Pilates is a fantastic way to build strength while improving posture, coordination and mobility. It can also be done at home, with zero equipment.
However, if you are looking to increase difficulty, or just mix things up a little bit, wall Pilates might be worth trying. It involves doing Pilates exercises with the support of a wall—making certain exercises more difficult, but others a little easier by using the wall for support and balance.
Personal trainer Jenna Collins has created a 28-day wall Pilates challenge, which involves doing a 10 to 20-minute wall Pilates workout every day.
And it’s proven to be extremely popular, with 1.6 million views on the first video.
How to do Jenna Collins' 28-day wall Pilates challenge
All you need for this challenge is access to a wall. You may also want to use a Pilates mat, because many of the exercises are done lying down.
Collins has already uploaded all of the videos in the challenge, so you can start whenever suits you best. The idea is to complete one workout per day, but you can take rest days in between, and also do multiple workouts on the same day if you’re feeling strong.
Is the 28-day wall Pilates challenge worth it?
I've tried wall Pilates a few times before, and I often feel that the workouts don't make full use of the wall. I didn’t find that was the case while doing the first workout in Collins' challenge.
Doing exercises like bridges with your feet balanced on the wall increases the range of motion you're moving through, it also requires more balance, which means you have to work harder to engage more muscles.
Collins also effectively uses the wall to provide a deeper stretch during movements like the downward dog and the modified wall child's pose at the end of the workout.
Using the wall during Pilates routines can also help with your form, ensuring your body stays in the same position for the whole time you're doing the exercise. This is particularly important during exercises like plank, which you'll do during this workout.
Overall, I think this is a great workout for anyone who wants to upgrade their home Pilates routines.
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