"This exercise is Pilates in a nutshell," said Molly Niles Renshaw, certified Pilates instructor and co-founder Phoenix Classical Pilates. "You feel the deep scoop of your abdominals while reaching your arms and legs away from each other . . . Your core is pulled in and stable while the limbs are working in opposition. This takes strength, control and coordination – all things Pilates!"
- Start lying on your back with your hips and knees bent to 90 degrees in a tabletop position. Lift your upper back and head off the mat, reaching your fingers toward your toes.
- Lengthen your legs away from your centre as you lower your upper body, reaching your arms overhead. Keep your low back pressing into the floor as you straighten your legs.
- Bend your legs back into tabletop position as you lift your upper body off the floor and reach your hands toward your toes.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography