Scissors (Pilates)
The Pilates scissors: lying on the shoulders with the hips lifted, split the straight legs wide in the air and switch them over.
How to do it
Setup
Lying on the upper back, hips lifted, hands under the hips with the elbows on the floor, legs straight up.
Steps
- Split the straight legs, one toward the face and one away.
- Switch them over in a steady scissor, the hips staying lifted.
- Keep the weight on the upper back and the elbows, never the neck.
Common mistakes
Weight rolling onto the neck: stay on the upper back and the elbows. Knees bending in the split: long straight legs, a smaller split. Hips sinking as the legs move: keep them stacked over the hands.
Breathing
Steady throughout; never held.
