What is a key cue for the Hundred exercise?

In the context of the Hundred exercise in Pilates, a key cue is to avoid hyperlordosis, which refers to excessive inward curvature of the lumbar spine. This is critical as maintaining a neutral spine is essential for both safety and effectiveness during this exercise. When performing the Hundred, the practitioner should engage their core muscles to stabilize the pelvis and lower back. This activation helps maintain proper spinal alignment and prevents the risk of strain or injury.

By focusing on avoiding hyperlordosis, the practitioner is encouraged to draw their navel towards their spine, ensuring that the lumbar region remains neutral rather than excessively arched. This alignment supports better breathing patterns as well since the exercise emphasizes controlled, rhythmic breathing. Thus, maintaining a neutral spine not only enhances the benefits of the Hundred by improving strength and endurance in the core muscles but also aids in effective breath control throughout the exercise.

Breath control, while important in Pilates, is more of a complementary aspect rather than the primary focus of the Hundred itself. Similarly, while limiting spinal articulation is also a consideration for maintaining stability, it does not specifically address the lumbar spine's alignment as effectively as avoiding hyperlordosis. Keeping circles wide relates to arm movement within the Hundred but does not pertain to the foundational alignment principle emphasized by