Miranda on The Reformer

Pilates is a Full Body exercise! The whole body needs to WORK!

This week’s training at Marjolein’s studio was all about ‘working the whole body!’’. That’s what I love about Pilates, you do not just train one particular muscle, your full body is working.

For example the Frog and Leg circles on the Reformer; it is an exercise we do on a weekly basis and the buttocks are very important in this, but do not forget the Powerhouse either. And I thought I had it under control….but with Pilates there is always a next level… the same exercise can be done on the Tower as well, with the Heavy Springs!

Frog and Leg circles to the next level

These things are really called Heavy for a reason, what a major coordination exercise for me! Making different movements with every leg is already very diffcult, but the legs need to stay in the center, don’t lett them fall to the side. The arms are pushing against the pole , the abdomnial muscles are assisting as well, and I rediscovered the inner side of my thighs ! So, YES, the whole body needs to work!

‘Your walking will only get worse’ doctors said.

There have been doctors who say my walking can only gets worse. I do not believe it is true. Today’s exercises with the Heavy Springs make me believe that I can still improve my way of walking. Some muscles I had not used for my entire life (inner thighs, hamstrings). And they are there now. Yes, it takes a long time, a very long time, before my muscles understand what my brain wants them to do. But they learn! The exercise with the Heavy Springs was one I could not do last year, then my legs just weren’t strong enough.

But now I can!