Taken from an exercise instruction sheet that Joseph H. Pilates used to sell for $1.00 in 1943, here’s your instructions for Around the Clock from Joe himself:

Are you game to try a Commando Exercise? It looks simple – but it’s rather straining until you have had lots of practice doing it. This exercise develops muscles and tissues that the usual physical drills and even swimming and hiking do not call into play. This “Around the Clock” stunt is especially effective in correcting bad posture, double chin, flabby & weak abdominal muscles, fat thighs, bulging hips, constipation, poor blood circulation and other similar physical imperfections. Below is the explanation how – in one minute morning and evening – you can go “Round the Clock”. It will do you no good whatever just to read about this simple exercise. It must be performed twice daily, day after day, without let up. Be a Commando and command yourself to do this one thing each day. You’ll be surprised at the result!

Directions: Lie on your back with arms pressed tightly against your thighs, as shown on diagram at 12 o’clock. Bend head forward until chin touches chest – with straight legs lift feet about three inches off floor and inhale deeply. Next, exhale fully and double up your legs against chest, thus helping to expel your breath. Now raise the lower part of the spine slightly off floor and with a pivot-like motion, twist the body around to the right to position shown at one o’clock on diagram. Again raise spine slightly and give another twist into position shown at 2 o’clock and stretch out flat as at the beginning. When you have moved from 12 to 2 o’clock, you have completed a cycle of these combination exercises. You then repeat this process, going to 3 & 4, then 5 & 6, until you again reach 12 o’clock. When you are proficient in going round the clock as a clock hand does, you can reverse the process and do it in reverse order.

 

 

Today’s Pilates Mat workout utilizes a fitness band as a tool in your Pilates mat workout.  This simple portable fitness prop can be easily integrated into your Pilates Mat work to help you work deeper and more efficiently!

 

 

 

The Pilates Roll Up exercise is part of Joseph Pilates original mat sequence as found in his book Return to Life and this exercise teaches us some key concepts that we use in the Pilates method over and over again throughout a variety of exercises. Here’s a few things to think about when practicing your roll up variation.

1.  Spinal Articulation and Flexibility:  This exercise is designed to teach us how to move through our spine one vertebrae at a time.  This rolling or curling through our spine requires you to move with control and not jerk or muscle through the movement.  Always pick a version of the roll up that you can do with control so that you can continue to progress by gaining strength in your core and increasing spinal flexibility.

2. Your center is key!  The key to creating a controlled roll up or down is learning how to properly engage your deep abdominals.  By pulling your abdominal muscles in toward your spine you will start to figure out how to move with control and precision through your spine and you’ll continue to strengthen your core muscles!!

3. Don’t forget to breathe!  Joseph Pilates said,” It is the very action of “rolling” and “unrolling” that cleanses your lungs so effectively by driving out the impure air and forcing in the pure air as you roll and unroll”.  Breathing and rolling through your spine go hand in hand.  You’ll find that using your Pilates breath with the movement will help you move better and maintain you engagement from your center.

Is the Teaser your nemesis?  In this video Carey gives you her favorite Teaser tips and her favorite way to help people practice their teaser!

[tweetthis]Is #Pilates #Teaser hard for you? Use a #theraband to help your muscles learn![/tweetthis]

Want to tone and strengthen your arms without the wrist compression and pain that can often be associated with a traditional tricep dip?  Grab a Pilates Magic Circle and try this super effective Pilates exercise!!

[tweetthis]If your wrists hurt when you do tricep dips – try this! [/tweetthis]

Whether you had a recent injury to your hand or wrist or perhaps a surgery, you’ll find this 25 minute mat workout user friendly!

 

[tweetthis]Have you had #carpaltunnel #surgery? Do U need a “no-hands” workout?[/tweetthis]