Creating Your Internal Spanx

I figured a picture of a hunky guy showing off his six-pack would get your attention.  So now that I have it, here’s something else that’s good for you to contemplate (besides him).  In Pilates, new information keeps popping up all the time about the cueing of the abdominals.  With these new cues, everyone seems to be making progress.  Try this one the next time you are attempting to engage your core…………………

• Smile and notice how the muscles of your face activate.

• Now place your hands on your lower abs and smile your lower abs.

• Feel the abs contract wide against your pelvis.

• Feel how you created your own internal spanx.

Pilates is more than an abdominal workout.  It is about the connection of the entire body.  When the lower and/or upper body works in harmony with your torso, you create better alignment, strength, balance of tone and mobility with your entire body.

Newcomers to Pilates sometimes get stuck on the idea that a hard muscle is a functional muscle.  A lot of people are hardening their muscles and, unfortunately, that prevents you from moving the body correctly.  So keep that in mind when activating your pelvic floor muscles:)