Eve's Lunge
Deep hip flexor and iliopsoas stretch utilizing moving carriage spring support.
⚠️ Clinical Contraindications
- Knee Issues: The deep lunge loads the front knee; shorten the stride and limit depth.
- Low Back Pain: Keep the spine tall and the hips square; stop if the back aches.
Apparatus Setup
Reformer
Target Muscles
Setup Instructions
Kneel on the carriage with one foot on the footbar in a deep lunge, hands on the footbar or straps.
Execution Instructions
Press the carriage back to sink the hips forward, deepening the stretch, then return with control. Exhale as the carriage moves away and the hips lower toward the heel, keeping the back foot anchored and the pelvis tucked; inhale to return. Keep the front knee over the toes and the spine long rather than leaning back.
Teaching Cues
"Inhale to lengthen, exhale to sink the hips forward."
"Keep the spine tall and the front knee over the ankle."
"No bouncing — move with the carriage smoothly."
Modifications & Progressions
Supported Hands (Regression)
Keep both hands on the footbar and reduce the sink.
Arm Reach (Progression)
Reach the arms overhead as the hips sink for a deeper stretch.