Issue #444 – Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Cat on the Spine Corrector
by Brett Miller
I have a nice little exercise for you on the Spine Corrector and that is – Cat. Yes, Cat on the Spine Corrector. Have you ever done that before?
Well maybe not, because actually I made it up myself. (Of course it is fully possible that other people have done something similar; I am not trying to say that I own this exercise.)
So to start, you’re going to get on kneel on top of the barrel with your knees close to the front edge.
It’s wonderful to stand up on this because in order to stabilize yourself you have to squeeze your legs in just a little bit – and when you squeeze your legs in just a little bit you feel the support up into the Powerhouse. It is a wonderful sensation of strength and cohesion of the body.
So let’s start.
Lift in the center to start to come forward to the floor – notice that here you will likely go off balance and will need to squeeze even more.
Stretch towards the floor — keep your arms nice and long.
When you reach the floor, feel that you are stretching your arms into the floor WHILE pulling back in the center.
Now go into a back bend — try to stick your bum back and bring your head forward. It won’t really be a backbend due to the position your body is in, but you can try. 😉
Now be very active in the center to round your spine. Push into the floor and send the head downward.
Bring your fingers up off the floor and roll up with your arms stretched downward while….you guessed it, squeezing your legs gently to stabilize yourself.
And you feel a beautiful long and balanced spine – take a moment to feel that.
Let’s go into a back bend now.
Feel while bringing your arms over your head that you are doing so from a long spine that is stabilized from the squeezing of your legs – your body is working like a beautiful symphony, so many parts working in harmony.
Lift your chest and take your arms out to the side and keep your neck long. The symphony continues!
To finish the exercise, come vertical with your spine with your arms way out to the side. And now, be like a wine opener, while you slowly bring your arms down, feel that you are getting taller and taller and taller.
And voila, we are back at the start position, ready to do it a few more times.
It’s a good relaxing exercise that requires skill and a touch of sensitivity.
Give it a try.
Here is a video demonstration.
Brett Miller is the founder of Pilates Intel, he started his professional life in the world of ballet, working with various companies in the US. Later on he moved to New York and branched out into modern along with the ballet. Since then, he has lived in Finland and now in Stockholm Sweden.
Brett became a Pilates instructor in 2005 and has been teaching ever since. The intelligent technique that Pilates is, and the chance to continue to be physical, attracted him to this field after being so long in the dance world. Along with teaching Pilates and publishing Pilates Intel, Brett is a software developer for Ericsson.