Pilates springboard class “The body is a series of moving parts, and when you get one area working better, the effect goes through the system.” This quote by Margot McKinnon defines the following Pilates Springboard class. It is the reason that some of the simplest elements have such a profound impact on the body. My…
Intense Pilates reformer class plan I love the Pilates Reformer. It helps build strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. It can be used for a workout, for rehabilitation, for rebalancing imbalances in the body and for fun. At Body Harmonics, one of my favourite classes to teach is Intense Reformer. This class is designed to get your…
Balance and resistance training using small apparatus is a great way to build strength and stability whether you are a novice Pilates student or have been doing it for years! The coach ball is a great tool to start as it is a simple prop with many different uses. It can add a balance and…
This series of exercises is closed chain and helps to take stress off the lower back. The key is to bend from the hips and isolate hip motion from spine motion. It may seem like a simple concept, but is very challenging for many people to do. When the hips are bending and low back…
It’s such a rush when you can teach an advanced exercise and have your Pilates students do it successfully. At Body Harmonics, our signature Progressive Sequences help build movement up effectively. You can use them on any piece of Pilates equipment. The Progressive Sequences will give you a roadmap to work with so your students are successful…
Margot’s Intense Springboard Class Plan I’ve used these Pilates Springboard sequences many times before. Feel free to use as is or add your own flair. To learn more about the Pilates Springboard, check out Springboard 101. Standing Series 1 A. Squats Stand, facing springboard; use yellow springs with a triangular handle in each hand; place springs…
Quadruped arm leg reach The quadruped arm leg reach is an awesome challenge for balance, coordination and strength. When done with precision and control, it can challenge the core, build total body strength, and improve posture. Take your time with this exercise. At every point of change, there’s a different set of muscles starting to…
Neutral pelvis in a beginner Pilates class Some instructors grapple with how to focus on one concept and end up teaching several different exercises that don’t have anything to do with this concept. The rule of thumb is: teach lots of exercises in all different movement planes, and only reinforce “the concept of the day”…
Pilates reformer sample class plan Have you ever had a day where you needed a class plan and didn’t have one? Maybe you completely forgot your idea walking into class. Or maybe you got distracted over the weekend and didn’t have a chance to create a class plan. Perhaps a few new participants surprised you…
