Home Pilates Exercises: Double Leg Lift

Video Transcript

"This exercise is called the double leg stretch. Now you're really going to burn out those abs with this exercise. Now this is typically a pilates type of movement. And in pilates we have what's called a pilates ring to assist you with that movement. But if you don't have one of those, you've got the next best thing and that's a roll of paper towels. So come on down to your mat or just on the floor. You're going to place the paper towel between your ankles and gently press to engage your inner thighs. Bring your head and shoulders up off the floor and keep your elbows nice and wide. Draw that belly in, keep the small of your back connected to the floor. And as you lower your legs down, lengthen out through your toes. Inhale as you lower, exhale as you come up. Inhale as you lower, exhale, come up. Now if this is too much for your back, you can slightly bend your knees. But the whole goal is to keep the small of your back connected to the mat the entire time. And you can perform about ten reps of those and then take a break. That is your double leg lift."