I'm a little confused as to whether I am engaging my core correctly. I get the pelvic muscles, but having a problem with understanding the abdomen muscles. There are several ways I can engage my abdomen muscles. 1. I can suck my belly button in as hard as I can. Which I believe pulls my diaphragm in and up. 2. I can tense my muscles up as if I was going to cough. 3. I can also tense my muscles up as though I was preparing to be hit in the stomach. (very similar to number 2) I am not sure if any of them are correct? Also, when doing the swan exercise I find on peeling my chest up off the ground I am pushing my stomach muscles out to be tense and not inwards. One other thing I find occasionally is breathing in or out while my core is tense difficult. Ha ha and that's most of the time during the Pilates exercises. Any advice would be appreciated.

@Russ Walker On the RPE (1-10) scale what should we be aiming for when doing the beginners Pilates session exercises?

@Russ Walker a quick question. I remember you saying you took a magnesium supplement, curious to know what type and where from if you don't mind?

I am now starting my third week with run/walk but noticed my lower back especially right side is tight and kind of bothering me. I feel stiff and I wasn't expecting that. Did my daily maintenance today and will do a longer session tomorrow. Would cat/cow help?

Hi @Russ Walker is there an alternative to doing abdominal curls/100's without including table top. Just as a trial, because I would like to do a test to see if the table top and 100's are straining my hip flexors or not. I know I can just do them without the table top and just keep my knees bent and feet on the floor. But don't feel that would be working my core as hard as if I included the table top. Is there a modification I could do as a trial?