Happy Memorial Day! It's the "official start of summer", which means parties, barbecues, sunscreen, and... swimming pools! While most of us use pools for swimming, I've experimented with a few Pilates exercises in the pool. Take a few minutes and try out a few of the side-lying leg series, while standing in the pool! You'll develop stronger abs, reduce lower back pain, and tone your outer hips and thighs, while at the same time, the water's resistance provides a safe environment for any joint problems.
Stand in the pool at the edge, at a depth where you can be fully submerged from the waist down, but not so deep that your feet aren't touching. You need to be facing sideways, with one hand holding on to the edge of the pool for support. The leg on the inside of the pool (facing the water) will move, whereas the foot closer to the wall of the pool will remain planted on the floor, not moving.
From the above starting position, allow your inside leg to float out to the side 1 to 2 inches from your body, so that the foot is no longer touching the floor. Stand tall with a neutral pelvis, and stay supported through your abs. Here are a few movements to work your leg and challenge your stability:
When you've completed these three moves on the first side, you know the drill... turn yourself around and work on the other side! Hey, you want a tan on both shoulders, right?
Stay safe this holiday weekend, and as you can see, Pilates can be adapted to any environment!
— Brooke :)