- Inhale: Keeping abdominals pulled in and the back pressed to mat, lengthen your legs out of your hips as you lower them.
Go only as far as your can maintain control and good alignment. Do not let your back pop up off the mat. Use your upper abs. to maintain the lift of the chest. Don't try to hold your self up by pulling on your head and neck with the elbows and hands(a common temptation)!
- Exhale: With control deepen the abs. even more as you return the legs upright.
- Check your position - Pilates stance, open chest, wide elbows, abdominals pulled in.
- Repeat the exercise 6 - 8 times.
Breathe. Your abs. are pulled in and working hard, so this is a good opportunity to practice breathing deeply into your back and sides.
