Pilates Saw

A seated twist and reach: sitting tall with the legs wide, the torso rotates and then folds over the opposite leg so the reaching hand passes the little toe like a saw.

How to do it

1. Sit tall with the legs straight and slightly wider than the hips, arms out to the sides.
2. Rotate the torso to one side, keeping both sit bones on the floor.
3. Fold forward over that leg and reach the opposite hand past the little toe.
4. Roll back up through the spine and return to the centre.
5. Repeat to the other side and continue alternating.

Tips

• Anchor both sit bones; lifting one of them turns the twist into a lean.
• Rotate first, then fold - the order is what makes the exercise work.
• Sit on a folded blanket if the pelvis cannot stay upright.

Muscles

Primary: Erector spinae, Obliques

Secondary: Adductors, Hamstrings