Most people are familiar with the saying, "An apple a day will keep the doctor away". It's a great old school colloquialism to teach us to take care of our bodies. If you think about, eating an apple a day hits a lot of points, like cleaning our teeth, getting in fiber, eating your fruit. My godson calls fruit "sports candy". A quick search says that apples are good for: vitamins and minerals, weight loss, your heart, lowering diabetes risk, promote gut health, prevent cancer, possible fight asthma and protect your brain. Wow!

So, in Pilates, The Hundred, is my "apple a day" exercise.  I've always given my clients homework, like practicing an exercise that will help their progress. The Hundred is the exercise that I would encourage the most! Why? Well, for starters, it is usually the first exercise you learn in Pilates, and the first one you generally learn in your routines. Therefore, if you're just starting out or you've been do Pilates for a long time, The Hundred is foremost in your mind. 

Basically, The Hundred is meant to get the blood flowing through your body and get your heart pumping. This idea is very basic within Pilates. He felt, and I agree, that the blood flowing through your body helps it to heal. Why the "Pre-Pilates" exercises are about getting to an affected area in a secondary manner, so that you are pulling the blood through the ailment and not making the injury work. Other added bonuses to The Hundred are working your Powerhouse and coordinating breath with movement. Depending on your injuries/ailments and level of work, you can tailor this exercise to your needs.

The Hundred is a great building exercise! You can be a basic beginner and still get the benefits! If you were executing this exercise full out, your legs would be held out where your eyes and toes are on the same level whilst keeping your back completely flat (Again, very advanced. Most people start with their legs straight up), your head and shoulders would be up and rounded forward and your arms pumping up and down about 4-6 inches. You would inhale for five counts and exhale for five counts while pumping your arms (which equals ten), and you would do those ten times. Ten times ten is 100! 

So, depending on your injuries or ailments, you might not be doing any of what I listed! If you have neck and shoulder injuries, you may have your head down and beating your legs together high, which would serve as the "pumping" part of the exercise. If you have back injuries, you may have your legs bent in the whole time. Better yet, you may not even be able to get down to the floor. You may choose to do your Wall exercise and pump your arms as you pull your stomach against the wall. The whole point is to get your blood flowing and your heart pumping. The rest is gravy.

So, have any of you done The Hundred before? What are your experiences? Do you need help trouble shooting? Give me a shout out! I would love to help and guide!

Until next time my Pilates enthusiasts…..Love, Light and Blessings, Julia