What is the point of 'The Hundred'?

[Sara1000]

It just seems silly to me yet every Pilates workout has it and many non-Pilates workouts. I first saw it in a FIRM workout about 20 years ago.

Can anyone explain its purpose? In all the time I've seen it no one has ever explained it - they just act like it's something important to do.

[intelsana]

I think it's to warm up the core.

[Pat58]

To prime the lungs for the Pilates breathing, engage the core, and make us bitter with hatred for it.

[imhere2dance]

Originally Posted by Pat58

To prime the lungs for the Pilates breathing, engage the core, and make us bitter with hatred for it.

Yes. This! LOL

[3ks]

Originally Posted by imhere2dance

Yes. This! LOL

I concur! LOL!

Kiddy

[PhyllisG]

Good question. I have always wondered what that was all about.

[Julia]

Ugh the hundred... gave me a barrel full of a belly.. lol! not pretty for an apple shaped lady like myself.

I avoid this exercise at ALL costs much to the dismay of many pilates instructers, this exercise much like weighted abs and side bends adds terrible and ugly mass to my stomach.

[alisoncooks]

Originally Posted by Pat58

To prime the lungs for the Pilates breathing, engage the core, and make us bitter with hatred for it.

LOL! Ah, The Hundred: finally de-mystified. Thank you.

[SpiritYogi]

Originally Posted by Julia

Ugh the hundred... gave me a barrel full of a belly.. lol! not pretty for an apple shaped lady like myself.

I avoid this exercise at ALL costs much to the dismay of many pilates instructers, this exercise much like weighted abs and side bends adds terrible and ugly mass to my stomach.

That's interesting; I find it does the exact opposite. I 'pull my belly to spine' so my stomach is flat and lower my legs as much as possible while keeping my lower back flat to the floor. I find this really engages all the muscles of my core and helps maintain my flat stomach.

[kelsey211]

Originally Posted by Dena

That's interesting; I find it does the exact opposite. I 'pull my belly to spine' so my stomach is flat and lower my legs as much as possible while keeping my lower back flat to the floor. I find this really engages all the muscles of my core and helps maintain my flat stomach.

Thank you! I love hearing this. I also never understood the hundred and have disliked it. I will have to rethink how I'm doing the exercise.