PILATESOLOGY ENCYCLOPEDIA

Press Up Back

LEVEL

Intermediate

SETUP

2 Springs Top

REPETITIONS

3 – 5x each

GOALS & BENEFITS
  • Shoulder girdle exercise, builds upper body strength
  • Opens & lengthens chest & upper back
  • Builds length in spine & overall control
TIPS & CUES
  • Heels on pedal lifted; body leans backward; hands on top of poles
  • Ideal version of Arm Springs on Cadillac is prerequisite for this exercise
  • If student can’t get shoulders back, don’t do this work on tricep dips instead
  • Cues: bend elbows & roll tops of shoulders all the way back; only go down so far as you can keep shoulders on your back; deepen your low abs and lift your spine tall