Debra H I am indeed obsessed with the Serratus! I call it the shoulder joint's "powerhouse." In my opinion, using the breath in the Pilates practice, as well as honoring the glenohumeral rhythm can also give you the freedom you are referring to. I know the feeling of the "dis" ease you're talking about, it's like a congestion in the upper body that doesn't allow you to breathe. Just talking about it make me anxious! lol :)
Saul Yes to the Pilates breathing! but even more profound is a soft to medium massage ball on the Serratus Posterior Superior and Serratus Posterior Inferior trigger points. This makes huge and permanent changes. I really believe for Pilates Instructors we NEED to balance our bodies at the Serratus and for me Psoas major and Quadratus Lumborum from teaching too many classes. Trigger Point work is crucial.
I found this class to be a big jump in challenge from the one before it, but it was a welcome challenge! I have weak wrists too, so I will have to work on that in PT and then come back to see if I am more successful at movements like the crab-to-scorpion 'flip' (sorry, I don't remember exactly what you called it! haha) Lovely class and I'm still sweating as I type this!