Tag Archives: Back

Q&A: How can I work out my back and shoulders without weights?

Question by baaark: How can I work out my back and shoulders without weights?
I’ve been working out lately, and since I’m really tight on space, I don’t use anything like exercise equipment and weights. Just my Pilates DVD and my mat. But I want to know how to work out my shoulders and my back without going out and buying dumbbells.

Also, I don’t have any access to a bar for pull ups or anything like that.

If anyone has any advice, I’d appreciate it.

Best answer:

Answer by ßαßε
Push ups and reverse push ups, where you prop your feet up on a chair, sit on the floor and push yourself up.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Beginner Pilates Exercises : Pilates Exercises: Back Extension

In Pilates, the back extension exercise strengthens back muscles. Learn to do the back extension Pilates exercise with tips from a fitness trainer in this free exercise video. Expert: Carol Ann Contact: www.StudioGroupX.com Bio: Carol Ann, known as the trainers’ trainer, has 19 years of professional fitness training experience and holds a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Q&A: Odd question, but…sometimes when I roll back (like doing Pilates), my butt/tailbone hurts?

Question by MsPeanutBrittle: Odd question, but…sometimes when I roll back (like doing Pilates), my butt/tailbone hurts?
Not if I sit in a chair or anything, just if I sit back on it too far or roll back, like “rolling like a ball” when you do Pilates. Not sure if it’s TMI…but if I feel up by the tailbone/top of my butt, where the, erm, cheeks kinds of meet, you know, there’s like…a lump? Or a large piece of skin that goes across or something? It’s more left-oriented. Thing is, I don’t remember when this started…I never really rolled back or anything (no real reason to) when I was little, or never really paid attention, so this has really been going on maybe 3-5 years, that I remember? I just thought it normal at the time, I guess. It’s not like a sharp pain, just a kind of achy one, and like I said, only happens when I roll back (I do use a mat when I exercise, but same result). Maybe it’s from falling years ago, and I don’t really remember it? I was in beginners ice skating around then, so even if I did fall, it wouldn’t be that hard. It wouldn’t make sense for it to have happened afterwards, because it started back then. I’m so confused…

Best answer:

Answer by Douglas B
Here is for you back and tailbone. I don’t know if you really need the back, but you do need the tailbone. You can do it in several places on the tailbone going all the way to the end of the tailbone and getting results there. Here is the methods:
Back:
Place your left hand on your left knee. Place your right hand over your left shoulder and with your fingertips find the muscle next to your spine. Press on it and hold. Relax, take a deep breath and exhale and don’t tense up any part of your body. After about 30 seconds there should be a release happening and when it does slowly lower yourself forward onto your right leg. If you can lean over the outside edge of your leg it will be better for your release. Continue holding for a total of one minute. Then release but rest your body there for one minute longer. Then reverse and do the right side.
For lower back, on the buttocks:
Put both hands behind your back and place them on the muscles alongside your spine and press on them and hold. Now relax, take a deep breath and exhale and don’t tense up any part of your body. When the release starts to happen, slowly lower yourself forward as far as you can go. Then release the pressure but hold your body there for one minute longer.

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