24/07/2025
Love this, learn this!
“Lift your leg from your abs!”
A cue that can be found in Pilates classes... let’s unpack it.
Anatomically speaking, your abdominals don’t lift your leg.
What they do is provide dynamic stability to your pelvis and spine as the leg moves.
⠀
The actual leg-lifter?
➡️ The hip flexors which also includes the iliopsoas (a deep hip flexor which passes through the abdomen).
Cues like “lift from your abs” can be helpful as a feeling, but let’s not confuse sensation with function.
⠀
If that cue works for you or your clients, keep it!
Just know it’s more about stability than initiation.
⠀
💡The more we understand movement, the more empowering and effective our practice becomes.
⠀
Movement is medicine
Tom
