Pilates Hundreds

[damekindness]

Been doing Mat Pilates classes for years now and it always makes me feel good. Except for the Hundreds - I hate doing them as it doesn’t really feel like anything useful is being achieved and they’re boring. Plus the constant puffing makes me feel a bit light headed. What is the point of them?

No idea, I hate them too!

I am not a lover of the hundred. However it’s great for core strength and it can be the foundation for other exercises- especially on the reformer.
Does your instructor help you to improve form and have you tried the harder versions eg going from feed on floor, to table top, to legs extended straight?

@RitaskitchenTo be fair the harder tabletop and legs extended versions do feel like they’re doing slightly more. It’s just that other core exercises seem to challenge way more - not sure what hundreds add ?

You aren't doing them right if they don't hurt. Even my instructor feels the burn of the 100s.

My teachers says it’s more about the beating and breathing and the connection between the beating of the arms and the connection to shoulders and back. And also how to suck in the core so that when you are rolled up and beating the arms you are rolled up as much as possible.

This.

Test your core: try doing a hollow hold for 30 seconds. Or a minute if you're brave!

To do the toughest version of a hollow hold:
lie flat on your back
arms stretched over head,
legs stretched down from hips
glue your spine to the floor - feel like your whole back is broadening and opening to the floor
raise your feet about 5cm from the floor (keep your spine flat on the floor)
raise your arms and head about 5 cm from the floor (keep your spine flat on the floor)

Maintain for 30 seconds. Keep your breathing regular & deep.

That will test how strong your core is!

You have make sure to keep your low back pressed firmly to the mat/floor. That definitely makes it harder and youll feel it in your core .

I’ve never asked but presume my Pilates teacher isn’t a fan as they are not something we do on anything like a regular basis which works for me. I don’t even think we do a hundred when we do them. I loathe them so not about to ask/challenge her. A purest would probably say they’re an integral part of Pilates but I’m very happy to not be enduring them regularly.

My teacher told the hundred were effectively the warm up in Pilates. We do them close to the beginning of every class. I'm not doing them right because I don't feel a burn.

Depends on which version you are doing , legs straight in the air with belly pulled in and chin raised make it a lot tougher. Done like this does warm you up but does work your core a lot too

Try legs straight at 45 degrees