Scissors – Pilates Exercise

You have completed the Basic 10 Pilates and are now ready to add in a few more exercises to challenge your powerhouse and stability. This classical Pilates exercise targets the core and helps to work and stretch the back of the leg. It also works the bodies stability with movement. We love our mat classes and the Scissors is always a go to whether at the beginning or advanced level. As the third exercise in the “Stomach Series”, the Scissors offers many benefits including stretching and opening the low back. This exercise immediately follows Double Leg Pull.

Benefits of Scissors

Core Strength
Trunk Stability
Coordination
works and stretches the back of the leg
Encourages complete exhalation

How to Perform Scissors

1. Begin lying on your back. Bend your knees towards your center with shins parallel to the floor.

2. Take an inhale and on the exhale scoop your belly by pulling your abs in and up. Lift your head, neck and shoulders towards the ceiling. Lengthen your legs towards the ceiling. Lower your left leg straight out at your working level. Take your right hand towards your right ankle

3. On the next breath, switch legs and lift the left leg towards the ceiling and straighten the right leg out. Left hand goes on left ankle as the right leg lowers.

4. Deepen the abs with each repetition and maintain your upper body curl. Repeat switching your legs five times per side.

DRAW RIGHT LEG TOWARDS CEILING AND LEFT LEG OUT LONG….. FOLLOW THE SEQUENCE BELOW! RIGHT LEG, LEFT LEG, RIGHT LEG!