Blog
Squats
Squats are one of those exercises we know we need, but often hate to request… If you feel like you have challenges with the squat, or feel discomfort in your low back, knees, or hips, you’re not alone!
Let’s take a closer look at the common challenges our clients have experienced with squats, what they mean, and how to work on improving your form for a pain-free and more effective squat!
Glutes, Glutes, Glutes!
At the start of each class, we ask our clients for requests — anything that they would particularly like to work on during the session. One of our most common requests: glute work. And we love that! Why? Because whether the requester knows it or not, strong glutes are essential to healthy, highly functioning spines, hips, and knees.
Five Simple Foot Exercises
As upright beings, our feet are our base of support. There are 26 bones & 33 joints in each foot to allow the feet to absorb and distribute the impact of standing/walking/running throughout the rest of the body…
Treating your feet to added mobility and strength exercises can free up tension in your calves, hamstrings, hips, and spine. The effects of caring for our feet can be felt in the entire body!
What Happens to our Hips When We Sit?
For most people, this long year of pandemic has translated into a lot more sitting time, and we’re feeling the consequence in our hips. At the studio, hip openers are one of the main requests we’re hearing in classes
Why? Sitting for long periods of time can cause tightness in the hip flexors and lower lower back, and corresponding weakness in the glutes and lower abdominals. This pattern is called Lower Crossed Syndrome (Remember Upper Crossed Syndrome from our last blog?), and there are many ways Pilates can help.
Anatomy Moment: The Dynamic Pelvic Floor
If you’ve ever done a kegel, or even if you know about this simple exercise, you may know where the pelvic floor is, but why is it so important? The pelvic floor is the “pilot light” for our internal core unit, it helps support our organs and it helps ensure proper hip, lower back, and pelvic movement mechanics. And there is so much more to it than the kegel!