Pilates in the Pool!

I have a confession…. summer can be a difficult time for me to fit in Pilates workouts. When the weather warms up, I typically add more outdoor activites to my fitness routine. Biking, paddle boarding, and hiking tend to trump my usual weekend schedule at the studio. Add in vacations, social events, and the occasional weekend road trip, and there is little time left for my favorite classes. If I am not planful, my Pilates practice can easily fall by the wayside.

If you are like me and find it difficult to make it to the studio in the summer, consider adding a little Pilates to your favorite outdoor activity! Try a mini-Pilates workout before heading out on your morning run, practice your Pilates breathing before your next bike ride, or try some paddle board Pilates!

I recently decided to fit some Pilates in while enjoying some time at the pool. It was the perfect way to fit a little Pilates in to my day without giving up time at the pool. From a therapeutic standpoint, exercising in the pool offers the benefits of both bouyancy and resistance. But most importantly, it’s fun!

If you have tried Barre classes at Rivercity Pilates, then you already have experience with several options for translating the traditional Pilates matwork to a standing routine. If you are new to trying Pilates in a different environment, consider trying a few of my favorite Pilates exercises in the pool.

Chest expansion – inhale as you press your arms back and open your chest, exhale as you bring arms back to the water surface. For an added challenge, grab a pool noodle to use in place of the roll down bar usually used in tower class.

Mermaid – again, grab a pool noodle (or a kickboard) if you have one, but feel free to try this without any props. Inhale as you press down with one hand and elongate in to a side bend. Exhale as you return to upright standing.

Standing leg kicks – think side leg kicks in a standing position. Hold on the edge of the pool or a railing for support, or challenging your balance by standing a few inches away. Try sweeps, battement, developpe, rond de jambe, hot potato, and bicycle. For added challenge, try sidekicks using pool noodles or floats to perform the whole series floating (sorry, no pictures of this experiment!). Add in some single leg pumps from the traditional chair repertoire while you are at it.

Rolling like a ball – this one takes a little experimentation and a pool noddle or two, but it’s a fun one to try! Experiment with placing pool noodles under your knees and possibly around your back. Start with small rocks and gradually increase the range of your movement. Most importantly, have fun!