Obliques in Action: Balance Stability & Strength for a Pilates Practice

The obliques, both internal and external, are crucial for more than just movement—they’re key players in stabilizing and mobilizing your body. Acting as global stabilizers, they manage the relationship between the ribcage and pelvis, often working to stop rotation or control side flexion. But they also power active trunk flexion, rotation, and side bending, essential in daily life and sports.

When unwanted shifts or twists in the ribcage disrupt alignment with the hips, it can lead to imbalances throughout the body, affecting the neck, shoulders, legs, knees, and feet. That’s when it’s vital to retrain the obliques as stabilizers, focusing on alignment, motor control, responsiveness, and endurance.

In this video, Melanie Byford-Young, Owner of Pacific Northwest Pilates and extraordinary movement educator, demonstrates how the STOTT PILATES® Split Pedal Stability Chair can help reeducate your obliques. You’ll discover creative ways to adjust exercises, springs, and problem-solve to target low-level, responsive oblique work—training them to control movement and alignment against resistance.

Check out the clip and give it a try! For more educational opportunities with Pacific Northwest Pilates, including both in-person and online offerings, visit our education page.