Commitment to yourself, commitment to Pilates, commitment to every last count of the hundreds!! Here's a sample.
Hangin' With the Hundreds
Inhale 5 counts, exhale 5 counts, 40..."I can do this!"
Inhale 5 counts, exhale 5 counts, 50...
"Gettin' a little tougher now."
Inhale 5 counts, exhale 5 counts, 60...
"How many more of these do I have to do?"
Inhale 5 counts, exhale 5 counts,70...
"Ugh, I'm not going to make it!"
...and you proceed to collapse into a heap onto your mat.
So you've made the commitment to your private lesson/class for the week. Hard part done, right? But now you are faced with the daunting challenge of the 100s. Does anyone really look forward to this exercise? Our bodies are always trying to choose the path of least resistance first. How tempting is it to skip that last 20 counts?
Did you know that just as you can train your body/brain to develop proper muscular patterning, you can also teach your body/brain to learn faulty ones. Therefore, when you don't complete the 100s because of fatigue, essentially you are training your body to stop when it is tired or when you are mentally challenged by the exercise.
Sometimes back or neck strain can impede your ability to perform the 100s properly. If you are experiencing back or neck strain there are a variety of ways to modify the exercise. For example, in cases of back strain, your legs don't have to fully extend. You can keep your knees bent into tabletop position or with your legs resting on the Swiss ball. You can even bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor. For those with discomfort in the neck, the 100s can be done with your head completely flat on the floor. Using the Triad ball underneath your head like a pillow is another great way to alleviate neck strain as it allows you to experience the feeling of flexing your trunk with adequate support for your head. Ask your instructor what modification(s) best work for you. In other words, there is a version of the 100s that is appropriate for you, wherever you are in your Pilates today.
In most circumstances, with the proper concentration, focus and form you'll be able to complete that last repetition or two. Tapping into your mind/body connection could give you just enough mental agility to supersede what you feel like is your physical limit. Try doing more than what you think you can. You might surprise yourself. So make that commitment to execute a full 100 the next time you are in class.
Happy Hundreds everyone!
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