How to do the beginner pilates move Small Circles

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If you are looking a for a quick pilates reference, take a look at this pilates animation. This a quick & easy, clearly explained diagram of the pilates mat exercise: Classical Pilates for Beginners:
The Side Kick Series: Small Circles. Pilates exercises focus on breathing, alignments of the spine & build strong torso muscles.

Setup for Side Kick Series: Small Circles:

* Lie on your side and line youself up on the back of the mat. Your underneath hand supports the side of your head, and your uppermost hand is planted firmly on the mat in front of your chest.
* Bring your straight legs forward to an angle of 30 degrees, and stack shoulder over shoulder, hip over hip, and ankle over ankle.
* Flex the lower ankle (toes to kneecap) and press the foot into the mat.
* Engage your powerhouse to stabilize your spine and to keep your shoulders and hips still and vertically stacked throughout.

Action for Side Kick Series: Small Circles.

* Half turn the leg out and make a football sized circle with your foot.
* Pause, keep lengthening, and make circles in the other direction.

Classic Pilates Cueing:

* And circle: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5... - Reverse: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5...

Purposes:

* Further tires the the lateral hip rotators muscles (the "butt muscles") to the point that any trigger points in them are ready to respond to stretching (next set of exercises).
* Practices pelvic stability and stabilizes the lumbar spine - important for low back pain.

Precision Points:

* Circle the leg just as much behind as you do forward.
* Stay stacked and stable - Imagine that buttocks and shoulders are lined up against the wall behind you.
* Anchor with the lower leg: lengthen the heel away and "toes to knee cap!