Technology serves as both a source of convenience and suffering. With modern-day inventions, information is as easily accessed as it is capable of being eliminated from the world, instilling tremendous fear in those unfamiliar with various systems. I spend a fair chunk of my time troubleshooting process these seemingly endless issues, whether it be making sense of cloud servers in the workplace or workarounds for low RAM at home.

​In my already scarce pockets of leisure time, I embarked on expeditions of sustenance. Longtime pizza longings were rounded out with discounted Dr. Oetker thin crusts, while unsatiated cheesecake cravings prompted a revisit to basque cheesecake.

My ebay cookie stamps were also finally put to use. Despite their near-instantaneous failure - though I do have my obscenely soft, eggy dough to blame - at least twenty of each seasonal print emerged successfully.  Last year's black cacao cats were swapped for bite-sized witches' hats, wonky houses, grinning jack-o'-lanterns, and Casper's cousins.

The very creation that had raised wariness towards my oven's digital heat gauge and resulted in acquisition of an oven thermometer, Basque Cheesecake was constructed from a non-Sunday recipe (gasp!) this time around in its fundamental form. 

​My Amazon purchase informed me of vast fluctuations with my secondary cooking apparatus, though my tardy response led to only partial charring. The desire for more uniform colour led to overbaking, indicated by a lack of ooziness in the cross-section. A more watchful eye is demanded in future iterations.

​I set out for yet another batch of freezer-friendly Bran Muffins, only to find my brown sugar solidified in its entirety. Mixing granulated sugar and molasses was not an unviable workaround, though a terracotta saver may not be too much trouble either.

Green Tea Snowballs from Sunday Baking were created within 24 hours of video upload. A tad crumbly yet nonetheless grassy and delicious, the circular morsels disappeared well under nine hours of being removed from the oven. Glutinous rice flour had been used in place of rice flour due to availability, however it is humble hope that adopting the standard variation shall lend the cookies structure and crunch.

​As the final days of t-shirt weather pass us by, Mother Nature grows unpredictable with her sudden gutsy gusts, inexhaustible downpours, and unusual humidity.

The varying temperatures inflict minimal involvement on my part, for the majority of my days are still spent before spreadsheets and screens. A persistent unwellness lingers about my mind and body, urging meals of congee and lean red meat. Pickled cabbage stimulates a tenantless appetite, while Salted Pork Congee reigns at the top of the Most Wanted list. Blanched leafy greens and delectable beef brisket from Wonton Chai are also procured.

A desire for solid food is somewhat recovered by the end of the work week, once the draft of a major deliverable has finally been, well, delivered. The Square One parking lot at Rathburn and Duke of York was converted into a physically-distanced outdoor market for the first weekend of Night Market TO: Harvest Festival. Rotating each week was the vendors list; Liko's Hawaiian Barbecue was spotted on the lineup for opening weekend, prompting a visit for wonderfully marinated pulled pork.

We pulled into a fairly full lot just after 7 PM and made our way past the blaring speakers of repetitive Jalebi Baby. Positioned along the perimeter of the lot were the various food vendors. Each stall had been allocated a minimum radius of 10 metres for operations and queuing; photo-ready displays filled the spaces between in the forms of wooden swings and multi-toned pumpkin arrangements. At the centre of the lot was a small pumpkin patch, mini hay stack, chess board, life-sized Connect 4 contraption, and even a merry-go-round.

I made my rounds to each of the stalls in review of our options, though my heart had not wavered from the plan of Liko's. Known for exclusive participation in pop-up events, I was keen to catch a glimpse of their array of offerings since my last experience at the Waterfront Night Market.
The Harvest Festival menu unfortunately excluded the skewers and Pulled Pork Bun I had hankered for so desperately. Instead was the availability of SPAM musubi, a popular Japanese-Hawaiian street snack, and an Aloha Plate. The set comprised of rice, macaroni salad, barbecue chicken, short ribs, and their infamous kahlua pork. A no-tax discount was offered for cash payments for a total of $30 for two Aloha Plate boxes.

​Our departure was made shortly obtaining sustenance. As we proceeded past the blaring speakers once more, I caught sight a vehicle zooming through the aisles of the asphalt lot. My mouth dropped agape, for the vehicle's speed had far exceeded local roads, let alone a parking lot with pedestrians weaving between cars. Crowds began to gather in the lot - in a rather raucous manner, if I may add. We took it as our cue to leave, and utilize extreme caution while doing so.

