This is the Overhead Stretch as documented by Joe on film. It follows the same leg pattern as the Roll Over from the Matwork. In his written instructions for the Overhead Stretch Joe highlighted "flexibility" as the primary purpose for doing this exercise.
In his film and photo documentation of the Overhead Stretch Joe's movements are so big and that is my recurring takeaway from studying archival Pilates. Joe and his students really took up a lot of space as they moved their limbs. Working within the body frame can be essential in the beginning, but the goal is to move BIG!
