Get a Leg Up!

Emerging from the too brief cocoon of the holidays, you, like me, may be feeling a little stiff, a bit sluggish, out of sorts and out of routine. My back was achy for a couple of days after Christmas, where I was standing at the stove for hours at a time, chopping vegetables, whipping up dinners, and baking for our family gatherings, and my energy is still low after ringing in the New Year with a nasty cold. As much as I look forward to the downtime, I also can’t wait to get back into a regular groove. At this time of year, I need the boost of a workout, and I love feeling strong when I’m out for walks along the beach or the ravine.

With unpredictable weather conditions, I find myself going back and forth between my sneakers and my winter boots, and my feet are craving a little Footwork on the Reformer. My tight hips want the opening release of Circles with Feet in Straps, and my lower back dreams about the spinal decompression of a good Short Spine. I want the hamstring activation and shoulder extension of a Hip Lift (Bridge), and the juicy quad lengthening of a Thigh Stretch.

The great thing about a consistent Pilates practice is that it is a whole body workout–I’m always going to be building core strength, as I’ve talked about in previous posts. There’s always going to be a focus on alignment and balance. In my classes, I take great pains to ensure that we work in different planes of movement and different orientations of the body–as much as I know clients love to just lie down while they exercise! So when I’m thinking about a particular problem to solve (whether it’s my own issue or something universal), I also know that I can shift my lens to something specific like moving from supine to standing without compromising let’s say shoulder mobility–it’s all encompassing. The practice can support both the details and the big picture. Everything is connected. You can’t have one without the other.

This January, I’m going to do everything in my power to stay grounded–physically and emotionally. I want to feel rooted through my feet, feel power and stability in standing, and balance and agility when I’m on the move. Instead of curling up into a ball and hibernating until March, I want to feel expansive. That means I’ve got to move and make that movement matter! The more present in my body I can stay, the easier it will be to regulate my emotions and manage stress as it comes my way.

Happy New Year, friends. Let’s see what 2025 has in store for us! Get a leg up and follow Retrofit Pilates on social media for insight, exercises and helpful tips!

And of course, see you in class. ~Pam

Pam Ferguson
Retrofit Master Instructor
Lead Instructor/Operations Associate