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Maria and Wolfgang doing the Pilates exercise Obliques Roll Back
Pilates - Feel the change
Pilates - Feel the change

Pilates exercises explained

Obliques Roll Back

The Pilates exercise "Obliques Roll Back" trains the oblique and deep abdominal muscles. At the same time, the spine is mobilized and coordination is promoted.

Exercise description

From an upright sitting position, with the legs hip-width apart and the soles of the feet firmly on the floor, we roll with the exhalation over the sacrum, vertebra by vertebra. The abdomen remains flat, and at the same time we turn the upper body to one side, controlled by the deep abdominal muscles.

In the inhalation we hold the twist and with the exhalation we come back to the starting position.

We can also do this exercise in two-breath, rolling into the twist on the exhalation and straightening up on the inhalation.

Repeat exercise 3 to 6 times in each direction. 

Picture of Maria, Pilates instructor

Pro Tip From Maria

Imagine opening your upper body like a book. Let the front hand hover over the knee and pull this hand in the opposite direction of the leading hand. We polarize the arms in this way. Length, length, length.

Video with the brief explanation of the Pilates exercise Obliques Roll Back

Most common errors

The second hand follows the leading hand.

The movement is guided by the shoulder girdle and not from the center of the body as described.

The feet lift off the mat.

Graphic with the muscles that are trained during the Pilates exercise Obliques Roll Back

  • Deep muscles
  • Surface musculature
Muscle groups
  • Transversus
  • Multifidus
  • Obliquus internus
  • Diaphragm Pelvis
  • Iliopsoas
  • Rectus Abdominis
  • Obliquus externus
  • Deltoid
  • Pectoralis Major
Equipment
  • Mat
Difficulty
  • Medium
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