Pilates for Beginners

Pilates for Beginners

Pilates - Positioning

Pilates - Positioning

Pilates - Rolling Like a Ball

Pilates - Rolling Like a Ball

Pilates - The Roll-Up

Pilates - The Roll-Up

Pilates - The Saw

Pilates - The Saw

Pilates - Scissors

Pilates - Scissors

Pilates - Criss-Cross Crunches

Pilates - Criss-Cross Crunches

Pilates - Knee Drops

Pilates - Knee Drops

Pilates - Oblix

Pilates - Oblix

Pilates - The Hundreds

Pilates - The Hundreds

Pilates - Back Extensions

Pilates - Back Extensions

Pilates - Swimming

Pilates - Swimming

Pilates - Breast Stroke

Pilates - Breast Stroke

Pilates - Push-Ups

Pilates - Push-Ups

Pilates - Heel Beats

Pilates - Heel Beats

Pilates - Bent Knee Lift

Pilates - Bent Knee Lift

Pilates - Kicking Front and Back

Pilates - Kicking Front and Back

Pilates - Lift and Extend

Pilates - Lift and Extend

Pilates - Single Leg Circles

Pilates - Single Leg Circles

Pilates - The Plank

Pilates - The Plank

Pilates - Inner Thigh Exercise

Pilates - Inner Thigh Exercise

Pilates for Beginners

Pilates for Beginners

Intermediate Pilates

Intermediate Pilates

Advanced Pilates

Advanced Pilates

How to Do Pilates Reformer Exercises

How to Do Pilates Reformer Exercises

Basic Pilates Routine

Basic Pilates Routine

Intermediate Pilates

Intermediate Pilates

Advanced Pilates

Advanced Pilates

Pilates for Beginners

Pilates for Beginners

Pilates Reformer - Warm Up

Pilates Reformer - Warm Up

Pilates Reformer - Lower Body Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Lower Body Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Standing Lower Body Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Standing Lower Body Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Core Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Core Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Upper Body Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Upper Body Exercises

Pilates Reformer - Stretching

Pilates Reformer - Stretching

Intermediate Pilates Body Positioning and Breathing

Intermediate Pilates Body Positioning and Breathing

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Dori Markakos

Dori is an experienced fitness professional whose love of fitness began in grade school with her love of dance and ballet. She’s danced classical ballet since she was 5. As her interest in fitness grew, she began experimenting with all varieties of group fitness and weight lifting. Dori went the practical route to college and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Virginia’s School of Commerce, but not before receiving her fitness instructor certification in her spare time. After college, Dori went to work for Environmental Design & Construction, LLC (EDC) where she is presently the Controller. In this position, Dori serves as the company’s chief business officer. But, Dori’s heart is in the field of fitness. Dori maintains her certifications and puts them to work as a personal trainer, spinning and Pilates (mat and reformer) instructor. As part of her career development, Dori also received specialty training in pre and post natal fitness, with a specialization in pre/post natal Pilates. Dori currently works with clients as Pilates instructor, while keeping up with her own workouts. She’s run multiple marathons and is an accomplished triathlete having run numerous triathlons as well having completed the Ironman Triathlon. Dori resides in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Peter and daughter Mia.

Pilates - Swimming

Certified Pilates instructor Dori Markakos demonstrates how to do an exercise called swimming!

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Hi! I am Dory, your personal Pilates instructor. I am showing you some of the most basic and popular Pilates exercises. Right now, I am going to show you swimming. The exercise is just like it sounds. So, go ahead and get your self onto the mat, right in the center, and walk yourself back, just a little bit, and walk those hands forward, resting your belly on top of the mat, hands reaching all the way forward, finger tips extended away from the middle of your body, and toes resting comfortably on the mat. Take a big deep breathe in, and as you exhale, lift the chest up above the mat and then rest comfortably back on to the mat. Hips rotated under and I want you to engage those, the pelvis. So, I want you to keep pushing those pelvic bones right into the mat. Finger tips are reaching forward, and look straight down. The most important part right here is that you are keeping your spine in neutral and your lower body is nice and relaxed. So, you are going to lift opposite arm and opposite legs first, nice and slow, take a big, deep breathe in, and as you exhale, lift the left arm and the right leg. I want you to hold this position, think about keeping the right hip bone connected with the mat, the toe is extended, the finger tips are nice and long and then you are going to lower and switch. Right arm lifts, left leg is extended; left hip bone is connected with the mat, and switch. Left arm lifts, right leg extends, nice and long and lean. This is a great exercise for your low back and everybody complains of low back pain, so, this is a great one to help with that. We extend fingertips, toes are nice and long, inhale and exhale, switch one more time per leg, then we are going to take it up to tempo, so hold it, inhale and exhale, last time. So, now as the right arm and left leg is extended, I want you to lift both arms and both legs, and you are going to start flutter hands, swim for eight. Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, big, deep breathe in, exhale and slowly lower. Good, place both hands right by your chest, pull right up, take your back for childs pose stretch. Hold the stretch for couple of breathes, big deep breathe in, and exhale, go ahead and sit up nice and tall. Let's move on.

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The Benefits of Regular Exercise

Ab Exercise - The Basic Crunch

Ab Exercise - The Basic Crunch

Ab Exercise - The Body Twist Crunch

Ab Exercise - The Body Twist Crunch

Ab Exercise - The Sideways Crunch

Ab Exercise - The Sideways Crunch

Ab Exercise - Core Leg Work

Ab Exercise - Core Leg Work

Ab Exercise - Rolling Twisting Crunch

Ab Exercise - Rolling Twisting Crunch

Ab Exercise - Core Streching

Ab Exercise - Core Streching

Exercise Plan - Quadricep Workout with a Resistance Ball

Exercise Plan - Quadricep Workout with a Resistance Ball

Exercise Plan - Quadricep Workout Through Squats

Exercise Plan - Quadricep Workout Through Squats

Exercise Plan - Leg Press Machine Quadricep Workout

Exercise Plan - Leg Press Machine Quadricep Workout