Weekends are meant for sleeping in. I relinquished such privilege in exchange for a last-minute chiro treatment. The appointment had been made available after endless pleading to the receptionists, and it was only right to be punctual for the accommodation.

The visit confirmed injury of the AC joint, as I had speculated, and entailed a shoulder adjustment and laser therapy to alleviate inflammation. My range of motion was restricted by 75%, where movement beyond the 90 degrees between my sides and shoulder height was forbidden, or at least heavily opposed.

Between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM, there was little for me to do. After confirming bake-ability of my OOMOMO tart pans, I headed over to Platform, hopeful I'd be able to reside there for a while.

"Do you have a reservation?" came the dreaded question upon my entry.
"Um...no." I stuttered. I didn't think I needed one. "Do you have any spots?"
I was informed that all tables had been booked and was offered the bar without a second thought. In reality, the "bar" was more of a waiting area before the window than proper seating. It was the only choice made available, thus I grudgingly agreed.

The splattered, sticky blinds were lowered slightly, diffusing incoming illumination by a tad. Residual rays permeated my eyes, causing reflection on my laptop screen and reduction in visibility. Underneath the equally sticky counter were several potted plants, hindering further lowering of the blinds. My calves and ankles burned underneath the table.
Despite there not being an outlet in sight, I remained stationary. Other parties of one made their entrances; some were turned away, while an older lady was provided a booth for her reading pleasures.

I set foot into the studio around the 1:57 pm mark. The earlier class was ongoing, and a mixture of English and Korean instructions could be heard from the waiting area. The client duo consisted of a woman capable of articulating the Korean language and a man who was an apparent avid badminton player.

After bidding farewell to the couple, the instructor welcomed me with a smile and proceeded with a temperature check. I took the opportunity to address comments and warnings from the morning's chiropractor appointment. There was "shearing" in the shoulder area, which led to audible clicks with certain movements; the arm of the injured shoulder was permitted to move laterally ("abduction"), but not backwards, "as it would cause the AC join to jut forwards" - an unwanted scenario. She nodded and confirmed her understanding twice before initiating the routine.

We started with the Cardio-Tramp in the group fitness area, as the private session room was being occupied by the studio owner and another client. Spacious enough for four Reformers and their accessories, one Chair, and one Ladder Barrel, the group space also allowed for positioning of a water dispenser and several mirrors. Bright bulb lights hung from above, while a chandelier was spotted in the corner. Cubbies for personal belongings could be found against the wall, underneath a floral-patterned speaker.

​We maneveured to the private lesson room once vacated. Reformer exercises continued.

Instability in and injury about the shoulder joint meant shifting emphasis to the lower body and core. A cloth resistance band was wrapped around the thighs and feet were spaced widely on the footbar. I was to maintain tension by pushing the knees against the band for the entire routine and extend the legs - not entirely,  as this would mean losing tension from the band, and return. Constant reminders were uttered to keep tension consistent on the left knee by continuously pushing out against the band, even on the return trip. Weakness was evident on the left side.
A hot pink Miniso Sport foam blcok was placed on the headrest for the next exercise. I rolled onto my side and placed my head on top of the bock. A neutral spine was made such that the obliques did not touch the carriage; arms were relaxed, core was engaged, and the top leg was placed at the edge of the footbar. The top foot was to be parallel with the footbar, with the knee bent at 90 degrees; the lower leg could adopt the desired position, just as long as it was off the Reformer frame and didn't hinder the movement the carriage and springs

As with the previous class, I was told to keep my chin up and avoid tucking it down by default.

Next was the Ladder Barrel, where I sat on the curved portion of the apparatus and placed balls of the feet on the ladder rungs. Two 1 lb weights were held at shoulder height. The position prepared me for a weighted half-rolldown. Instructions were provided to execute appropriately:

1. Inhale to chin up
2. Form an imprint with the pelvis
3. Roll down into a C-curve
4. Inhale and maintain the C-curve while rolling up
5. Finally, release the imprint to return to neutral spine

​The move was was likely my favourite of the session, as it demanded immense core control and targeted areas of weakness without fear of overexertion in the upper body. In response to my declaration, the instructor informed that the Ladder Barrel was, in fact, the "hardest" piece of equipment, even more challenging than the Reformer and Cadillac (mat replica).

