Hi! I have a couple of clients who simply are unable to do a rollup. Both are men, and I suspect it is lumbar spine issues. We have tried every modification to no avail. I have them sticking with a half roll back for now, any suggestions as to the reason why they cannot do any form of a roll up?
As well any suggestions for work we can do to help them with this?

Hi Danielle.....this is common---the Roll UP is hard! Well, it can be anyway, many factors could be going on. Here are a few tutorials to take a look at.....you may get some inspiration and clarity with these: Niedra Gabrial class # 869 or Karen Sanzo with class #861. Give them a looking at and see what you think!! Let us know how it goes!!

Danielle, The Roll up seems to be the big TEST ,especially for guys. I find placing a rolled towel or a half lumbar cushion under the lumbar spine encourages clients to "find " the cushion with their low backs , encouraging the abdominals to do the work and not the hip flexors. I cue " legs extended or slightly bent, feet flexed, find your calf muscles on the mat, arms reach overhead but only as far as ribs do not flare. Think "silk ribbons " from the bottom of ribcage to the hips.don't allow those ribbons to break so keep the sternum down as the arms come over head . Imagine you are holding a weighted bar between your hands and allow the bar to bring your head neck and shoulders up off the mat , finding that lumbar cushion with the low back and roll up , lifting slightly out of the ribcage and flexing forward, Then breathe in , roll back down and find the cushion and repeat. Using weighted toning balls also helps . A head support/ board also helps.

Thank you Amy and Lizanne! Your suggestions are so helpful. I am going to use the towel with my male client in this evenings class and see if that is enough to get him past that "sticky" spot.

Lizanne it was a success! It was such a wonderful moment to see a client who has struggled so much with the rollup have success! The whole class clapped for him. Thanks so much for the suggestion, I am a new teacher without a ton of support so your help was so appreciated!
Thanks again :)

I just love this website, so helpful!