Isn't it confusing when teachers use different names for the same exercise or the same name for different exercises?

We want to help you find the information you need quickly. Name confusion shouldn't have to slow you down! At the beginning of each chapter, you'll now find a list of Alternative...

Footwork Straddle on the Chair is also called Seated Leg Pumps-Side Sit, V-Sit, Pumping, or Footwork.

Add this exercise into your routine to strengthen the quadriceps, hamstrings, and external hip rotators. This variation is also great for strengthening the core (especially your...

To a person unfamiliar with Pilates, Supine Scapular Series can seem like one of those “I’m not doing anything” exercises. This is due to its small range and deep focus on details.

Getting the details just right helps to improve awareness of your shoulder alignment, scapula...

Side Kick Series on the Spine Corrector effectively improves hip dissociation, which is the ability to move the legs while keeping the spine and pelvis still. It also strengthens the lateral hip stabilizers, which we especially appreciate when we need balance for walking, running, hiking,...

External shoulder rotation is when the humerus rotates away from the center of the body. This skill is key to great posture and keeping your shoulders healthy.

Exercises that externally rotate the shoulder strengthen the infraspinatus, teres minor (two of the rotator cuff muscles), as well as...

Roll Down on the Spine Corrector improves spinal articulation and strengthens the abdominals. It helps us open the front of the body by stretching the muscles at the front of the rib cage, such as the pectorals and intercostals. Aahhh!

Finding extension of the upper back is tricky...

For a competitive swimmer, mere seconds can make all the difference in a race. For the casual swimmer, proper body mechanics is needed to keep your neck, shoulder and spine muscles from tightening or cramping up during a swim across the lake. 

Whichever category you fall into, Pilates can...

Parakeet, also called Mini Reverse Tower or Shoulder Roll Down, strengthens the posterior chain and improves hip extension. 

This one is all about your butt. Try as best as you can to use your core and glutes. Otherwise, your hamstrings, calves, arches, feet, back, and neck will take...

We spend a lot of our time rounding forward. Perhaps as we speak, you're rounding forward to get a better look at your screen. Very few activities in our daily lives require us to bend backward. But our spines want balance! That's why it's so important to spend time practicing spinal...

Being successful at a sport takes much more than talent – you have to condition your body to be prepared for tough training sessions and competitions. This is why many runners use Pilates to improve their skills and prevent injury. Pilates is ideal for high impact sports, which is why it is...