When certified Pilates trainer and owner of Speir Pilates Andrea Speir takes her clients through a Pilates mat workout, they tend to agree on the same thing: they're way harder than reformer workouts.
That's because she picks moves that replicate a reformer or Pilates Cadillac experience, all while pushing her clients to flow through the entire workout without stopping between exercises.
"With the transitions being part of the movement and workout, you literally never stop moving. This makes it such an effective workout to do at home," she says.
If you're missing your Pilates studio and all the equipment in it, Speir's five moves ahead will give you that intense sweat you're familiar with, all from your mat.
Strengthen the entire abdominal area with this active exercise, all while getting a hit of circulation and elongating the whole body, too, Speir says.
According to Speir, this exercise gets a much-needed extension into the spine (especially for those who spend so much time rounded forward!) by letting your body stretch in the opposite direction.
This move challenges the smaller stabilizing muscles of your body to work in unison with the core and postural muscles, Speir says.
By strengthening your outer hips and glutes with this move, you're providing more support to your hips and lower back, Speir says.
By gently twisting, the lower back can release tension and relax, Speir says.
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