Move of the Week: Pilates roll-up

Start by lying down, knees bent, with your arms extended straight above your head. Lee Hoagland / The National

Week 2: Roll-up

Lashley Pulsipher, a Pilates instructor at Exhale fitness studio in Dubai, demonstrates the second exercise in our eight-part weekly series of Pilates workouts. Do this move alone, incorporate it into your own fitness routine or watch this space over the next six weeks to create a comprehensive regime.

Go here where we collect the workouts and post video demonstrations.

"One of the best abdominal exercises around. One roll-up, if done correctly, is the equivalent to doing 10 crunches."

Start by lying down, knees bent, with your arms extended straight above your head.

Inhale to prepare and as you exhale peel your back off the mat, one vertebra at a time.

Finish in an upright sitting position at the top, with arms extended in front of you. Inhale to hold the position, then roll back down as slowly as possible, exhaling all the way.

Top tip: "Do 10 of these crunches in succession for the best effect."

Mat Pilates classes at Exhale start from Dh60; Reformer Pilates costs Dh400 for a package of five sessions or Dh750 for 10. For details and timings, visit www.exhaledubai.com or call 04 424 3777