​Branching off from the recommended rehab exercises I was assigned, a green TheraBand was wrapped about the body in an X-formation. The concept of pilates breathing was revisited: to inhale was to expand the ribcage; as the bands were tugged tight across the trunk, exhalation through the mouth would enable the ribcage to be drawn closer to the back. While performing the external rotation on both arms, I was reminded to suck in the lower abdomen, but maintain a position between imprint and neutral spine to protect the back.

​Moving to the Chair, I sat perpendicular to the handlebar and placed one hand on the tension-affixed paddle. The upper hand was placed on base of the chair for balance, but could be placed beside the head for added difficulty. Keeping the legs hovered (core engaged!) the routine involved bending upwards with strict reliance on the obliques, holding for a few seconds, and then releasing. For proper execution, the hips should be stacked in the same plane. Shakiness prevailed when performing the exercise on the right (weaker) side, thus external forces - the instructor's assistance - were deployed.
The eagerness to undertake more advanced modifications was deemed "adventurous", though it seemed only fitting for me to explore different variations given the many years spent with blogilates.

A Figure 4 stretch was conducted as part of the cooldown. Often would the body shift while attempting to lengthen. At such times, the instructor aided in rectification of body to proper alignment. Fewer adjustments were made on the more flexible (right) side, however greater pressure was applied to shift my body back to proper alignment for left (weaker/tighter) side.

A final examination of the body determined my shoulders to be at different heights. Whereas the right side was visibly higher than the left during the previous week, the opposite observation was made this time.

For the ninth session, the Cadillac was not used at all.

Across from its storefront was the very strip of spaces at which I been ticketed while in pursuit of DAY6 tickets. To my delight, the side street had recently been repaved, its curbs re-done and boulevard-based parking machines covered for the time being. Sprinting southbound, I entered the premises to evaluate their offerings. The staff was undeniably Chinese, with an underlying accent indicative of Mainland origins. The tower of cardboard boxes behind the cashier was another indication of non-authenticity.

Regardless, I had secured parking - albeit temporarily - and intended on obtaining items for tasting. Their best-selling Osmanthus Rice Cake was chosen, along with Mugwort rice cake with soybean flour. Both were presented in flimsy paper trays; Simplified Chinese adorned one of two plastic lids.
Approximately five minutes passed before I obtained the order. While the Osmanthus appeared to be pre-packaged, the mugwort rice cakes were obtained from the kitchen. Initially formed into narrow, snake-like threads, they were sliced into eraser-sized segments and coated in soybean flour to order.

I hurried home with the goods for timely sampling. Vast disappointment was witnessed with the allegedly adored Osmanthus Rice Cake. The blocks were dense, bland, and thoroughly lacking of the tropical blossoms - a great disparity from our handcrafted jelly cubes.  ​When repurposed into a rice substitute and submerged in savoury sauces, the blocks were bearable - not good, but tolerable at best.

The mugwort edition proved far tastier in comparison, though flavoured minimally with the earthy, teal powder and stiff at cool temperatures. Frankly, its texture was softer than I would have preferred. Proper execution of the dish at home was declared attainable, especially considering the immense affordability of the ingredients.

Economic restart entails more than increase in GDP. As evident over the past few weekends, the mid-pandemic boost is coupled with tragic congestion levels.
Keeping a keen eye on route alternatives to Thornhill, I ultimately began gathering my things for a 12:40 PM departure. My eighth class at Sum would not commence until 2 PM, yet I was confident that 401 commuters would result in a setback at some point along the way. (Mind you, I was right.)

Aspects omitted from the previous week's recap were the instructor's regular readjustment of my top, should it slide during certain moves, along with direct assistance in maintaining form, whether it be shifting the hip for levelness or holding the Reformer carriage for easier execution. The same elements were witnessed in the second class. Distinctly anatomical terminology had also been mentioned, though memory of the vocabular extends not beyond "posterior" and "anterior".

I strode into the facility at 1:58 PM and was greeted immediately. She pointed the thermometer at my forehead and, upon obtaining a satisfactory value, welcomed me into the studio space. I proceeded to relay concerns over pain in the right shoulder, particularly in the vicinity of the AC joint. A brief visual inspection was conducted, followed by comparison with the left shoulder. At a loss for the proper English word, she resorted to Google Translate. "Inflammation" it read. A minty substance was distributed over the area in an attempt to alleviate the swelling, though its cause remained a mystery.

