Want to strut down the beach with a body like Jennifer Aniston? Here her yoga teacher Mandy Ingber reveals her tricks of the trade.
Want to strut down the beach with a body like Jennifer Aniston? Here her yoga teacher Mandy Ingber reveals her tricks of the trade.
“When I first started working with Jennifer, she had been doing lots of cardio and weights, so I think she was bored with her routine and burned out. So we started doing yoga three times a week and I watched her body completely transform. But more than that, she got more tuned into her body, her breath, and the way she started holding herself. At first, we did yoga for 60-75 minutes three times a week. Then we added 30-40 minutes of cardio on to that, too. She’s a very consistent exerciser, she took my DVD Yogalosophy on location while she was filming her last movie.
Jen is very disciplined. When you’re a celebrity, it’s like constantly having a wedding day coming up because all eyes are on you. So, she has things that she has to stay in shape for, which helps to provide motivation! She’s very moderate with her diet and has amazing willpower – she’s a person who can literally eat one tortilla chip!
If people believe that yoga isn’t great for weight-loss , they’re probably just thinking about the more passive types of yoga. But, there are so many different styles. The hybrid that I created definitely burns calories – it incorporates elements of flow yoga, which is very active and gets your heart rate going, for example, the sun salutation moves are absolutely cal-burning activities. I also encourage my clients to include cardio work in their routines. I find a great connection to yoga’s stillness and breath during cardio.
Part of what yoga is supposed to do is connect you with yourself and deliver a level of self-acceptance, so my tagline is: having the body you want starts with loving the body you have. I never got into shape faster by beating myself up.
I can’t guarantee Jennifer’s body but I can guarantee feeling amazing in your own shape. To me, she’s such an inspiration because she looks how we all want to feel. She looks comfortable in her own skin, she looks healthy, she looks graceful and I think we all want that.”
Mandy’s top tips
Cross train with yoga “Not only does yoga stretch your muscles, but it works your body in an entirely different way – in terms of balance and co-ordination – to how your body might be used to from practising another sport, such as running.” Forget free weights “With yoga, you’re using your stabiliser muscles to balance, so that can make it much more effective than isolating just one muscle by using weights. I don’t like to use weights. One of the best things about yoga is that it’s self-contained; you don’t need anything other than your own bodyweight to get toned. On my DVD, the long hold burnouts work your bigger muscle groups and the toners work the smaller muscles, so it’s a good balance.” Be steady “Consistency is best – I’d rather see someone do my Yogalosophy routine two times a week for two months, rather than five days in a row and then not do it again for three weeks. Generally, I’d say three sessions per week is best, alongside a healthy diet, which of course is a huge part of being in shape. Do that and you should see results within six weeks.”
Try the A-LIST moves These exercises combine the spirituality of yoga with toning work…
Crescent pose
This is a balancing pose, so it’s normal if you feel a little wobbly. Step back and bend your right knee so it’s directly over your ankle and aim for a 90 degree angle. Think about your feet being on a railroad track instead of a tightrope.
Sink down and bend your back leg a bit if you have to, or you can straighten the back leg and push down on your heel. Draw your tailbone down and scoop your pelvis under so your hipbones lift up.
Roll your shoulders back and down. Inhale and then extend your arms up, bringing them up by your ears, palms facing each other, biceps rolling towards each other. Sink down and hold for eight breaths. You can transition from here into lunges. Then repeat on the other side.
Superman
Lie face down on the floor with your arms by your sides.
Slowly lift your arms and legs off the floor as much as you can; lengthen and extend.
Breathe in as you arch up, and exhale on the way down. Do eight reps.
Bow
Start by lying face down on the floor.
Bend your knees and then grab your ankles and press your feet into your hands and slowly lift up and feel the front of your body opening up.
“This move is great for opening your shoulders and chest. You’ll also feel your glutes working, which is a bonus!”
Cat/Dog
Begin on all fours with your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
Gradually raise your head and arch your back up, inhaling as you do so.
As you exhale, drop your head and scoop your tailbone under and curve your back. Repeat eight times.
“You don’t have to do this exercise perfectly, just do what feels right for you – it’s a great back strengthener”
Natural Health loves….
Want to shape up for the beach? All About Weight offers a range of nutritionally balanced meals to suit individual goals, and a choice of online support or face-to-face local mentoring. For more information, find your local consultant mentor or to get started now visit allaboutw8co.uk or call 0800 044 3000.
The workout DVD Jen uses! Try her new workout DVD Yogalosophy (£15.99, Amazon).
Article by
Mandy Ingber
Yoga Teacher
Article by
Mandy Ingber
Yoga Teacher
By Mandy Ingber
