How to Reduce Neck Strain during Abdominal Exercises One of the biggest complaints I hear from new Pilates students is that their neck hurts when they are doing some of the exercises. And truly when I started learning Pilates, my neck was a weak link too! Avoid Looking at the Ceiling during Sit-Ups and crunches to reduce neck strain. Instead, look at your abs to see that they are working well and pulling in towards your spine. Whats the difference you might be asking there are so many fitness classes that you go to where the instructor constantly reminds you to keep looking at the ceiling while you’re doing your crunches and ab curls. And, yes that’s an option. But from a Pilates standpoint, here’s why I’m going to encourage you to change that habit and perhaps stop following that not-so-hot bit of advice for your neck. Do you agree that when you’re standing with good posture, your head is nicely stacked over your shoulders, and you really don’t notice or feel much strain in your neck? That’s because its balanced and supported on your spine along with the help of gravity. If you’re standing and you let your head fall off-balance in any direction, forward, backwards, or sideways, all of a sudden you’ll notice that your neck muscles have to work much harder against the weight of your head which is now basically falling off your spine! Can you feel the difference? Now take that same thought process back to your Ab work! If you’re laying on the floor and do a small-range of …

Tags: CORE, exercises, fitness, Matwork, Neck, pain, Pilates, Reduce