5 Easy Moves to Work Your Whole Body No Memership Required

Photos: Sara Logan Photography

Power Through Legging / NUX Roxy Tank

Happy “Workout Wednesday” ladies! I feel like many of us had the New Years Resolution to workout, but lets face it, sometimes it’s so hard to make the time to make it to the gym or to class!  I have the luxury of having a phenomenal studio within 5 miles of my house that I have been going to for 3 years now and it truly is the best part of  my day! My workout time is my time to fully unplug and enjoy “me-time!”  I go to pilates 3-5 times per week and have seen incredible results not only in my physique, but also in my strength and mind! The studio I attend is Pilates Barre Extreme in the Wakefield Commons Shopping Center in Wake Forest! What I love about this studio is every instructor is super sweet, but they work you and PUSH YOU to BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!  I’m the person who if I am paying to go to workout I want to work hard! My husband has even come to a few classes and he can testify to how hard it is for ANYONE! With that said, if you ever have a chance stop in and meet owner, Libby, or any of the amazing instructors and try out a class; it is totally worth your while! Also, they recently launched an online boutique with some pretty amazing gear so I have linked to that as well HERE!

I approached Libby to see if she would let me come to the studio and “model” a few moves that you all can do from home that will hit every muscle group!  So below I will try my best to show you all these moves in sequence through photos! So here with go! Do all the moves all the way through once and then come back through a second time.  Let’s Get Started with the Number 1 move in Pilates; The Hundred!!

1.Hundreds

Hundreds (Core Move)

1. Start with legs in “tabletop” position knees in line with hips, toes pointed and arms above the shoulders
2. Curl up and start pumping arms – Inhale for 5 breaths and exhale for 5 breaths – Do this 5 times

*** Modification Below – for more advanced: extend legs long while pumping arms

Breath In 5 breaths, out 5 breaths 5 times TOTAL (2 reps)

2. MERMAID

1. Sit with one leg in front and one leg directly behind you
2. Plant hand closest to back leg on the mat and slowy extend the other one over your head

Do 8 on each side – SLOWLY (2 reps)

3. SIDE PLANK

1. Plant feet with top foot behind the back foot, hand planted underneath shoulder
2. Lift opposite arm high directly in line with shoulder and tilt head up

Hold for 30 seconds on each side (2 reps)

***Modification (last photo): Once you have arm straight up come back down and lace it underneath the other and look behind you working the obliques

4. SCISSORS

1. Start in “Tabletop” like with the Hundred, curl the head and shoulders up
2. Extend legs long and point toes
3. “Scissor” one leg at the time as low as you can without letting the lower back lift up; bring it up and switch legs

Do this for 1 Minute (2 reps)

5. DONKEY KICKS

 1. Come onto all fours lift one leg straight out even with the rest of your body

2. Bend your knee with bottom of foot pointed to the ceiling and push foot toward ceiling just like you are stamping the ceiling with your foot

3. Bring it back in line with your body and repeat

Do this 1 Minute Each Side (2 reps)

All of these moves are moves that can be done at home, traveling, in a hotel room honestly anywhere you can fit your body! I love practical and east workouts! I hope you all enjoyed this post as much as I did sharing some tips! I also have created a shoppable “Active (wear)” boutique full of some of of the cutest athletic attire! So don’t forget to check them out here!  I hope you all have a very STRONG Wednesday! Also, let me know if you try some of these and if you like them 😉 XOXOXO