5 Heart Opening Exercises to Celebrate Self Love
February: the month of heart eyes, all things pink, roses, & LOVE. If Pilates is your Valentine this year, you're not alone. And guess what? Pilates loves you too! Try these 5 heart opening exercise this month to celebrate self-love and appreciation for what our incredible bodies can do.
1 Shoulder Rainbows
Sit in a cross legged position or however you feel most comfortable. Tap the floor in front of you with two straight arms open slightly. Breathe in as you raise your arms to a V shape up overhead and breathe out to reach for the floor back behind you. Inhale to reach back for the ceiling and exhale to tap the floor in front of you creating a big rainbow shape with both arms. Repeat up to 12 times.
2 Mermaid with Chest Rotation
Continue in cross legged seat with arms at a T. Laterally flex spine to one side aiming your forearm down for the floor beside you. Reach top hand overhead to open up the side of your ribcage. Inhale to twist heart up towards the sky and exhale to return to side bend. Repeat up to 6 times on each side.
3 Spine Flexion + Extension
Sit with knees bent and feet planted about one fist distance apart. Interlace hands behind head and gently curl head forward between the knees. Restack spine starting with the middle back and continue to lift heart to extension. Wave head back down to flexed position and repeat. Continue this exercise up to 12 times.
4 Swan
Lie in prone position with legs out wide and relaxed. Bend elbows so that palms can plant just in front of shoulders. Press into both hands lifting the chest while drawing the shoulders down the back. Continue to keep core activated to protect your low back. Repeat up to 12 times.
5 Chest Opening Arc
From Swan, bend your knees so that your toes reach towards your seat. Reach back with head relaxed to grab tops or feet or ankles. Press feet into hands to raise the heart & create a gorgeous heart opening arc shape. Lower head without releasing legs and repeat up to 12 times.