Happy Friday!

This week has been a crazy roller coaster of emotions, but I was excited to see that my PeakPilates Fitness Ring was finally delivered. The Fitness Ring is easily one of my favorite props to use during a workout. There are many names used to refer to this Pilates accessory: the Magic Circle, Power Circle, Pilates Ring, etc. However, some of my clients prefer to call it the Ring of Doom, and the sight of it alone makes their thighs hurt — or so they claim.

PeakPilates Fitness Ring

The honest truth is that an inner thigh workout with the ring can be brutal, especially if you don’t work with it on a regular basis. Still, nothing will make you feel like you are working those inner thighs the way this ring can. Words like jello, shaking, and on fire come to mind. With “thigh gap” being a thing these days, I think we’re all looking for ways to tone the inner thighs and get those long, lean ballerina legs.

Below is a quick inner thigh workout that utilizes the Pilates ring. It’s the perfect series to do before stepping out in skinny jeans or leggings, because it instantly makes your thighs feel toned and tight.

Start by lying on your side with the ring between your legs (about two inches above your ankles). Keep your spine long, with your hips stacked one right on top of the other. Engage your core. Gently squeeze the ring, concentrating your energy on the inner thigh of your top leg. Think about using that inner thigh to push the ring down. Pulse in and out 16 times and then flip over, so that your opposite leg is on top, and do 16 more reps.

Flipping onto your back, place the ring between your ankles and bend the knees into the chest. Start by reaching your fingers up toward the ceiling.  As you lower your arms toward your hips, peel your head and shoulders off the mat. Ideally, just the bottom tips of your shoulder blades are touching the mat, and your fingers are reaching past the hips. Keep the head and chest lifted, with your belly button pulling in towards your spine, as you extend the legs out to 45 degrees and then bend back in. Use your inner thighs to apply consistent pressure to the ring. Do 8 reps in and out.

Then take the legs straight up toward the ceiling, to a 90 degree angle, and lower back down to 45 degrees. Again, maintain a constant pressure on the ring with the inner thighs. The head and chest are still lifted (keep your gaze at your navel) and the legs are long and straight. Make sure that your tailbone stays firmly pressed into the mat the whole time. Do 8 reps, before holding the legs at 45 degrees and pulsing in on the ring. Use your inner thighs to squeeze in 10 times.

By this time, you should feel those inner thighs burning! Stretch out the legs and then repeat the entire series.

Are there any specific areas you’re trying to tone? Let me know in the comments 🙂