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This 25-minute beginner workout focuses on 25 minute beginner yogalates for spine and hamstrings. Led by Jessica Casalegno, it targets spine, hamstrings, core with evidence-based exercises designed for women of all fitness levels.

Exercise Breakdown

22 exercises in Workout 8

Strength1 exercise
39s
20:21
Frog Squats

Inhale to bend through your knees, lift your chest up.

quadshamstringships
medium
Flexibility4 exercises
3m 21s
0:46
Standing Side Stretch

Opening through the right oblique.

spinecorearms
low
19:11
Wide-Legged Forward Fold with Side Stretch

Walk your hands over towards the left leg, dropping the chest down.

hamstringslower backhips
low
22:11
Ragdoll with Interlaced Fingers

Interlace your fingers behind your back, extending through the elbows.

shoulderschestspinehamstrings
low
23:41
Pancake Stretch

Drop the chest in between your legs.

inner thighshipslower back
low
Cool-down1 exercise
46s
24:21
Cool-down: Easy Pose and Final Affirmations

Relaxed shoulders, taking a big inhale through your nose.

neckshouldersspine
low
breathing1 exercise
45s
0:00
Standing Grounding and Breathwork

Pushing down through the heels, lengthening through the fingertips.

spinefull body
low
yoga8 exercises
12m 32s
1:31
Forward Fold with Ragdoll

Shaking head yes, maybe shaking the head no, releasing any tension.

hamstringsspinenecklower back
low
2:16
Halfway Lift

Lengthen out your spine.

spinehamstrings
low
2:31
Downward Facing Dog

Pushing down through the heels, really grounding through the hands.

armsshouldershamstringscalves
medium
3:01
Spinal Waves

Moving one vertebra at a time.

spinecoreshoulders
medium
4:01
Sun Salutation Flow with Chaturanga Hold

Elbows bent at a 90 degree.

armschestcorefull body
high
10:11
Warrior II Flow

Right toe points towards the top of the mat, left toe points towards the outside.

quadshipsshouldersankles
medium
12:01
Reverse Warrior and Side Angle

Right elbow comes to the right knee, left hand comes up overhead.

corespinequadships
medium
15:21
Left Side Flow (Dog/Warrior/Triangle)

Starting just with those hamstring curls.

full body
high
pilates7 exercises
6m 43s
7:31
Three-Legged Dog Hamstring Curls

Keeping the thigh nice and still, only bending the knee and extending the knee.

hamstringsglutesarmsshoulders
medium
8:31
Down Dog Donkey Kicks and Pulses

Flex through that right foot.

gluteshamstringscore
high
9:21
Down Dog Hydrant Kicks

Exhale to raise the right thigh to the right side.

outer thighsgluteships
medium
13:01
Triangle Pose with Oblique Lifts

Squeezing through the left oblique.

corehamstringsspine
medium
13:51
Goddess Squat with Heel Lifts

Both heels in, both toes out, Pilates second position.

quadsinner thighscalvesglutes
high
21:01
Plie Squat with Heel Lifts and Pulses

Raise both heels up nice and tall, pushing the fingertips down.

quadsinner thighscalvesglutes
high
23:01
Teaser with Arm Circles

We circle the arms for five.

corehip flexorsarms
high

Muscles Targeted

Primary

spinehamstringscore

Secondary

shouldershipsarms

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • mat

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick towelcarpet

Available Modifications

  • Soft bend in your knees
  • Bring your left hand behind your lower back to bind
  • Option one, your knees are bent
  • Option two, your legs are long

Coaching Highlights from Jessica Casalegno

Right toe points towards the top of the mat, left toe points towards the outside.

Form

We hold that chaturanga for five, holding four, squeezing three.

Motivation

I come from classical Pilates training, and I'll be honest — I think most online Pilates classes skip the fundamentals that actually matter. Core activation isn't about crunching harder. It's about finding your deep stabilizers and letting them do the work they were designed for.

Form

Health Benefits

Women navigating Pelvic Floor, anxiety will find this session particularly relevant. The focus on spine and hamstrings addresses the specific tension patterns and movement deficits that often accompany these conditions. No prior experience needed — every movement has a modification.

Relevant For

anxietyback painbalancebone densitycore strengthdepressionflexibilityhip painknee painneck painposturesciaticashoulder painstress

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Workouts & Topics

About the Trainer

Jessica Casalegno

Yoga Trainer

From: Yogalates