Membership Category: | Pilates Lesson Planner |
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Sub Category: | Foam Roller |
Types: | Balance, Strengthen, Seated & Floor, Supine |
Anatomy: | Arms & Shoulders, Biceps & Triceps, Core, Lower Back, Middle Back, Neck |
Chakras: | Base, Sacral Centre, Solar Plexus Centre |
Therapy: | Poor Posture |
Drishti: | Tip Of Nose |
Dosha: | Pitta, Kapha |
Lie on your back with arms at your sides and knees bent, feet on the roller’s apex. Exhale, lift your torso toward your knees. Extend arms parallel to the floor, pulse 100 times while simultaneously straightening and bending both legs.
Stretches & strengthens spine.
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The Hundreds II Foam Roller is an excellent exercise for strengthening your core and improving coordination. This variation involves both upper and lower body movements, making it a dynamic addition to your routine. To accommodate various fitness levels, here are 30 modifications divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced categories.
Beginner Modification 1: Hands on Roller
Keep your hands resting on the foam roller for added stability, helping to maintain balance while performing the exercise.
Beginner Modification 2: Feet on the Floor
Instead of placing your feet on the roller, keep them grounded on the floor. This reduces intensity and allows for better focus on your core engagement.
Beginner Modification 3: Shorten the Range of Motion
Limit how high you lift your torso and how far you extend your legs. This helps decrease strain on your back while maintaining focus on core engagement.
Beginner Modification 4: Bend Knees
Keep your knees bent with your feet flat on the mat during the exercise for easier balance and support.
Beginner Modification 5: Pause Between Pulses
Pause for a moment between pulses to ensure proper form and muscle engagement, allowing for better control throughout the movement.
Beginner Modification 6: Slow the Movement
Perform the exercise at a slower pace to improve control and effectiveness without increasing complexity.
Beginner Modification 7: Focus on Breathing
Inhale deeply as you lower and exhale fully as you lift your torso. This helps enhance core engagement through breath control.
Beginner Modification 8: Use a Smaller Roller
If available, opt for a smaller foam roller to make balancing easier while you become familiar with the movement.
Beginner Modification 9: Engage Core Before Movement
Focus on engaging your core before initiating the lift to reinforce proper form and muscle activation.
Beginner Modification 10: Support from a Wall
Perform the exercise against a wall for added support, allowing you to concentrate on your core engagement without worrying about balance.
Intermediate Modification 1: Straighten One Leg
Extend one leg while keeping the other bent. Alternate legs with each repetition to increase the challenge and engage your core differently.
Intermediate Modification 2: Feet Together
Bring your feet and thighs together while performing the exercise. This narrows your base of support, making it more challenging.
Intermediate Modification 3: Incorporate Small Pulses
Add small, controlled pulses at the top of the lift to increase the intensity of your abdominal muscle engagement.
Intermediate Modification 4: Extend Arms Overhead
Instead of keeping your arms at your sides, extend them overhead for a greater challenge to your core stability.
Intermediate Modification 5: Hold a Weighted Object
Hold a light weight or medicine ball at your chest while performing the exercise to add extra resistance and intensity.
Intermediate Modification 6: Add a Hold
Hold the lifted position for a few seconds before pulsing to increase tension in your core muscles and enhance engagement.
Intermediate Modification 7: Perform with Straight Legs
Extend both legs straight while performing the exercise to increase the challenge and require more core engagement.
Intermediate Modification 8: Incorporate Leg Circles
While performing the pulses, incorporate small circles with your legs to engage your lower abs and hip flexors effectively.
Intermediate Modification 9: Use a Stability Ball
Replace the foam roller with a stability ball for an increased challenge, requiring more control and engagement from your core.
Intermediate Modification 10: Add a Twist
Incorporate a gentle twist of the torso as you pulse, enhancing the engagement of your obliques and making the exercise more dynamic.
Advanced Modification 1: Perform on an Incline
Prop the foam roller on a slight incline to increase the difficulty and intensity of the exercise.
Advanced Modification 2: Increase the Speed
Perform the pulses at a quicker pace while maintaining control to challenge your endurance and core stability.
Advanced Modification 3: Lift Both Legs Off the Roller
Lift both legs off the roller while performing the exercise for a more advanced challenge that fully engages your core.
Advanced Modification 4: Combine with Leg Raises
Combine the hundreds with leg raises, alternating between pulsing and lifting your legs to create a comprehensive core workout.
Advanced Modification 5: Add Side Bends
Incorporate side bends at the top of the lift to further engage your obliques and enhance the challenge of the movement.
Advanced Modification 6: Use an Exercise Ball
Substitute the foam roller with an exercise ball for added instability, requiring more engagement from your core muscles.
Advanced Modification 7: Incorporate Dynamic Leg Movements
Perform dynamic leg movements, such as leg lifts or scissor kicks, while pulsing to intensify the workout.
Advanced Modification 8: Add a Crunch and Hold
At the top of each lift, hold the position for a few seconds before pulsing to increase muscle endurance.
Advanced Modification 9: Try a Bicycle Crunch Variation
Perform a bicycle crunch while pulsing your arms, alternating between extending and bringing in your legs as you lift your torso.
Advanced Modification 10: Combine Movements
Combine the hundreds with other movements like oblique twists or leg lifts to create a comprehensive core workout.
The Hundreds II Foam Roller exercise provides a versatile range of modifications to suit all fitness levels. Whether you're a beginner seeking stability, an intermediate practitioner aiming to increase the challenge, or an advanced athlete wanting to push your limits, these 30 modifications will help enhance your core strength and stability.
Explore these variations to find the ones that best fit your practice!
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