Erring on the side of caution, she proposed exercises that avoided the arm and back, in fear of any additional triggers, and urged moderation in movement of/pressure applied to the right arm.

Majority of the class would be spent on the Cadillac. The Arc Barrel was positioned near its midpoint. With the back towards the curved accessory and feet placed roughly hip-distance apart, I would curl down in a C-shape with the arms outstretched before me. Once the entire trunk touched the barrel, the spine would be lengthened, the body relaxed. At that point, I would curl back up, leading with the arms, then chin, and lastly stacking the spine. This Arc Barrel-assisted Rollup would be performed several times before moving onto a half-Rollup. As the name indicated, it involved curling halfway down to the barrel, resisting gravitational pull for five seconds, then returning to the original position.

The thigh and glute exercises that proceeded also retained use of the Arc Barrel. Lying sideways with the hip positioned at the Cadillac-Barrel boundary, I placed one hand under the head as support and the other on the unoccupied space of the barrel. A black resistance band was looped about my knees for the Clamshell. It would then evolve into a side-lying Fire Hydrant, at which point I was reminded to keep the hips square while moving the top leg in a single plane. Stripping off the band, I was instructed to conduct a series of side-lying single leg lifts (top leg only); appended to the end of the lifts were lifted circles forward and backward. blogilates had trained me well for this moment.
While familiar with this portion of the routine, it was undeniable that greater impacts could be felt with rectified form. It dawned upon me that maintaining levelness of the hips during execution was not as simple as I had once believed. Once again, I was constantly reminded to lift the chin up. In order to achieve this, I allowed my gaze to fall upon the tower of the Reformer on the other side of the room.

For the past two weekends, I had filled my body with lessons from Studio Bon. Yet, a total of four classes remained at Sum Pilates. With an unavailability of instructors, continuation of my package was delayed. The seventh session resumed on August 28th, preceded by a highly anticipated massage and realized with a new instructor.

The early appointment led me to Scarborough, just a few blocks from the neighbourhood traversed for the sake of jokbal and juice. It proceeded as planned, with the exception of makeup application taking place in my driver's seat of the vehicle (behold the glitter dust!) rather than within the air-conditioned establishment. Despite full comprehension of the masking rule for indoor spaces, it hadn't occurred to me that makeup application would not be permitted within.

For the second week in a row, I awoke to a Sunday with the promise of pilates. A follow-up group class slot had been secured for the 11 AM slot, this time in the absence of ochungg.

I woke to my regular work alarm, eased into a breakfast of coffee and freezer inventory items, and slowly began preparing for the drive. Departing approximately seven minutes later than the previous week - yes, I am aware of my underestimation in congestion levels - resulted in a delay of 5 minutes. Rapidly signing my name on the check-in sheet and sprinting to the bathroom, I escaped the temperature check. I had paused briefly at the entrance in wait of a staff member to conduct the screening, though observed a semi-private (2:1) lesson being held in one of the smaller rooms by none other than the owner who had guided me previously.
My own class had commenced on time. I dashed back out from the bathroom to find the instructor (my instructor!) in a sleeveless blouse, flowy black drawstring bottoms, and narrow Gore-Tex footwear. It was an interesting departure from the usual activewear and leggings. She urged me to lie down on one of the Reformers, as I had already missed a few of the warmup exercises.

​Beyond myself, there was one other student. She appeared in her mid-thirties, with a half-tied, medium-length bob and lilac top. The instructor had initially conversed with her in Korean, then switched channels with my appearance in the studio.

With the trampoline attachment inserted into the Reformer, we proceeded with several lying "jumps" to awaken the legs and core. I began having regrets in investment in blogilates' 20 Minute Inner Thigh Isolate the day before, for have the feet positioned in second position was a true travesty with tension-affixed rods. It was undeniable that maintaining control on the way added an element of difficulty; to execute each move with grace involved total control of the body, and any deviations would be visible in unsoundly slamming of platforms.

Shifting focus from the previous week's abdominal-intensive series, the day's session placed emphasis on the lower body and back, though the core was to be engaged throughout all exercises regardless.
With the Box attachment placed atop the carriage, we revisited several arm exercises with the tension-affixed arm bands. Again, some involved holding by the cloth-wrapped straps, while others by the metal hooks. A variation of the pull-backs entailed curling down to one's toes, then rolling back up slowly, allowing the spine to lengthen.

