Wall Pilates is an effective way to improve strength, flexibility, and posture. When using the wall for support, you are able to focus on specific muscle groups more effectively. If you are a beginner, you are in the right place.
The best wall Pilates routines for beginners include glute bridges, wall pushups, wall sits, wall 100s, wall bicycle crunches, wall lunges, and leg lifts. As a beginner, it is recommended to practice at least twice a week; three times a week is ideal.
Here is a list of the best wall Pilates routines for a beginner in training.
Best Beginner Wall Pilates Routines
Having a set routine can help you to remember and measure your progress. As you start progressing, you can adapt your routine and add to it. Here are some of the wall Pilates routines that are perfect for beginners.
Glute bridges
Glute bridges boost your flexibility, reduce knee and back pain, strengthen your core, slim your waistline, improve balance, relieve back pain, and improve posture. Here is how this exercise is done.
To work your glutes, place your feet hip-width apart on a wall. Keep your arms and neck neutral on a mat. This mat is good for doing various wall Pilates positions. Next, lift your hips up and lower them back down as you go. Repeat this exercise for thirty seconds.
For more of a challenge, pause and squeeze at the top, or incorporate a resistance band to increase the intensity of your workout.
Wall Push-ups
Waist pushups work on your biceps, triceps, pecs, and anterior deltoids to help with the movement of your shoulders. It also helps engage your back, traps, abs, and hip muscles. Here is how it works.
For an arm and back workout, press your hands into a wall about shoulder width apart. Step your feet back. The further back you are from the wall, the more challenging this exercise will be. Lower yourself towards the wall, keeping your elbows in at a 45-degree angle. Press into the wall to move back up.
Start with wall pushups at a slow tempo, with at least three seconds down, a one-second hold, and two or three seconds back up to the starting position. Try to complete four sets of ten to twelve repeats.
Wall sits
This exercise works your lower body muscles such as your glutes, quads, and calves. These muscles are being used during this exercise to improve your posture balance stability, as well as your upper body mobility. Here is how to do this.
To improve your posture, work your legs arms, and core. Start by leaning your back against the wall. Then start sliding your back end down until your knees are bent to about 90 degrees. Press your back into the wall and engage your quads, glutes, and hamstrings to stay steady during these movements. You can try to hold this pose anywhere from 10-60 seconds of time. Repeat this three times.
Doing this wall exercise for five minutes a day can really boost your stability over time. As you do this every day, this exercise will become easier.
Wall 100s
The hundred exercise helps you to stretch your entire body, from your toes to your fingertips using your mobility in your joints. This exercise makes it easier to perform everyday activities. Here is how the one-hundred exercise works.
To work your core, lie on your back at a distance where your feet are barely touching the wall. Reach your arms straight up to the sky, take a breath, and exhale while lowering your arms and lifting your shoulders off of the mat. Reach your arms towards the wall and start pumping your arms up and down. Inhale and exhale for five seconds as you pump. Repeat this exercise for ten rounds.
The hundred exercises in Pilates are a fantastic way to strengthen and enhance your body, from increasing your flexibility and strength to improving your breath control. Taking part in a regular Pilates class can give you access to the full range of benefits for beginners.
Wall bicycle crunches
Bicycle crunches can help tone your midsection and waist. Since bicycle crunches require more leg movement than standard crunches. They are also a fantastic way to improve your stability, flexibility, and coordination. Here is how to do this exercise.
Start by shimmying up close and placing your feet against a wall. Start doing crunches as you bring an opposite elbow to your opposite knee. Try doing three or four sets of fifteen repetitions.
Make sure to move slowly as you perform this exercise. Instead of speed, they require full core engagement and deliberate movements.
Wall lunges
Lunges are a powerful exercise that helps you to strengthen and shape almost every muscle in your lower body. The Pilates wall lunge is a crucial way for a beginner to start. Here is how to do this.
Stand with the side of your body next to the wall. While keeping one hand on the wall for added support, step your inner leg back, lower straight into a hinge, and return your leg to the starting position. For an extra challenge, lift your leg in front of you to waist height. Repeat this for thirty seconds on each side.
Doing this exercise consistently will boost your strength and endurance, as well as a great place to start for a beginner.
Leg lifts
The legs-up-the-wall pose is easy to perform and has many health benefits. When releasing the pressure on your lower body, it can improve circulation, and help to reduce lower back pain and stress. Here is how this works.
Stand with the side of your body near the wall. Keep one of your hands on the wall for additional support. Step your inner leg back, lower straight down into a lunge, and return your leg back to the starting position. For more of a challenge, lift your leg in front of you at waist height. Repeat this for sixty seconds on each side.
