El Universal posts five Pilates exercises

El Universal published a Spanish-language article on May 16 laying out five Pilates exercises readers can do at home to improve posture and reduce shoulder tension. The piece, posted in the newspaper’s Tendencias section, said long hours at a computer, frequent cellphone use and poor sitting positions can cause muscular pain and affect body alignment. It presented Pilates as a low-impact option for people seeking to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility and ease tension in the neck and shoulders. The article was by Dann Silva and included illustrations. ### Which readers did El Universal say the routine was for? El Universal said the routine was aimed at people whose backs are affected by work or by spending long periods driving. The article linked those habits to shoulder and back discomfort tied to poor posture. The May 16 piece also said the exercises could be useful for people who spend much of the day seated or in front of screens. It framed the routine as something readers could do without specialized equipment. ### What five exercises did the article list? The article listed five movements: the Roll Up, cat-cow stretch, chest opening with the arms, bridge, and spinal twist. El Universal said the sequence was designed to work the abdomen, spine, shoulders, glutes and lower body. The Roll Up was described as a way to strengthen the abdomen and improve spinal alignment. The cat-cow stretch was presented as a mobility exercise for the spine that can help release tension in the back and shoulders. The chest-opening movement was described as one of the best exercises in the routine for shoulder tension. El Universal said it can help counter the hunched posture associated with heavy use of electronic devices. ### How did El Universal tell readers to do them? El Universal gave step-by-step instructions for each movement. For the Roll Up, the paper told readers to lie on their backs with legs extended, lift the arms and torso slowly until seated, and lower down with control. For cat-cow, the article instructed readers to get on all fours, round the back upward and then downward slowly, coordinating the motion with breathing. For the chest-opening exercise, it said to sit upright, extend the arms to the sides and open the chest gradually. The bridge was described as a movement done lying on the back with knees bent and feet on the floor, lifting the hips while squeezing the glutes. The spinal twist was presented as a floor exercise to mobilize the back and release accumulated tension. ### What daily routine did the article recommend? El Universal said practicing the exercises for at least 20 minutes a day “puede marcar una gran diferencia” in physical health and general well-being. The article tied that recommendation specifically to people who spend long periods seated or looking at screens. The piece also emphasized breathing cues during the movements, especially in the cat-cow stretch. It said controlled execution, rather than speed or equipment, was part of the routine. ### Where does this fit in El Universal’s recent coverage? El Universal linked the article to other recent home Pilates pieces in its Tendencias section. Those related posts included routines for arm toning and morning exercises, according to links shown alongside the story on the website. The May 16 article remains available in El Universal’s Tendencias section under the byline of Dann Silva, with the five-exercise routine and accompanying images posted on the newspaper’s site.