Week two

I enter week two feeling much more confident about my foam roller challenge. With some experience under my belt, it’s much easier to transition from move to move without too many falls.

I still puff my way through the slow, difficult movements, my core on fire and my muscles shaking from the effort, but I gradually start to feel like I’m working with the foam roller and not against it.

My favourite move is an elevated kickback, which felt extra challenging with the foam roller sitting underneath one knee. I also love using the foam roller to spice up regular plank work.

The famous pilates pike is the move you generally see lots of TikTokers executing with a foam roller, but don’t be fooled by the breezy videos you see online: without the stability of the carriage’s shoulder pads, I find it really awkward to roll the tube in and out using my feet and core strength. I’ve spotted some savvy users substituting the foam roller for a skateboard on this move, and I reckon that version is probably much less painful on the foot’s sensitive dorsal muscles.

That said, week two reveals that the roller is an amazingly restorative substitute for the reformer footbar, and I love using it to stretch out my lower back and deepen my child’s pose after a day hunched at my desk. After each session, I feel lighter, taller and more energised.

“I tried foam roller pilates every day for 2 weeks – it’s now my go-to money-saving workout”