The March Five

March 1, 2022February 28, 2022Anne

About the Five: Each month I offer five exercises to improve your strength, balance, flexibility, and mobility. My hope is that you will go through these on your own or with me at least three times a week.

Here’s a video of yours truly demonstrating the March Five:

Boat
Single Leg Kick
Pilates Push Up
Crescent Lunge
Half Moon

Please use your best judgment as to how suitable these are for you right now.

These photos are meant to remind you of work we have done together. Please see your medical professional prior to beginning a new exercise program.

If you’d like more detailed information on these exercises, click one of the links below:

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Schedule a 1:1 with Anne

March Five Exercises for Strength, Balance and Mobility

March 10, 2016October 3, 2019Anne

The March Five

Have y’all been doing your Five? Click here for full descriptions of these moves.

In need of personal guidance? Join us for an ongoing class, or call to schedule a one on one session with Anne (503) 705-4762.

1) Crescent Lunge:

2) Pilates Push Up:

3) Half Moon:

4) Boat:

5) Single Leg Kick:

These photos are meant to jog your memory about the exercises we have done together. Please see your medical professional prior to starting a new exercise program.

March Five Exercises

March 20, 2015July 27, 2017Anne

Each month Anne offers five exercises to build strength and increase flexibility. For a full description of the five click here.

Here are your March Five:

1) Crescent Lunge – hold for one minute per side.

2) Pilates Push Up – roll down to plank. Five push ups.

3) Half Moon – stand near a wall for this one if you need balance help. From a lunge tip forward so most of your weight is on your front leg. Hold for one minute.

4) Boat – pull your belly in, lift your feet and hold for one minute.

5) Single Leg Kick – alternate kicking left heel towards your hip, then right.

*this month my mom was here with me and agreed to pose for the five. How cute is she?

The April Five Exercises

April 7, 2014July 27, 2017Anne

April Five – The Crescent Lunge

Each month I assign my clients five moves that they are to do every day. Just one minute per move and you don’t even have to do them all at once! Step back into a crescent lunge while you are waiting for your coffee (or tea) to brew. As you are getting into bed hold your bow pose. You get the idea.

I have added a few photos to jog your memory.

Here we start with the Crescent Lunge.

Also called “High lunge” this move should feel very different than your Warrior II.

Stand near a wall if needed for balance. Step left foot back in to a lunge with left heel off the ground. Track your right knee over your middle toes. Lift up into a back bend.

If this feels uncomfortable, lower your back knee, and back off of the back bend.

Want to see the April Five in person? Contact Anne to reserve a spot in one of her ongoing classes – or small groups – or meet with her one on one.

Anne McCranie is a Portland, Oregon based Personal Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist. She works with clients one on one and is small groups in her Sellwood Studio. Pain relief, stress relief, relaxation, increased strength and flexibility, how can she help you? Contact her at Anne@FluidPortland.com

April Five Exercises To STRETCH The Front Of Your Body

April 2, 2013July 27, 2017Anne

Here are The April Five!

See if you can go through one minute of each of these every day this week. Contact me if I can answer any questions for you. Who wants to volunteer to pose for a photo of one of these this week?

1) Crescent Lunge:

(Front knee bent, back knee straight)

From standing, step your left foot back into a lunge with your left heel off the ground. Press into the ball of your back foot as you lift your left inner thigh towards the ceiling. Right knee stays over your right ankle. Bend your right knee to a 45 degree angle if possible.
Lift arms up towards the ceiling and lift your chest to come into a small back bend.
Hold for one minute then switch sides.
Hip stretch, balance, leg and back strength.

2) Leg Pull Back:

(Reverse plank with leg lift)

From seated, lift hips up into a reverse plank with hands under your shoulders and fingers facing forward.
Exhale as you lift one leg; inhale as you lower your leg back to the ground. Switch sides.
Shoulder stretch, core strength, hip stabilization.

3) Swan Dive:

(Roll down the front side of your body)

Start from a plank with knees down.
Slowly roll down through your spine onto your legs, pelvis, lower belly then lower ribs.
Press through your hands and lift your belly to come back up to a flat back position.
Keep abdominals turned on; think of getting longer instead of gripping with your glutes.
Strengthens spine extensors, arms, and tummy.

4) Double Leg Kick:

(Kick both heels to your bum, then extend arms, legs, back and chest)

On your tummy, hands behind your back, rest elbows on the ground.
Exhale as you kick both legs in, then inhale as you extend arms and legs and reach out through your chest.
Back extension, shoulder stretch.

5) Bow:

(Prone quad, hip flexor, ab stretch)

Lying on your tummy. Grab your right foot with your right hand (or a strap) and pull your foot towards your hip.
Slowly start to lift your foot up to the ceiling. Hold here for five breaths then switch sides.
Quad/ hip flexor stretch.