The Stomach Massage on the Reformer: The Struggle is REAL COLLAB

[@Piratolin]

THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

[@PilatesAndrea]

You are so Welcome Gigi!! Thanks for watching :) xo

[@lnottberg]

So are we shooting to have a “vertical pelvis” to move the carriage out and in?

[@PilatesAndrea]

Hi Linda :) Your question is a GOOD one! So good that I am thankful for your patience as I wanted to think about the best way to answer this question. I am learning a ton about how to keep the hips, low back and pelvis healthy and moveable in my own workout. So here goes- my answer for now - ... Since the pelvis is only one body part, lets say, I would say that the position of the pelvis is not really the "goal" of the exercise. Rather the exercise is to build strength, support and suppleness in the low back, hips and pelvis with the body in this deep hip flexion of the Stomach Massage series. So depending on the body, that verticality you are looking for may be there, but I like to focus on what the opposing forces are in the entire body that can create an environment in which the pelvis moves freely - meaning not suck in one way or another. My body likes to be very grippy in the hips and pelvis, so I strive to cultivate an area through which the lower body can connect into the trunk through the hip and pelvis area of the body, rather than "deciding" on a particular placement. You are correct that we are striving to "sit up" and not get pushed around by the spring, but I feel that takes a lot of work from the entire body. I hope this helps to answer your question. Thank you so much for watching and I hope we can see each other soon. I hope you and yours are safe and healthy :) xo

[@lnottberg]

Thanks so much for taking the time to explain. I kind of thought the same thing, although I have a couple of clients with instability of their pelvis and they do best when perched with a vertical line up the back of the pelvis. I enjoy your posts!

[@PilatesAndrea]

Yes, that sounds spot on Linda! xox