Latest news with #Pilates
Tom's Guide
5 hours ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Ditch the planks — this exercise improves your balance and spine mobility, all while strengthening your core
You've heard about the benefits of Pilates when it comes to strengthening your core, but what about an exercise that helps improve your balance and increase flexibility in your spine at the same time? Enter "rolling like a ball." Forget your sit-ups, crunches and planks; this exercise helps you really engage those deep core muscles, the transverse abdominis, all while rolling like a toddler on your yoga mat. If you find yourself sitting down a lot or often experience stiffness in your lower back, rolling like a ball can help stretch out your spine and relieve tension. Read on to discover how to do it and explore the progressions to try as you refine your technique. If you're pregnant, postpartum, or you've suffered from a back injury, it's a good idea to check with your doctor or personal trainer before adding this exercise to your routine. Remember to always listen to your body and seek help from a professional if you're unsure about your form. This classical Pilates exercise doesn't require any extra equipment, although you'll probably want to do it on a yoga mat to make things more comfortable. A post shared by Mari (@i_do_pilates_) A photo posted by on As with all Pilates exercises, the key here is to move with control. You shouldn't be rolling from side to side — if you are, you're not engaging your core correctly. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Think about scooping your belly button toward your spine and keeping that c-shape as you roll. Avoid rolling onto the neck, as this can cause injuries. Like all Pilates exercises, rolling like a ball is a great way to strengthen your abdominal muscles, which will work hard to keep you balanced as you rock back and forth. You'll also be working on your deep abdominal muscles, as well as the muscles in your back. If you spend a lot of time sitting down, you might suffer from a stiff lower back. This exercise massages the spine, helping to improve circulation and relieve any tension you might be holding. Think about feeling each vertebra as you roll. Finally, you'll be working on your balance and coordination in this exercise. It might look pretty simple, but it requires concentration to roll to a seated position. Remember to keep that core engaged — avoid thudding down to the mat, instead, lower your torso down slowly and with control. Joseph Pilates believed that rolling helped maintain a flexible spine and maximize your breathing capacity. Try exhaling deeply on the roll down, and inhaling as you roll up. Enjoy the movement and have some fun — it might not leave you sweating, but this exercise works your core while letting you embrace your inner-toddler!
Tom's Guide
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
No jumping — this joint-friendly, low-impact workout uses a pair of light dumbbells to build full-body strength in 6 moves
If you're looking for a low-impact, joint-friendly workout that builds full-body strength, challenges your core and gets your heart rate up to help burn fat, I think I've found the perfect routine for you. All you need is some comfortable, sweat-wicking activewear and a light pair of dumbbells. The Pilates-inspired strength and cardio session is led by instructors Steph Newman and Lily Hunter, who demonstrate each move together. Their control and coordination throughout the routine were what really inspired me to give it a try. If you've got a workout buddy, it's a fun challenge to try to match their flow and stay in step together. You'll work through just six exercises, spending 30 seconds on each. For any single-sided moves like the curtsy lunge with bicep curl, make sure to complete the exercise on both sides. Some exercises will feel tougher than others, and as your muscles begin to fatigue, try to maintain good form rather than rushing through the reps. A post shared by STEPH NEWMAN (@pilatesbysteph_) A photo posted by on Newman and Hunter's Pilates-inspired routine is joint-friendly not only because it's all performed standing, but also because it avoids high-impact moves like jumping or quick directional changes that can strain your joints. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Each exercise asks you to pay close attention. It's not your standard dumbbell press or squat where your body can move on autopilot while your mind wanders. This workout requires a real mind-muscle connection, which helps improve control, coordination and overall muscle engagement. While there is a great degree of control executed for each exercise, you will notice in the demonstrations that both trainers move with consistent momentum. As you work through these flowing, repetitive movements, your heart rate should begin to rise, helping you build cardiovascular endurance while strengthening your muscles. Yes, you can build real strength with Pilates, and not just the kind that helps you stand a little taller. Pilates might not involve heavy weights or barbells, but don't let that fool you. The slow, controlled movements fire up muscles you didn't even know you had, especially around your core, glutes and back. What makes Pilates feel different is how much it focuses on form, control and full-body engagement. You're not just powering through reps; you're staying present, moving with intention and working under tension. Honestly, some of the toughest exercises I've done have come from holding a Pilates move for just a few seconds longer. So while you might not be maxing out your deadlift, you're building a kind of strength that supports everyday movement and leaves you feeling strong from the inside out.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Juliet Stevenson paints to switch off
Juliet Stevenson paints to switch off her brain. The 68-year-old actress - whose notable films include 1991's Truly, Madly, Deeply, 1996's Emma and 2002's Bend It Like Beckham - says being a working mum makes it harder to have time to meditate or practice yoga or Pilates, so she opts for painting. She told Yours magazine: "I'm not somebody who can meditate, I don't do yoga, I don't do Pilates. "I just don't have the time. I think when you're a working mum, that's it - you've got your job, and you've got your kids. "The thing that gets me to switch my brain off more than anything is painting, because you get so obsessed with that pile of colour. You can dive into it and not think about anything else." The BAFTA-nominated star finally married her partner Hugh Brody after 30 years together in 2021. The Olivier-winning actress tied the knot with writer/director Hugh, who is in his 80s, in 2021 after spending more than three decades as a couple and having two children together. Asked if getting married changed their relationship in anyway, she told the Guardian newspaper in 2024: "Absolutely nothing at all! "So many people said: 'Oh, I felt quite different once we got married', but that's not true for me." She added: "The only reason we did it is we're older now, and it made a sort of sense." Juliet feels incredibly "lucky" to still be madly in love after so many years together. She said: "To have weathered some of the most challenging storms, and actually love each other even more after many, many years, makes me feel incredibly lucky. "Love needs time and energy. It's the most important force in the world." The couple was struck by tragedy back in 2020 when Hugh's son from a previous marriage, Tomo Brody, died suddenly aged 37. Juliet previously admitted losing her stepson was very painful and "frightening". In a previous interview with the Guardian, she said: "Tomo was one of the most beautiful human beings who ever walked the Earth. He was incapable of lying. And he was amazingly good at love. Losing a child, it's so frightening."
