Have You Tried the Pilates Ring Workout?

Pilates ring
Photo by Gustavo Fring/Depositphotos

For some people, Pilates can seem slow and boring and it doesn’t give you the same rush as an intensive HIIT or strength workout. With the pilates ring, you will start feeling a burn and seeing amazing results in your core and flexibility. The ring gives you resistance and makes your muscles work harder and you can even get a sweat on if you use it right. Here are four of the best pilates ring exercises for you to try.

Squat and Squeeze

Stand in a squat stance and take the pilates ring between your open palms and straighten your arms in front of your chest. Squat down and squeeze the ring between your palms, feeling the resistance in your chest. This exercise works on your legs, glutes, shoulders, and chest muscles.

Side Leg Lifts

For this exercise, you can either put your ankles inside the ring or balance on the outside. Inside will work the outside of the thighs and outside you will be working your inner thighs. Lie on your side, using one arm on the floor for balance, and lift both legs up and down. You will also feel it in your waist.

Bridges

Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor, put the ring between your knees and squeeze it a little to keep it in place. Lift the glutes off the floor, vertebrae by vertebrae, squeeze the ring as you go up, and release as you go down. Make sure you are engaging the core throughout the entire movement.

The Pilates 100

This is a core finisher! Lie on your back with your legs straight in the air, put the ring between your ankles and lower your legs so you feel resistance in your core, but don’t curve your lower back. Lift your head, neck, and upper chest, and straighten your arms to the sides of your body. Pulsing the arms up and down in time to your breath, turning the palms upwards and downwards with the inhale and exhale. So five inhales and five exhales, 10 times and you have the pilates 100!