Let's Get Our Press-Up Game Strong This July! 💪

Hey lovely Kore-mmunity!

So here's the thing - I've been thinking about that moment at the end of our Classical Mat sequence. You know the one I mean, right? When we roll up to sitting and then transition into our press-ups (or push-ups, whatever you want to call them!). That moment where some of you might be thinking "Oh crikey, here we go..." and others are like "YES, bring it on!"

Well, guess what? July is going to be our month to absolutely smash this move, and I'm here for ALL of it.

Why Press-Ups and Pilates Are Actually Best Mates

Here's something that might surprise you - press-ups aren't just some random exercise tacked onto the end of our mat work, or thrown in becuase we're kneeling on the reformer carriage and we might as well while we're here... They're actually the perfect culmination of everything Pilates builds earlier in the repertoire: core stability, shoulder blade control, and full-body integration, precision, mindfulness and flow. The press-up is like the cherry on top - it asks your body to put ALL of that together in one functional, challenging movement.

Joseph Pilates was pretty clever about this placement. By the time we get to our press-ups, we've already activated our powerhouse, we've mobilised our spine, and we've connected to that deep abdominal control. Now we're asking our body to maintain all of that whilst moving through a press-up. It's genius, really.

Let's be honest - there's something quite satisfying about mastering a move that makes you feel deeply connected, strong and in control of your body, right?

The Beautiful Benefits (Because Who Doesn't Love a Good Benefit?)

Upper Body Strength: Obviously! We're working chest, shoulders, triceps, and building that functional pushing strength that serves us in daily life.

Core Integration: Every single press-up is a moving plank. Your powerhouse has to work overtime to keep you stable whilst your arms do their thing.

Wrist and Shoulder Health: When done properly, press-ups actually help strengthen the small stabilising muscles around your wrists and shoulders.

Bone Density: Weight-bearing exercises like press-ups are brilliant for maintaining healthy bones.

Confidence Builder: There's genuinely nothing like nailing a good press-up to make you feel like you can take on the world!

Let's Talk Modifications (Because We're All About Meeting You Where You're At)

Wall Press-Ups: Stand arm's length from a wall, place your palms flat against it, and press away. Perfect for building up strength and getting the movement pattern down.

Incline Press-Ups: Use a bench, your sofa, or even the kitchen counter. The higher the surface, the easier it becomes. Gradually work your way down to the floor.

Knee Press-Ups: The classic modification. Drop to your knees but keep that beautiful straight line from your head to your knees. No sagging through the middle!

Tricep Focus: Bring your hands closer together, elbows brushing your ribs as you lower. Hello, back-of-arm strength!

Wide Grip: Hands wider than shoulders, focusing more on the chest. Mix it up!

Our July Challenge: From "I Can't" to "Watch Me Go!"

Right, here's what we're going to do. At the beginning of July, I want you to test yourself. Find your current press-up level - whether that's wall press-ups, knee press-ups, or full press-ups - and see how many you can do with good form. Write it down! Take a little video if you fancy it. This is your starting point, and there's absolutely no judgment here. We're all starting exactly where we need to start.

Then, throughout July, we're going to build on this. Every class, every home practice, every time you feel like showing your body a bit of love - let's add in some press-ups. The beauty is in the consistency, not the intensity.

By the end of July, we'll test again. I have a feeling you're going to surprise yourself with just how much stronger you've become. Because here's the thing - your body is incredibly adaptable, and with consistent practice, it will rise to meet the challenge you're setting it.

I've Got Your Back (And Your Press-Ups!)

To keep us all motivated and on track, I'll be sending you lovely little reminders throughout the month. You'll get WhatsApp messages, emails, and I'll be posting progress tips and encouragement on our socials too. Think of me as your friendly press-up cheerleader, popping up to remind you that you're absolutely capable of this.

Some days you might feel strong and smash out a brilliant set. Other days, you might only manage a couple of wall press-ups, and that's completely perfect too. The magic is in showing up, not in being perfect.

Let's Make This Happen

I'm genuinely excited about this challenge because I know - I absolutely KNOW - that you're going to amaze yourself with what you can achieve. Whether you're starting with wall press-ups or you're already nailing full press-ups, there's always room to grow, to get stronger, to feel more confident in your body.

So, are you in? Let's make July the month we fall in love with our strength. Let's make it the month we prove to ourselves that we're more capable than we thought. Let's make it the month of the press-up!

I'll be right there with you, cheering you on every step of the way.

You've got this, beautiful humans. I believe in you completely.

Sarah x

P.S. - Don't forget to join our Classical Mat Club this month if you haven't already. We'll be practising those end-of-sequence press-ups together, and there's nothing quite like the energy of doing them as a group. Plus, I'll be there to give you all the technique tips you need!