10/28/2026
WHY DO WE DO SWAN & SWIMMING? 🦢🏊♀️
You’ll often see these movements toward the end of a Club Pilates class — and there’s a reason we program them in.
These exercises challenge thoracic extension, posterior-chain strength, shoulder stability and whole-body coordination.
🦴 THORACIC EXTENSION
Swan and Swimming teach you to extend through your upper and mid-back with control. We want the thoracic spine to move, rather than relying on the lower back to create the movement.
💪 STRENGTHEN THE BACK OF THE BODY
Your back extensors, glutes and hamstrings work together to support you against gravity.
🪽 SHOULDER & SCAPULAR CONTROL
As your arms move, you’re practising control of the shoulder blades while maintaining a stable trunk.
🪑 COUNTERACT DESK TIME
Think about how much of your day is spent sitting — at a desk, in the car, on your phone or looking at a screen.
We’re often positioned with the body slightly rounded forward.
Swan and Swimming give us the opportunity to move in the opposite direction — opening the front of the body while strengthening the muscles that help support an upright posture.
🏊♀️ SWIMMING = COORDINATION
Opposite arm and leg movements challenge you to maintain spinal stability while your limbs move independently.
AND WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Good posture isn’t about forcing yourself to “sit up straight” all day.
It’s about having the strength, mobility and awareness to comfortably move and support your body in different positions.
So when you’re lying on your stomach thinking,
“Why are we doing tummy time “
Remember:
We’re moving the spine, strengthening the back and training your body to support you — especially after all that sitting.
That’s the Pilates method.
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