Scissor Kicks Pilates Exercise
The Scissor Kicks Pilates Exercise works your abs and legs. Tone your legs with this exercise, as part of a standard Pilates routine. You can put your hands directly beneath you for a tougher workout, or place them at your sides for support. It is important to keep you lower back down, on the ground. You want your abs, not your spine, to be doing the work.
- Hamstrings
- Quads
- Glutes
- Obliques

Like all Pilates, Scissor Kicks are grounded in the idea of using your legs to work your core. All the leg work you do, is associated with proper spine alignment and focus on your core holding your body in place. It is best to start by taking classes where an instructor can help you with your technique. In this exercise, the powerhouse should be your core, not your spine.
How to Perform the Scissor Kicks Pilates Exercise
To perform the Scissor Kicks Pilates Exercise:
- Start, by placing your hands underneath you.
- Ease your legs up 6 inches in the air.
- Do a scissor kick, while pointing your toes forward.
- Use controlled, small kicks for a better workout.
- If you are having trouble, make bigger kicks, which are actually easier.
Here’s a video talking about the variations of Scissor Kick Pilates:
- The Miley Cyrus workout uses the Scissor Kick Pilates Exercise. Miley uses them, as part of the Mari Winsor Pilates Routine.
Interested in the Pilates workout that Miley Cyrus does with her trainer? Get the Mari Winsor Pilates DVD Workouts (on Amazon). Now, you have the Miley Cyrus Pilates workout routine ready to do at home!
Share the Scissor Kicks Pilates Exercise
Know anyone who could benefit from doing Scissor Kicks Pilates? Or anyone looking to tone their legs and abs quickly?
Share the Scissor Kicks Pilates exercise with them now!
What's Next
- Bicycle Crunches: Work Your Upper and Lower Abs
- Pilates Hot Potatoes Exercise: Tapping To Work Your Core
- Double Leg Lifts Pilates Exercise: Channeling Inner Mermaid
- Bicycle Kicks Pilates Exercise
- Big Circles Leg Pilates: Getting Skinny Legs & Obliques
- Pilates Small Leg Circles Exercise: Get Toned, Skinny Legs
- Leg Lifts Pilates Exercise: Work Away That Muffin Top
- Reverse Warrior Pose: Total Body Yoga