All about the Heel Touch
(Pilates for Abs)
BENEFITS & MUSCLES WORKED: Core, Obliques, Balance, and Flexibility
Watch Video
START POSITION: Lie on your back on a mat in the Classic Pilates Start Position. You may need to bend your knees a little more to slide your heels further back towards your hands, allowing you to reach them more easily.
NOTES: Difficulty Rating: 26%
There is no need to overcook this one. It’s pretty simple in form, but it’s essential to raise your head and shoulders off the mat before starting to reach for your heels. Keep the movement slow and controlled, and make a focused effort to tuck your abs in and tense your core muscles to help with full engagement.
Lastly, try twisting both palms to a Neutral position (not flat on the floor as shown in the photo), and touching at the heel sides instead of the back of the heels. This will make your Centre of Gravity slightly more centralised and perhaps give an extra 5 or 10% more correct muscle engagement.
Be sure not to miss this one out when you are down there on the mat doing your Abs for Pilates exercises.