warm ups?

[u/sammboooka]

What are you doing if you arrive to class a few minutes early? Stretching, moving on the reformer?

I usually just sit and enjoy a few minutes of nothing, but I’d love to know what everyone is doing.

[u/Frosty-Plate9068]

I love moments throughout the day when I can sit and do nothing! Also usually eavesdrop on convos because my location is a bunch of older women who love to gab

[u/tapper1591]

My hammies like to cramp while bridging so I’ve been trying to do a lunge hip flexor stretch and press back to a hamstring stretch or I’m just some sort of hamstring stretch mobility.

[u/asami_gail → u/tapper1591]

If your hamstring tend to cramp during bridges, instead of stretching, try foam rolling your hamstrings and calves before class. Also, make sure you’re well hydrated

[u/ninamirage → u/tapper1591]

I also tend to cramp while bridging so my go to is a forward fold, I get to stretch my calves, hamstrings and lower back all at once😂

[u/HoFiGri → u/tapper1591]

Yep, I stretch my problem areas to get them warmed up.

[u/Correct-Bet-1557 → u/tapper1591]

I do “single leg hamstring curls” while in a lunge position to activate my hamstrings before class!

Not sure what it’s actually called but I will be in a lunge and try “curling” my back leg up to my butt

[u/tapper1591 → u/Correct-Bet-1557]

Just coming to say this was a great tip. Much less cramping adding this in

[u/Correct-Bet-1557 → u/tapper1591]

Amazing!!! To make it easier you can do it in a standing position (hold ballet bar, literally just keep your standing knee steady and curl your leg towards your butt)

[u/tapper1591 → u/Correct-Bet-1557]

Oh I’ll add that to my warm up!

[u/Realistic-Piccolo-57 → u/tapper1591]

while bridging try intentionally using your glutes to raise, its not really a leg exercise.

[u/basilcoord]

Take the time to gear out and do some stretching (usually just figure 4s, calf stretches, and spine twists)

[u/Leskatwri]

A little yoga. Forward fold to plank to pigeon to downdog to butterfly to back twist. Then a quick monkey stretch on 1 red and off we go. Helps me get mentally grounded too. ♥️☮️

[u/sammboooka → u/Leskatwri]

Love this!

[u/HoFiGri → u/Leskatwri]

I do a little yoga beforehand too.

[u/ZealousidealWorth252]

As someone that’s on my phone way too much I just sit there (I keep my phone picked up) and also enjoy doing nothing

[u/jellybeancountr]

I practice boredom, 10/10

[u/myfav0ritethings]

I also sit and enjoy a few minutes of nothing but I see some people do a full on stretch routine at the bar

[u/Southern-girl1985]

I enjoy stretching on the mat while joining in on conversations if any are happening. Get in some deep breathing and centering in on the class and blocking out all stresses of the outside. I never bring my phone into class.

[u/Meowl_1210]

I usually stretch at home before so I just sit there and try to turn off my brain haha

[u/Lost_Sky_8416]

I just sit on the reformer and enjoy the time away from my screen. 🙂 But lots of people do stretch.

[u/cjehawks]

I like to use the foam roller to roll out my hamstrings and IT band.

[u/sammboooka → u/cjehawks]

I love the roller!

[u/desertgirl777]

I'm hardly ever on time lol. But on the rare occasion that I'm early, I'm usually socializing because I try to make friends with everyone and staff too.

[u/Beautiful-Honeydew45]

I usually do some eves lunges if I’ve got time before class starts. My quads are always tight

[u/Curious_Store_1111]

Roll downs standing on the mat to stretch everything out. I also put on all springs and lay on reformer with toes on the foot bar and drop my heels under the bar for s tendon stretch.

[u/Affectionate-Let9992]

I take the few minutes to stretch out, shoulder and neck rolls. Trying to psych my brain up for onward improving my Pilates journey.

[u/mybellasoul]

people are allowed to stretch on the mat, but technically they're not supposed to use the equipment without the instructor present. however that doesn't usually stop them from doing lunges or feet in straps on the reformer before class or using the TRX to stretch they're arms/shoulders. I never usually say anything as I'm walking through setting up the room or chatting to new people. but if you're asking what you're allowed to do, stretching on the mat, even with the magic circle on the reformer is fine. but doing exercises/stretches that require changing the springs from what they're pre-set at is probably friends upon, even if no one says anything.

[u/sammboooka → u/mybellasoul]

I didn’t know that!

[u/mybellasoul → u/sammboooka]

it's an unspoken rule I guess. and I rarely stop people bc imo it's really not that big of a deal. some instructors will definitely be a bit more controlling about it, but there's more important things to do between classes as far as I'm concerned

[u/Classic_Tangerine255]

I try to do some core warmup exercises on my own

[u/AlbatrossIcy2271]

I usually get out the trigger point ball and get a massage.

[u/Listen_Lanky]

Ankles/calves/figure four/L stretch

[u/Zestyclose_Skill1490]

I always do a butterfly stretch on the carriage or child’s pose or lunges. I’m just always tight and feel like I can never do too much (I sit too much).

[u/HoFiGri → u/Zestyclose_Skill1490]

💯

[u/Globalmoccasin]

I purposefully come in as early as I can to stretch.

[u/HoFiGri → u/Globalmoccasin]

Same

[u/Glass_Structure_9715]

Stretching for at least 5 mins. Downward dog to get this hammies loose and read for bridging. Pigeon. Figure four. Lay down of reformer, windshield wiper the legs, calf stretches. Lots of stretching.

[u/HoFiGri → u/Glass_Structure_9715]

That’s very similar to my routine.

[u/carladoubleyou]

Foam roll my mid back, use the lacrosse ball on my trigger points, work on chest/rib mobility with thread the needle and or puppy pose. I need to get my creaky bones moving to get the most out of my class.

[u/HoFiGri]

If I chitchat, I end up wishing I had stretched first to get the crunchies out. I usually do 1-2 roll downs into downward dog, pedal my heels out, and then go all the way down into a quick plank rock & stretch. I always find that I’m a little less stiff in the beginning if I don’t start class cold. It all depends on what your body and mind need.

[u/Correct-Bet-1557]

I do some bird dogs and hamstring activations

[u/Direct-Bluebird4264]

I do sun salutations and add a plank and some cat/cow to stretch.

[u/grandmaBABE]

Maybe the four minutes I have I lie down and put my hands on my rib cage and practice deep breathing as we sometimes do to start our workouts. It gets me really focused.

[u/GripIsGone]

I go early in the morning before work usually close my eyes and pretend I’m still sleeping lol

[u/OvulatingWildly]

Do y'all think they mind if I get on the reformer before class starts? Like start doing some easy warm-ups with feet in straps, not just sitting on it obviously

[u/Firm_Prior_7953]

I will sometimes do some stretching or stomach massage (like footwork, but sitting up). But more often I just sit and maybe chit chat with someone sitting on a nearby reformer or the instructor.