Push Through

Push Through is very similar to Spine Stretch Forward with an element of Roll Down. The Push Through Bar allows us to connect into our abdominals via the connection of our hands to the wooden bar and our feet on the metal poles. If we think about the Pilates Method, how Joe created the mat work first which led him to design the equipment to get people “in” their bodies, we can begin to understand the purpose of the Push Through Bar. Holding our arms up by our ears or reaching forward as in Spine Stretch Forward, often causes the upper traps to fire, muscles that are large and often already overworked. Our hand connection to the bar allows us to rest this large muscle group and bring the work into the shoulder girdle. This connection also allows us to roll the pelvis back away from the grounded feet without sinking into the back. If we do the exercise correctly, we open the spring not with movement from the arms, but movement from the spine via the abdominals.

The connection of the feet to the poles helps us “stand” in our feet with the help of the mat allowing the overworked quads and hip flexors to relax so we can move from the psoas. This exercise looks pretty simple but in reality is quite complicated. It takes a strong pelvic floor connection to find an internal lift instead of hunkering down to move the bar. The spine should lengthen up over the bar as it’s curling which feels amazing! Pilates is designed to help us breath better and you can imagine how your inhale is very important in this exercise.