What is happening when a person cannot lift both legs up in the sidelift exercise? especially when the legs are a little bit forward from the body. When the legs are inline with the spine she has of course pain issues in her lower back. Does anyone confront that before? and if yes, please advise me how to deal with it. Thank you :)

Hi Vivica.....are you referring to the Matwork? I think you are, but want to make sure. Without seeing this person it's a bit hard to tell, but my guess is they may be weak! The pain in the low back when her legs are in line with her spine may be under-recruitment of her deep abdominals and back muscles to stabilize her. Here's one suggestion......ask her to "act as if she's going to lift her legs"......this sets the mind to body relationship and suggest to her to NOT lift the legs......just think about it. OR.....'un-weight the legs slightly". Perhaps she's trying to lift to high, too much etc. Start small...progress with practice. As Joe said, "Rome was not built in a day". :) Let me know how it goes!

Hi Amy, thank you for your answer, I will do that in our next lesson:) Yes I am talking about mat work and I had the same conclusion as you that she is weak, basically it's very hard for her to isolate the trunk from the legs so every time she is lifting her legs... she is struggling with her torso to keep it "quiet".
I will follow your advise about small progress with practice:) I will let you know how it goes.

Hi civics...my two cents..I agree to weakness as well but perhaps you could start her lifting one leg at a time. Lift the top leg, then the bottom leg to meet it, then slowly lower both legs together. Also, as Amy stated maybe she is trying to reach too high. Lift toward the opposite wall (where the toes are pointing) vs lifting to ceiling may help.

Sorry for the typo! *Vivica