One of my favourite mat pilates exercises is the Parachuter (or bent-arm Superman for gym-goers). Lying face-down of the Box and positing its edge "underneath the bra line" (as directed by the instructor) entailed engagement of the entire core. The normal force providing support in mat pilates is removed, demanding stabilization from other muscle groups. It was generally easy to execute ten counts of this exercise. Swimmers did not prove too difficult either, though it's uncertain whether the improved strength and mobility should be owed to consistent practice or a comprehensive physio session.

​A good work week starts with a Monday of minimal emails. Another aspect deserving appreciation is an unrushed opportunity for nutrition replenishing. Anxiety from the previous week's invoicing craze persisted, with its effects only augmented by the neverending list of other project tasks.

I craved heartiness, and I craved caffeine. The desires would lead to the creation of my first wheat loaf in aeons and consumption of Lavazza's renowned Italian espresso in a complimentary Balzac's mug.

1) Whole Wheat Loaf w/ Honey and Olive Oil

Given the arduous prepwork involved in Bake For Happy Kids' wheat bread recipes - and decidedly moist properties achieved thus far - I decided to venture beyond the tried-and-trusted. King Arthur offered a version that could be executed on a whim, using a breadmachine, and deploying olive oil and honey for extra swiftness.

The lack of expansion had me concerned initially, however the results were fabulous. Due to work commitments, the lengthier rising schedule was gladly welcomed. Baking at a higher temperature also eradicated unwanted moisture present in previously attempted wheat loaves.
Having yielded enough to fill two loaf pans, one had been portioned for slicing, while the other into pull-apart rolls. Both boasted impeccable texture when lightly toasted; margarine and honey made for a luscious, high-fibre breakfast, while homemade pecan butter could be smothered on for a boost of natural fats.

2) Green Tea Basque Cheesecake (Attempt)

The first green tea cheesecake ever to emerge from my kitchen and the second basque cheesecake ever to be crafted, I knew that the instigator could be no one else besides Sunday Baking.

​Congestion on the 401 hasn't stopped a day since the province's entry into Step 3. And allow me to clarify: I wholly encourage and support economic recovery and a gradual return to normal life, however rarely can one bring oneself to declare affection for grueling travel times.
I tend to drive less during the week, and shorter distances at that, leaving weekends as my only period of escape. In preparation for this week's session at Sum, I took to Google Maps. The route was far darker red than I would have liked, leading to an early departure and avoidance of the 401 as much as possible.

The alternate route took me to Hwy 7, where I would traverse nearly 15 km before two ladies would pull up next to me and honk for my attention. I peered over at the duo, both unmasked and one with hands occupied by a McFlurry. "You got a flat tire!" the driver called out to me. "The back one."
I cast a quick glance towards the back, but proceeded to my destination without stopping. At the nearby Starbucks, I was able to confirm the status of the tire, which was, indeed, as severe as the ladies had implied. Tire treatment was temporarily put on hold, as it was nearing my appointment time.

We commenced on the Reformer instead of the Cadillac, with the box attachment positioned on top of the Carriage. Warmup duration was brief in the form of breathing and awakening of the upper back. I was then eased into a variety of core-building activities. Keywords such as "tabletop" and "imprint" were instantly translated to engaging certain muscles, while descriptive instructions assisted when imagery was vague: "straight back, as if you're growing taller".
The most notable progression was conducting a rollup without the tension "pull-through" bar. The range of motion was now far greater, indicative of greater control required. Legs were bent over the box rather than kept straight in the starting position on the Cadillac. The arms remained outstretched in front of the body, palms placed at either end of the fitness hoop. I would then slowly lean back towards my tipping point, first by tilting the pelvis, then stacking the spine.

​Another variation of core engagement was the straight-leg roll-up. The first version involved threading one foot through the fitness hoop in tabletop position and securing the other foot underneath a support strap. I would then roll back slowly while straightening the leg. Instead of halting at the tipping point though, I was instructed to continue bending back, relaxing the head and shoulders at the other end of the Reformer box. Curling back to the starting position on the basis of pure core strength was a challenging task, but it offered a grand sense of accomplishment and fabulous stretch to the hamstring and spine.
A second version eliminated the hoop and involved three introductory rounds of bending and straightening the lifted leg. Both hands would start grasping the ankle lightly, then travel down the leg to the thigh while rolling down. The process would reset once the head and shoulders were relaxed, then summon core strength ("bringing the ribs together") to return to the seated position. This exercise was one of my favourites from the session, given its attention to flexibility, mobility, and stability.

