Pelvic Curl & Lifts

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A gentle warm-up exercise for the spine and the abdominal muscles. It strengthens the lower body and helps coordinate breath with movement. For those with upper back or neck problems, you may practise engaging and releasing the pelvic tilt or roll up just part of the way. Shoulders and neck should remain relaxed throughout the exercise.

Instructions:

  1. Set Up
    Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Make sure that your feet, ankles, and knees are aligned and hip-distance apart. This exercise starts in neutral spine. In neutral spine, the natural curves of the spine are present so the lower back is not pressed into the mat.
  2. Begin Sequential Breathing
    Bring your breath into your chest, then belly, and down to the pelvic floor. Exhale. Release the breath from the pelvic bowl, the belly, and then the chest. Inhale again.
  3. Exhale
    Do a pelvic tilt by engaging the abdominal muscles and pulling your belly-button down toward your spine. Let that action continue so that the abs press the lower spine into the floor. In the pelvic tilt position, your back is very long against the floor and the pelvis is tilted so that the pubic bone is a little higher than the hip bones.
  4. Inhale
    Press down through your feet allowing the tailbone to begin to curl up toward the ceiling. The hips raise, then the lower spine, and, finally, the middle spine. Keep your legs parallel all the way through. You will come to rest between your shoulder blades, with a nice straight line from your hips to your shoulders. Do not arch beyond this point. Be sure to support this movement with the abdominals and hamstrings.
  5. Exhale
    As you let your breath go, use abdominal control to roll the spine back down to the floor.
  6. Inhale
    Release to neutral spine. Prepare to repeat the exercise by initiating the pelvic tilt on the exhale. Repeat this exercise 3 to 5 times.

 

Pilates Chest Lift and Single Leg Stretch

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pilates-chest-lift-single-leg-stretch

This is a powerful duo in targeting your lower abs which results in the flatter tummy everyone desires.

The Chest Lift creates a deep curve of the abdominals down toward the mat. It is done very slowly with the breath and no momentum is used.

The Single Leg Stretch teaches you to move from the centre. It trains the abdominals to initiate movement, and to support and stabilize the trunk as the arms and legs are in motion. Especially helpful in targeting the lower abs, good coordination is achieved as well.

When you build abdominal strength and understand the lengthening move of the Pilates Chest Lift, you will have a good foundation for working with many of the forward flexion Pilates exercises like the Single Leg Stretch and The Hundred.

Instructions:

  1. Lie on the back with both feet flat on the floor and knees bent. Adjust shoulder blades so that they are lying flat on the floor. Inhale to prepare. On the exhale, draw the navel in toward your spine and lift your head, shoulders and feet off the floor.
  2. Place the right hand on right ankle, left hand on right knee, and keep the elbows lifted on the inhale.
  3. Exhale and extend the left leg straight in front of left hip, as close to the floor as possible without letting the back arch away from the floor or the hips sway away from centre.
  4. Inhale and switch legs, but be sure to keep your belly scooped inward as you do this.
  5. Clasp left hand on left ankle and right hand on left knee as you make the switch.
  6. Repeat 10 times.

 

Standing Pilates Squat

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standing-pliates-squat

This exercise aims to tone leg muscles and provides a great workout for the core muscles and the entire lower body. It looks simple but should be executed with control and awareness. It can be made more challenging by incorporating small weighted Pilates balls, which will work to tone the shoulders as well.

Instructions:

  • Stand up straight with the feet about hip-width apart and the toes pointing forward. Tighten the abdominal and buttocks muscles. Stretch the arms out to the side, shoulder height with the palms facing down.
  • Bend the knees and come into a squat. Stick the hips back as if you are about to sit on a chair.
  • Press your heels into the floor, stand back up and lift your right leg up. The toes should be facing forward. Do not turn the leg out or in.
  • Lower the right leg slowly and with control so that the toes touch first and the heel last. Make sure you do not just drop the leg back down.
  • Squat down again and this time, lift the left leg as you stand back up.
  • Go back and forth for 8 to 12 repetitions. Do this with control.
  • To make this exercise more challenging, hold a weighted Pilates ball in your hand. As you lift the right leg, lift your right arm up to shoulder height, palm facing down as you hold the ball. Squat and lower both arms down. Pass the ball to your left hand. As you stand up and lift the left leg, lift your left arm up shoulder height.

