Pilates: Breast Stroke

Step 1: To prepare

Lie face down with your hands at shoulder level and elbows resting on your mat. Have your legs and feet together.

Step 2: The exercise

Inhale and reach your arms over your head, exhale and circle your arms all the way round while extending your upper torso off the mat. Inhale to bring the arms forward again and exhale to circle them round and extend.

Repeat this six times being aware of not over-extending your neck and of maintaining your abdominals firm throughout.

When you finish, sit back onto your knees and round over your back to relax.