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Upper Back – Half Swan (mini Breaststroke) (ep. 002) 1
Half Swan is one of many mat Pilates exercises for strengthening the muscles of the upper back and developing beautiful posture. Similar to Pilates exercises on the Pilates reformer (and Pilates yoga exercises), Half Swan is great for the Pilates beginner and prepares the body safely for more advanced Pilates exercises. Half Swan extends the upper back while opening the front of the shoulders to help strengthen those muscles which hold your spine in the proper position. Doing Pilates exercises like the Half Swan reverse the effects of the many actions we perform in our daily routines (working at a desk, picking up kids, etc.) that pull us forward! Even a Pilates beginner can execute mat Pilates exercises such as this effectively, for it involves only upper back extension: in fact, if you feel this in your lower back at all, try separating your legs slightly.
Many people think Pilates exercises only build strong abdominal muscles, but the Half Swan proves that is not the case! The Half Swan prepares the Pilates beginner for more mat Pilates exercises that involve full extension of the spine. In fact, many Pilates yoga enthusiasts need to work on upper back extension, as more advanced Pilates exercises that require full spinal extension inevitably focus on the lower back. Do this Pilates exercise diligently and you’ll be ready for more advanced Pilates exercises in no time! Hey, Pilates yoga practitioners! Try the many variations of the Pilates exercises Swan Dive and Swimming too!
