Stomach Massage Round
Do you ever wonder what Stomach Massage Round is about, and why is it so difficult? You are not alone. This is one of those exercises where the nuances really matter. Whether you move the carriage with your quadriceps or your powerhouse determines whether the exercise strengthens your legs.
Oftentimes when I say “don’t push the carriage out with your legs” for the very first time, I get a puzzled look from my client.
After they have a moment to think about what I just said something shifts.
Now they are curious.
Is it really possible?
After 2 or 3 reps, they realize there really is another way to move through this exercise.
And once they try it, the exercise suddenly feels completely different.
Stomach Massage Round is challenging for everyone—especially if flexibility is not your strongest suit.
Tight hamstrings, lower back, hip flexors, all but make this exercise impossible to even begin in the correct position.
Use props such as a ball, Spine Corrector or a Half Barrel to create a set up where your lower back is supported, and it becomes possible for you to activate your abdominals.
Uniform development (the reason why we practice Pilates) is often best illustrated in Stomach Massage Round.
If you use your quads to push the carriage out and in, you are bypassing the abs, hamstrings, glutes and inner thighs.
Therefore the purpose of the exercise, to uniformly develop the body, gets lost because the already dominant muscle group takes over the movement.
When I say “Don’t push the carriage out with your legs” for the very first time, I get a questioning look from my client. After they think for a moment to process what I just said, they realize that there really is another way to move through this exercise
