Week 38 — “Offa That Thing”

Hi Pilates People!

We'll keep this brief because, for once, we don't have a ton of announcements for you!

We simply want to officially welcome Xander back!! Check him out every Monday and Wednesday at 10am!!!

And announce that Wednesdays at 8am are back with Cassandra!

Sign up and we'll see you soon!!

We've beat around the bush with this on and off for this entire year, but seeing as it's almost over, I'm just going to go ahead and say it - we need to stop with the 2020 body shaming.

No ifs, ands, or butts...just stop.

This year was unlike any other. We had to adapt, change and deal in ways we never have before.

And much of the time, that amounted to a lot of sitting around.

On our butts.

Which is OKAY - it's what we were supposed to do.

So here's what we can focus on - what is all that sitting doing to our bodies?

The anatomy of sitting:

• if you're thinking about it, your spine is upright and supported by your abs

• but likely...your spine is sinking and your abs aren't engaged

• your hips are in flexion

• your glutes are stretched

We'll hold off on the abs/spine situation and circle back to that in the new year. For now - let's focus on your hips and glutes.

You've heard us say before that there's a relationship between muscles flexing and extending. If your hips are in flexion, your glutes are stretched because those are the two complimentary groups for that area of your pelvis.

With me so far?

So if you're feeling a little tight in your hip flexors and a little loose in your glutes, what do we need to do?

Reverse the equation - extend your hip flexors and contract your glutes!

Easy, right?

Well...maybe not...think about a full 45 minute class of bridges, side series and squats.
You're already sweating, aren't you?

Don't worry, we won't do that to you! This week will still be full-bodied (because that's important too!) but we want to take a moment to focus on our glutes, because they affect so much - your spine, your pelvis, your abs, your hip flexors, your legs...all of it.

More food for thought heading into this week - do you know where your glute max is and what it does? How about your glutes med and min? Piriformis? TFL?

We're giving you a little homework today - go ahead and look those up. Know where they are and what they do.

Come in with your questions.

And let's "Get Up Offa That Thing" and move it around a little instead!

So much love to all of you, always.
Cassandra + Pilates People

(12/6/20)