Body Weight Pilates: Double Straight Leg Stretch

Video Transcript

"Welcome back. Our next exercise is the double straight leg stretch. This is for the lower abdominals. So, Mark is going to lie all the way down. This is very important that you support the spine here. You're going to take your hands and place them in a diamond position. From here, you're going to place them underneath your lower back, so you should see your fingertips at the tips of your booty. Well, you can't see them, but maybe your partner can. So, from here, you're going to bend the knees in towards your chest, so we want to make sure that we see those fingertips, and that our spine is completely supported. From here, straighten those legs all the way up. If you're having trouble straightening them, again, flex the feet. You want to keep your heels together, and your toes slightly apart, about a palms width. Think of it that way. So, from here, you're going to start to lower your legs. As you lower your legs, I want you to keep pulling your navel in towards your spine, and then exhale, lift them right back up. So, you can test the waters here again. The further you lower the legs, the harder it is on your abs, making sure you're fully connected, and your back is not pressing off at all. If you want to challenge this, you can curl your head, neck, and shoulders up. And press. One more like this. Draw your knees in towards your chest. Relax. Head, neck, and shoulders down. That was the double straight leg stretch. Next, will be the crisscross."