Wunda Chair Foot Work: The Table – Single

Wunda Chair Repertoire

Strength:

The Table - Single

Alternate Names

Derived From

Mat Pilates: Leg Pull Back

Primary Element

Strength

To further develop and build strength in the posterior muscles of the gluteal, legs, and back.

Secondary Element

Stability

To further develop stability in the gluteals and transversus abdominis to assist in keeping the pelvis lifted.

Tertiary Element

Mobility

To improve and increase mobility of the shoulder, hip and knee joints.

Repetitions

4-6 each side

Apparatus Setup

Suggested springs

  • Exo Chair by Balanced Body
    • Cactus style number system
      • Two springs on setting 3
  • Resistance: medium 

 

Scan the apparatus once the client is moving for correct set up (Clain Pilates, 2002)

  1. Pedal position first – check the dowl is secure if split pedal
  2. Springs second
  3. Handles or small apparatus such a ball or Magic Circle last

 

Place foam matting or a pad over the base of the Wunda Chair underneath the pedal to stop the pedal ‘crashing’

Plane of Motion

Sagittal

Targeted Muscles

The table series is very challenging on the back muscles, arms, gluteals and hamstrings. Key muscle focuses include the gluteals and hamstrings, gastrocnemius (calf muscle), triceps and latissimus dorsi.

Warnings

Not suitable for some shoulder wrist, ankle, knee and spine issues. Avoid using the exercise for client’s who find it difficult to maintain a posterior tilt of the pelvis or work on regressions first before attempting this exercise.

Execution

Start with the balls of the feet on the pedal, heels together in a Pilates V position and the hands at the back of the chair. Slide forward and lift the pelvis up and off the chair, aiming for a straight line from the shoulder to the front of the pelvis to the knees. There will be space between the chair and the bottom. Float one leg up into a table top position and aim to hold the leg lifted and still throughout. Maintaining the shoulders over the wrists, press the pedal down with the single leg and lift the pedal up to the start position whilst keeping the pelvis and the floating leg lifted.

Observations

Do a body scan of the client taking note of the following points

Pelvis

  • Are the hip bones even horizontally or is the client leaning to one side? It is likely that the client will drop the hip bone of the lifted leg
  • Is the pelvis tucked posterior?
  • Is there one long line from the shoulders, stomach to the hips and then knees?

 

Legs

  • Is the standing or working leg’s knee rolling in?
  • Is the knee over the ankles?

 

Feet

  • Is the inside of the foot lifting or leaning outward? (supinated) 
  • Is the inside of the foot rolling inward? (pronated)

 

Apparatus

  • Is the pedal banging at the bottom? Increase the spring load so the client can control the springs and reduce the range of motion

Learning Style Technique Cues

Auditory – word associations that connect mind and body

  • Engage the glutes when pressing the pedal away which will help with the return phase of the movement
  • Avoid any noise by pressing the pedal towards the base without going all the way, hence no banging noise – control the movement of the pedal
  • Say the client’s name when you’re about to interact with them

 

Visual

  • Imagine both legs are connected to the pedal as in The Table, and try to mimic that movement without compromising the pelvis position due to the now lifted leg
  • You may demonstrate a part of the movement as a visual representation for the client to see

 

Kinaesthetic

  • Feel the abdominals draw in when pressing the pedal away
  • Aim to keep the shoulder to hips still by engaging through abdominals and gluteals
  • Focus on the lift up of the pedal

Modifications and Variations

Regress the exercise by

  • Increasing the spring setting to one spring on setting 4 to provide more support from the apparatus and assist in bringing the leg back up in the return phase of the movement
  • Reduce repetitions and/or pace
  • Reducing the range of motion so the client can focus on pelvis stability. Moving back on the Wunda Chair will help reduce the range of motion. Sit bones to the front edge of the Wunda Chair will create the greatest range of motion
  • Working on Wunda Chair Foot Work exercises such as Parallel Heels, Arches and Toes, and V-Position Toes
  • Working on Wunda Chair Foot Work: The Table

Progress the exercise by

  • Reducing the spring setting to one spring on setting 3 to connect into the pelvis stability component of the exercise, practice deep core muscle activation, and reduce the leg load. It will be very challenging to move the pedal
  • Moving forward on the Wunda Chair starting with sit bones to the front edge of the Wunda Chair which will create the greatest range of motion

Series and Transitions

This exercise is part of the Foot Work series which includes a range of doubles foot positions and also singles in the progressive repertoire. The Foot Work series can also be found in the Reformer repertoire and the Cadillac repertoire. The Table usually forms the final exercise in a Wunda Chair Foot Work series, with the single leg variation a further challenge from there.