The Best Way to Improve Alignment for Elephant on the Reformer

The Reformer repertoire is almost ready! I've been filming and writing, and filming and writing to get it ready for you on January 1st. Until then, here's a little preview of the Reformer chapter to hold you over. 

Elephant can be a difficult exercise to learn. A common mistake is to let the pelvis "yo-yo" as the carriage moves. This happens when the lumbar spine extends as you press back and flexes as you pull in. How can we prevent this?  

The following bullet points can help you maintain pelvic alignment. They're all the same idea, but with slightly different imagery. Try them out for you and your students to see which ones "click" the best: 

• Imagine a scared dog with its tail between its legs. Keep your tail tucked while you press the carriage back.
• Point your tailbone down to maintain lumbar flexion throughout the movement. 
• Round your back as you push out and round your back even more on the way in.
• Keep your pelvis as upright as you can.

Are you going to practice or teach Elephant this week? What are your favorite tips for this exercise? 

On January 1, 2020, you'll see that the Reformer chapter has been added to your Pilates Encyclopedia library. You'll get to check out every detail of each exercise (including Elephant), from head to toe, to help you get the maximum benefit from the exercises.