Yes, the Pilates Police might scream and holla, because I am doing the unthinkable….mixing genres.  OMGoodness! NO!!  Yet, the variable and its support is absolutely divine on the body.  I have decided to add the tool to some of my Pilates Mat classes.  

Sri Dharma Mittra with son, Dov Samuel Vargas

DYW stands for Dharma Yoga Wheel and I have had one in the studio for years.  The original design; a beautiful, hand-made, interwoven wood wheel that had absolutely no padding was designed by Sri Dharma Mittra who originated and invented this Wheel for use in Yoga in 1977. Of course, I went for the completely recycled and natural fiber wheel that made the wheel light weight yet, it needed a tad more cushion for most people.  I remember bringing it to a Yoga class years ago and one of my #YogaTeacherFriends OneikasYogaLife took it home,anxious to try it out, and wasn’t crazy about it in the absence of any “mat” surface on the wheel itself.  I am such a “hard-ass” that I grew very accustomed to its resistance.  I did however add a bit of sticky mat to the circumference and now use it exclusively in my private practice work.

 

I am not a Yogi.  I am a Pilates Teacher, yet I love Yoga and it is and will remain a part of my body maintenance work.  As will cycling, running and strength training with weights.  They all, coupled with regular Pilates, keep me feeling my best.

Back to the DYW

Classic Dharma Yoga Wheel

….well, I found another design.  As the market absorbed the use of the DYW; other designers have added their spin.  More colors, more sizes, different materials.  I found a design with a thick black mat and am adding it to my toolbox in the studio for specific mat classes and/or specific students.

I find it very supportive of the pelvis and torso for the Intermediate-Advanced student.  Not unlike the Pilates #SpineCorrector, it provides a delicious heart-opening-back-bending support that is perfect for mat class variations.

Specifically, I am using several of the exercise sequences generally used on the spine corrector, on the DYW, as shown below in the video.

However, Spine Stretch Forward, Swan and even Mermaid variations feel fabulous with the wheel.

So consider it a joyous gift from another movement methodology when I pull them off the shelf in the weeks ahead.  It’s a tool that is not in the classic Pilates repertoire, but nevertheless, #MsJackson will be using it in the Pilates4Fitness Movement Space. 😉