 

Standing Pilates Lunge

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The Pilates lunge is a favoured exercise to strengthen the quadriceps muscles, gluteal muscles and hamstrings muscles. It also aids in hip stabilization and knee strengthening. Moreover, this routine also helps you gain a better sense of balance and an increased awareness of your body.

Instructions:

  1. Start in a position where your right heel touches the inside of the left foot, your right knee should be looking to the right.
  2. Take the right leg out diagonally in a wide stance and lower the hips to come into a lunge position. This will bring the bent leg into a 90-degree angle. Allow the back leg to stretch out with your foot and heel on the floor.
  3. Bring both arms to stretch above you next to your ears. The body now is in one straight diagonal line from the fingers down to the heel of the back leg.
  4. Hold this position for 5 counts then push up from your right bent leg and take the leg diagonally behind you, do a curtsey taking the body down.
  5. Push up and come to standing third dance position. Repeat 3 times with each leg.
  6. Do not allow the knee to go beyond the toes; keep the knee in line with the ankle when in a lunge position.

 

Turbocharge your run with these Pilates exercise moves from PowerMoves Pilates Studios :)

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Runners, listen up: it’s time to step away from those speed sessions, and focus on building up the key muscle groups that power your run – your core, hips, hamstrings and lower back. The stronger they are, the more effective your strides will be. And you will be far less likely to get injuries.

On non-running days, do these Pilates moves – recommended by Claudel Kuek, CEO and founder of PowerMoves Pilates Lifestyle in Singapore – and you will soon see a huge improvement in your posture and stamina. “For all exercises, remember to draw your shoulders away from your ears, and keep your abdominal muscles engaged while lengthening your waist.”

One in fitness with you,
PowerMoves Pilates Lifestyle Singapore

Class bookings online at the MindBody app for POWERMOVES Pilates classes in Singapore :)

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Make your next Pilates class booking with us online – from your phone or any smart device! Sign in to MindBody online which can be found on www.powermoves.com.sg under CLASS BOOKINGS.

Look forward to seeing you in our Pilates classes today!!

Yours in fitness and wellness,
PowerMoves Pilates Lifestyle

PowerMoves wins again!

Best of Singapore Award, Best Pilates Instructors, Best Pilates Service, Best Pilates Studios, Expat Living Award, Most Beginner Friendly Pilates, Pilates Award, SHAPE Award, Singapore TATLER Award

 

2016 brings in more joy with PowerMoves Pilates being tops in 2 categories:

Best MAT Pilates Class

and

Most COMPREHENSIVE Pilates Class

Here in Singapore, set in lush tropical surroundings, we offer you the very best in Pilates classes. Everything you need and want in a fitness regime to help you lose weight, tone up, stretch out, lift up and have fun – it’s all here at one-stop PowerMoves Pilates Lifestyle. With locations close to you at Dempsey Hill and Novena Hub.

Happy 2016.. your best is yet to be 🙂 🙂 🙂

STAYING ON TRACK

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It’s common for your fitness routine to be derailed by holidays. But who says you need a gym? You just need a little willpower and a couple of minutes. We asked Claudel Kuek, founder and CEO of PowerMoves Pilates Lifestyle about her personal routine.

Q. How do you stay strong and limber on long trips?

A. I do daily express sessions before starting the day: Leg lifts (front, side and back), planks, grand plies or lunges, stomach crunches and push-ups. I do 20 reps of each exercise and give my body a good stretch immediately afterwards.

Q. Where do you do these exercises?
A. In the room, by the pool, in the gym – wherever inspires me most. Depending on the destination, this routine can be done in lovely parks or by the beach too. It is always special to embrace the vacation spot by being outdoors so playing golf, cycling and hiking are my other favourite activities to stay fit.

Q. What else gets you going?
A. I like breezy soundtracks. Think Lionel Richie’s Love Will Conquer All, Basia’s Cruising For Bruising, and Justin Timberlake’s Love Never Felt So Good.

As featured on Shape Singapore October 2015 🙂

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Join us, PowerMoves Pilates @ Novena Specialist Centre, as we introduce you to Pilates with a workshop on 26 Sep (Saturday 2pm). You will get to try out Pilates moves and reap all its benefits. The first 30 SHAPE readers to call 6455-2221 win a one-hour pass worth $150.

Sign up now! We would be delighted to have you!

www.powermoves.com.sg

PowerMoves Pilates Lifestyle