Although this exercise is not strength-inducing, it does help with your circulation, stress, and pain. It is unlikely that just doing this pose will help you lose weight due to its level of intensity.
Side kicks
Sidekick movements aim to increase the activation and endurance of your glutes. It works to challenge the rotary control of the pelvis and the body’s balance. Here is how you do it.
Stand with the side of your body near the wall. While keeping one hand on the wall for support, step your inner leg back and lower straight down into a lunge. After this, return back to your starting position. For more of a challenge, lift your leg in front of you to waist height. Repeat this exercise for sixty seconds on each side.
Leg circles
Pilates leg circles can strengthen your hip flexors and other leg muscles which include your quadriceps, hamstrings, abductors, and adductors. Leg circles work to strengthen your deep core muscles that stabilize your spine and pelvis. Here is how to perform this.
Stand with your feet hip distance apart and around four inches from in front of the wall. Press your hips and palms into the wall. Without shifting your weight, lift one leg in front of you and float your leg a few inches off of the floor. Start by drawing small circles with your toes. Trace your toes five times in one direction and reverse. Repeat this on both sides.
Keeping both of your legs straight is the traditional position, however, this movement does require flexibility. Creating a slight bend in the circling leg is appropriate, as well as bending the stabilizing leg, and placing the foot on the mat.
Roll downs
A wall roll-down is a simple standing mat exercise. This exercise is excellent for beginners to start practicing working on the abdominals. As you are focusing on your abs, you are also concentrating on relaxing your shoulders to relax that area of tension. Here is how to perform this exercise.
Stand tall against a wall. Start by walking your feet six to ten inches away from the wall. Pull your abdominals in and keep your shoulders away from your ears, with your arms straight to their sides. Keep your chest wide and your hips and ribs down and inhale. Nod your head and slowly roll your spine down and away from the wall while exhaling. Roll down as far as you can go without letting your hips leave the wall. Begin your return up the wall by initiating the roll-up with your lower abdominals into the starting position.
Avoid going too fast, raising your shoulders, or forcing your stretch, as these things add strain to your body. You can modify this exercise in any way you want to prevent yourself from getting hurt. If you are looking for a challenge, raise your arms straight up over your head before starting the roll down.
Pec Stretch
Regularly performing chest stretches can help you to increase flexibility and the mobility of your upper body. Chest stretches can also alleviate stress and tension associated with poor posture. Here is how it works.
Stand upright facing the wall. Lift your arm to about shoulder height, bending your elbow, and pressing your right hand into the wall. While pressing the wall with your right hand, twist your body to the left to where you can feel a stretch in your pec and shoulders. Repeat this on the other side.
This exercise can help to relieve any pain and stress from injuries or poor posture. Stretching your chest allows you to stimulate your blood flow and increase your short-term range of motion and flexibility.
Benefits of Wall Pilates
There are many benefits that come from choosing to do Pilates as a beginner. As you perform these exercises, you will find that there are similar benefits to doing wall Pilates as doing yoga. Here are the benefits.
Improves core strength
Since a sedentary life is common, sitting at a desk all day can produce back pain. Wall Pilates is a great way to eliminate this back pain by strengthening your abdominal muscles and improving your posture.
Doing Pilates against a wall offers extra stability to your spine. This allows you to properly start to engage your deep core muscles in your back and sides.
Improves muscular endurance and strength
Doing wall Pilates gives your muscles the ability to perform regular contractions against a force for an extended period of time. Many people often think that this kind of exercise gives endurance in the action of how long you can hold an exercise such as a plank.
However, muscular endurance is a form of functional fitness for everyday activities such as carrying shopping bags and children in your arms. Wall Pilates improves your muscular strength and endurance through slow, controlled movement patterns which increase your time under tension.
Improves flexibility
Pilates is well-known for improving both your flexibility and muscles. The average weightlifter may struggle to touch their toes but is able to deadlift one and a half times their body weight. The wall can be used to deepen your stretches and increase your range of motion and flexibility when doing exercises.
Low-Impact Exercise
The force that is exerted on your joints during an activity is an example of a type of impact. High-impact exercises such as running and jumping have a greater impact on your joints and feet which cause excessive joint pain, especially for people who are new to exercise, or recovering from an injury.
Wall Pilates is a low-impact exercise, making it a great option for those with joint pain or other injuries that limit the range of motion. The wall can be used as a support for those still recovering from injuries. It is also a way to slowly ease your body into more challenging positions.
Wall Pilates is a great way to enhance your workout routine without any fancy equipment, except for a mat. If you are someone who is just starting out, or dealing with issues such as back pain can find that Pilates is an excellent form of exercise that works your core and can be done from home.