will show you an beginners, intermediate, and advanced level version of the spine twist supine exercise. Watch and practice these pilates exercises at home.

How To: Stretch the legs with a pilates single leg exercise

Pilates is great for strengthening and toning the body. This piltes how-to video illustrates the Single Leg Stretch exercise. It targets the transversus abdominus, rectus abdominus, obliques, scapular stabilizers and hip stabilizers.

How To: Improve stability with a pilates lateral leg series

This pilates how-to video illustrates the Lateral Flexion exercise of the Side Leg Series. It is obviously a great exercise for lateral flexion and balance.

How To: Increase spine mobility with pilates side bends

This Pilates Side Bend exercise is used to enhance lateral mobility of the spine. It primarily targets the transversus abdominis, obliques and scapular stabilizers. Attention should be paid to the abdominal contraction to maintain rib connection and prevent the hips and shoulders from rotating. The cervical spine should stay aligned with the thoracic spine.

How To: Practice the pilates spine twist exercise

This pilates how-to video illustrates the Pilates Spine Twist exercise. This exercise is great for spinal rotation.

How To: Practice a pilates obliques exercise

This pilates how-to video illustrates the Obliques exercise. This exercise is great for rotation, flexion and strengthening pelvic stability.

How To: Do a pilates obliques roll back exercise

This pilates how-to video illustrates the Obliques Roll Back exercise. This is a challenging rotational pilates exercise for athletes and advanced clients.

How To: Practice the pilates swimming exercise

This pilates how-to video illustrates the Swimming exercise. This pilates exercise is good for core stabilization, upper back extension and hip extension. This is good to improve back strength and those deep abdominal stabilizers.

How To: Do pilates with model Carolyn Stotes

Click Models' Carolyn Stotes demonstrates three pilates exercises to tighten your stomach, outer thighs, and butt. Do pilates with model Carolyn Stotes.

How To: Do a 10 minute arms and shoulder pilates workout

Tone your upper body by doing these simple pilates exercises with 3-5 pound weights. Begin with the pilates zip up exercise working your biceps and triceps and finish with the superman lunge.

How To: Do pilates for pregnant women

This video shows you the benefits of the pilates workout for pregnant women.

How To: Do pilates arm workout with small weights

In this video series, expert Constance Borho teaches you some great pilates exercises for strengthening your arms, chest, and shoulders with small weights. Connie leads you through chest expansions and shoulder raises, showing you how to maintain good posture (keeping the “core” aligned) and various ways to strengthen your arms.

How To: Do advanced Pilates exercises

In this online video series learn Pilates exercises from Ricketta Butler. She teaches and demonstrates exercises such advanced Pilates exercises such as the bicycle, double straight leg, hip cirlces, the hundred, kneeling side kick, leg pull down, leg pull up, open leg rocker, rollover, scissors, shoulder bridge, side kick series, swimming, and the teaser.