March Matness 2016: Rocker with Open Legs

The Rocker with Open Legs is another rolling exercise in the Pilates Mat sequence.  Remember the Rolling Like a Ball exercise that was so much fun?  You can think of Open Leg Rocker as the same exercise with legs reaching further from your center to make it a bit more challenging!

• Start by finding your Rolling Like a Ball balance position and take your hands behind your legs on either the backs of your thighs, calves or maybe even ankles.
• Extend your legs toward straight.  If you can’t lengthen them completely straight that’s ok- just try straightening them to what’s comfortable for you.  It will make this exercise more challenging than Rolling Like a Ball but allow you to find a working level for your body.
• Holding this position use an inhale to roll back through the spine holding your shape, then exhale to roll back forward to your starting balance position.
• Joseph Pilates suggested rocking 6 times in his book, Return to Life.