Single Leg Stretch | Illustrated Exercise Guide

Primary muscles: Abs, obliques
Secondary muscles: Core, glutes, hip flexors, quads
Equipment: No equipment

Single Leg Stretch Instructions

1. Lie on the floor with both legs extended and arms along the sides with your palms facing down.
2. Pull your abs in, lift both shoulders off the floor and simultaneously bend your right knee.
3. Pull the knee in toward your chest and hold your right ankle with your right hand and your right knee with your left hand.
4. Slowly switch leg and hand positions and keep your extended leg raised a few inches off the floor with the toes pointed.
5. Keep switching leg positions until the set is complete.

Proper Form And Breathing Pattern

Engage your core, keep your lower back pressed against the floor, relax your head and neck and keep your torso perfectly still. Move your feet in a straight line, inhale for one set (while you repeat the movement with both legs) and then exhale for the next set.

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Exercise Benefits

The single leg stretch strengthens the abdominal muscles, stabilizes the spine, and helps build strength in the torso. This pilates exercise improves your endurance, coordination, stability and warms up the body.

Single Leg Stretch Demonstration

Sets And Reps

Repeat the exercise for 30 seconds to 1 minute or do 5 to 12 repetitions with each leg. For a complete core workout, pair the single leg stretch with the straight leg raise, bicycle crunches, and the t press.

Calories Burned

To calculate the number of calories burned doing the pilates single leg stretch, enter your weight and the duration of the exercise:

Related Core Exercises

Try these other core exercises to tighten, sculpt and strengthen your abs, obliques, lats and lower back:
T press
Single leg side crunch
V sit bicycles
Pistol crunch

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