CRUNCHES & TAILBONE MOVES

If a client has a rounded back in crunches and tailbone based movements:

Press in the middle of clients back (thoracic spine) and slightly lift up
Take the other hand and push back their shoulder to help them open their chest and engage their rhomboids and traps appropriately
Encourage glute engagement to help stabilize the core and hip flexors

KNEELING CRUNCH MOVES

If a client moves from the knees instead of the waist:

Try going off mic, holding the carriage the your knee or heel, and put your hands on the smallest part of the clients waist
Encourage client to move with your hands as they exhale and help them round their spine

TWISTER MOVES

If a client has a rounded upper back in twister based movements:

Stand on the side of the oblique working
Pull both shoulder blades down by pulling two fingers at the base of shoulder blades
Soften elbows and wrap biceps in to hug the ribs and relieve shoulder/neck tension
Slide shoulders slightly behind wrists
Push carriage back so client heels stack under their hips
Have client pinch oblique and then kick heels back
Can stop carriage with your heel on the rail when they pull in

NECK ALIGNMENT

If a client has their head out of alignment with their spine:

Take a finger in front of where their eyes are currently and slowly guide their eyes to where they should be to align with their back
Encourage them to pull their head back and in so the muscles in the back of the neck can support them in plank based movements

FOREARM MOVES

If a client has a rounded back and their hands are clasped // close together:

Encourage client to separate their forearms like the #11
Push their elbows, forearms, wrists, and open palmed fingers down into machine
Encourage clients to pretend to pull machine apart with the pressure from both forearms to open up the chest, back and lats

TABLE TOP HIPS

If a client is on three limbs and they lean heavily to one side:

Anchor carriage heel toe against pocket
Help square their hips into a plank like spine
Encourage a slight lean forward to brace glute and core as stabilizers
Soften elbows and wrap biceps in to hug the ribs and relieve shoulder/neck tension
Focus on the engagement between the hips (core stability)

ROUNDED BACK X LIGHT PULLING

If a client struggles to keep a neutral spine during pulling leg moves (lunges) they may be struggling with flexibility, balance, glute, and core strength:

bring them up to the pole (or two)
add additional tension support at the front, if at the back and constant, bring them to the front
have them bring their heel to the front of the carriage
continue to HOC during core // obliques

TUCK HIPS

If a client is feeling low back pain or you notice a swing in the lower back:

Stand on your non-dominant side (i.e. if right handed stand to left of the carriage)
Place your first fingers on client’s hip bones
Pull first finger up as you push thumbs on the back down towards the glutes

**If client is not moving with your hands, try to push elbow of dominant hand to tailbone and encourage clients (off-mic) to exhale as they move with your hands

SCOOP X PIKE ROUNDED LOW BACK

If a client struggles to keep a neutral spine during Scoop or Plank to Pike they may be tucking their core unnecessarily:

encourage client to flick tailbone back
“untuck” hips

HANDS ON CORRECTIONS THAT STICK