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Abs – Spine Stretch Forward (ep. 019) 1
A Pilates beginner often attends Pilates classes or tries Pilates online and wonders throughout the first few Pilates workouts what this Pilates exercise called “Spine Stretch Forward” is all about. If not done (or taught) properly, it may seem like a simple forward bend, designed to stretch hamstrings as opposed to deliver a special Pilates benefit. Because this exercise is difficult for a Pilates beginner to grasp, in the Pilates classes at our New York Pilates studio, we often teach this exercise with the back against the wall initially. By doing this, the Pilates performer can feel his/her spine move segmentally away from the wall, which is the goal of the exercise, something that is difficult to see or understand when learning Pilates online or attending Pilates classes as a Pilates beginner.
As a Pilates beginner, or as a student of Pilates aiming to become a Pilates instructor, it is vital to understand that each and every Pilates body might look quite different when performing this exercise. For example, if you have a very flat or tight lower back, it may take years of Pilates classes before the flexibility of the spine manifests, and you certainly don’t want to force it! In our Pilates online video website, www.ultimatepilatesworkouts.com, we have full-length as well as mini Pilates workouts such as “My First Pilates Workout”, and the “Morning Low Back Care Workout”, both of which are geared to the Pilates beginner and are a great substitute for Pilates classes if you can’t get to your nearest Pilates studio.
