Improve your position and balance with Equi Pilates

By Imogen Johnson

General news

23 April 2009 09:00

If you're viewing this page you've probably been reading our 'Sitting Pretty' feature in issue 321 (April 23 - May 20), and you're probably keen to work on your posture, balance and flexibility, so we've got another great Equi Pilates exercise from Lindsay Wilcox-Reid for you to try!

Hip and head rolls
Why should you do them?
“To position your horse correctly on circles and during lateral movements you need to be able to rotate your upper body independently from your pelvis, and vice versa. So, to mobilise your spine in rotation, hip and head rolls are the perfect exercise,” says Lindsay.

• Get into position by lying on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor (about hip width apart) and your hands and arms close to your sides. Keep your palms towards the floor

• Lengthen your spine

• Bring together your feet and knees until they’re touching, and keep them closed throughout the exercise

• Move your hands and arms a few inches from away your body and turn your palms up towards the ceiling

• Inhale, and as you exhale roll your knees over to the right and your head to the left, feeling the cross-stretch in your body

• To return your legs to the upright position, ensure that it’s your waist muscles initiating the movement, your legs should follow, rather than being pulled back over with your pelvis following

• You can do this exercise to both sides

For more information about Equi Pilates or Lindsay Wilcox-Reid visit www.improveyourposition.co.uk