​The next series of exercises involved lying on the side. The upper leg would be lifted at hip height, lower leg bent and slightly forward, upper arm outstretched at a right angle, and lower arm bent to support the head. Tension band in hand, the aim was to bring the upper arm as close as possible while striving to maintain stillness in the trunk. With pains emerging from the previous day's Pump It Up! and bowling activities, tremours only prevailed with additional reps.

Navigating to the Cadillac, I was guided through a series of tension bar-assisted squats. Beyond engaging the thighs and upper body, the core would also be engaged when returning to standing position. Next up were squatting torso twists: The tension bar was pushed down while descending into a ninety-degree formation with the knees. Both hands would then shift towards one end of the bar, where one arm would be lifted to lead rotation to the back. The same would be repeated on the other arm. Likely the most challenging portion of this move was not the rotation, but the force required to keep the tension bar in place.

​Hip squats and a tension bar-imposed leg lift were then discussed. Due to general weakness in the upper body, I was unable to hold the tension bar stationary. Consequently, we maneuvered back to the Reformer, where I would execute wide straight leg raises for the core and side/lower glute muscles. More core work, in the form of tension band-attached knee-ins were attempted with tremendous effort. I was quick to admit difficulty in the move, but rapidly followed up with a desire to build and succeed.
I did not use the Barrel on this occasion, however a handful of kneeling side bends were included in the routine. 

​With the arrival of long weekends is the customary congestion heading north on the 400. With the exception of minor impediment along the connecting sections of highway, traffic was minimal on the 401. There seemed a surge in slow drivers along Yonge St., but thankfully enough space along the narrower sections of the arterial to loop around those with the potential of endangering my punctual facade. I remained on time, and was welcomed into the exercise area promptly after the inaudible blast of the temperature gun.

It was officially the last class prior to the province-wide "Emergency Brake" lockdown, where memberships and existing class counts would be frozen until the lifting of pertinent restrictions.

​We commenced with an anaylsis of existing conditions: incredibly stiff neck and shoulders after a dreary four days of working till the hours of 10 or 11 PM. With the intention of lengthening excessively contracted muscles,  I was guided through a series of stretches for the back and neck. Amongst these was a particularly effective stretch which involved gently pivoting to loosen the head of the neck muscles while sitting cross-legged. I was also introduced to smooth massage balls for the sake of release.
Inching towards one end of the Carriage, a familiar bar pull-down exercise was revisited for strengthening of back muscles. The last rep involved a five-second hold.

The first part of class placed greater emphasis on stretching than strengthening, given the overall burden on the body. Mentioned throughout this portion were the scapula and spine, as well as their connectivity/relationship.

​Moving onto the Stability Chair was, admittedly, an exhilarating moment. The contraption enabled exercises for both the upper and lower body using tension spring-affixed pedals.
The first exercise involved standing with one foot on the Reformer Box attachment, and the other on the moving platform. While bending and straightening the supporting leg, the pelvis was to remain level. It was harder than it seemed, and served to strengthen via isolating specific muscle(s)/muscle groups. A variation of this entailed standing with the supporting leg bent for the entire duration, but bending and straightening the leg on the platform while maintaing a level pelvis. Significantly easier on my "good" side, the routine summoned awareness towards my prominent biomechanical nonuniformity. Due to flat feet, this also served as an ankle and inner thigh strengthener, along with the Pilates' fundamental of core engagement. Impressive quad strength was noted given the lack of soreness in the stabilizing leg(s).

The second exercise was reminiscent of blogilates' infamous Candlestick Dipper for the obliques. Eliminating the Box attachment, I was instructed to sit on the Chair with one leg positioned 90 degrees to the body and the other outstretched; pointed toes or sole flat did not matter as long as I remained in contact with the ground, as this was to reduce risk of toppling should balance be lost mid-move. Similar to the Candlestick Dipper, the arms were outstretched in airplane mode in the starting position. One arm would be stretched over body, with the palm of the other arm would press down on tension spring-attached platform. The position would be held for a brief moment before returning to the starting position.

Core routines proceeded on the Reformer. A significant advancement from the previous three sessions, a deflated ball was utilized to prompt core engagement - the critical "imprint". The series incorporated a medley of familiar positions, but with equipment to maintain form: hundreds hand positioning with tension cords, elevated ("pilates stance") crunches and tabletop knee outs with the deflated ball.