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lauren Sanchez's fitness and diet secrets: How she's staying strong and toned before marrying Jeff Bezos
At 55, Lauren Sanchez is living a remarkable chapter of her life — from flying to space to preparing for her wedding with Jeff Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man. Despite her demanding schedule as a journalist, author, and philanthropist, Sanchez has prioritized health and fitness, maintaining a toned and youthful physique through disciplined workouts and mindful nutrition. Lauren's Workout Routine Sanchez trains with celebrity fitness coach Wes Okerson, who also works with Bezos. Her fitness plan blends strength training and Pilates — a mix that targets full-body toning and flexibility. She recently shared her 'upper body pressing day' workout on Instagram, which includes: Incline Dumbbell Press: 3 sets of 12 reps Barbell Bench Press: 3 sets of 12 reps Live Events Band-Assisted Dips on Parallette Bars: 12 reps Push-Ups (not shown): 15 reps 45-minute Zone 1-2 Hike In an interview with Self magazine, Sanchez said, 'Pilates changed my body. I used to run marathons and I was never as fit and toned as I am now.' She credits trainer Saul Choza for her transformation, adding, 'My a* has lifted.'* Her sessions alternate between mat and reformer Pilates. Toned Arms at 55 One of Sanchez's most talked-about features is her sculpted arms — firm, strong, and free from signs of aging. She frequently posts snippets of her gym sessions, including a 20-minute workout she squeezed in before school drop-off, proving that consistency matters more than duration. Her arm-focused exercises include: Dumbbell Press Barbell Bench Press Parallette Bar Dips Cable Pull-Downs She complements these with full-body movements like Nordic hamstring curls, step-up knee drives, thrusters, and bench step-overs to maintain overall strength and agility. Inside Her Diet Sanchez follows a clean, protein-rich diet. Her go-to breakfast includes egg whites, sliced avocado, and coffee, a combination that fuels energy, supports muscle recovery, and promotes heart health.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lauren Sanchez's workout routine revealed: How does the 55-year-old stay fit?
Image credits: Getty Images Lauren Sanchez is currently at the top of the world. While there's no experience the 55-year-old lacks- from going to space to being on TV, the happiest day of her life is coming soon as she is all set to marry Jeff Bezos, her fiancée and the fourth-richest man in the world. The mom-of-two had had a busy life with an exemplary professional career that included the positions of journalist, host, anchor, author, philanthropist and more. Along with pursuing and achieving her professional dreams, Sanchez manages to maintain a hot and healthy physique. How? Find out below! Lauren Sanchez's workout routine Image credits: X Bezos and Sanchez both share a trainer, Wes Okerson who can be credited for their hectic and effective workout routines. The bride-to-be's workout includes a mix of strength training and Pilates. Recently, she took to Instagram to share details of her "upper body pressing day" workout which included a rigorous combination of dumbbell presses, dips, push-ups and even a hike. 'Workout: Upper body pressing day Incline Dumbbell Press: 3 sets x 12 reps Barbell bench Press: 3 sets x 12 reps Dips on Parallette Bars (band assisted) x 12 reps Push-ups (not shown) X 15. 45 min Zone 1-2 hike,' she wrote. In a past interview with Self magazine, Sanchez revealed how adding Pilates to her fitness routine, changed her body and life. 'Pilates changed my body. I used to run marathons and I was never as fit and toned as I am now. I do it at a studio run by Saul Choza and I'm indebted to him forever because my a** has lifted. We do a mix of mat and reformer,' she said. Lauren Sanchez's arm toning exercises While her entire body is fit and toned, Sanchez has spectacular-looking arms that have no inch of flabby skin, which might be considered an accompanying ageing sign for people her age. How does she manage to keep her arm muscles so taut? Well, as per the videos she has shared on her social media, she is a regular visitor to the gym. She shared a video once on Instagram, where she shared all the exercises included in her twenty-minute workout with her trainer. 'I only had 20 minutes to work out before taking kids to school. [Celebrity fitness trainer] Wes Okerson said it was enough time. He was right. Here it is,' she wrote. The workout included Nordic hamstring curls, step-up knee drives, thrusters, and bench step-overs. Her arm workouts specifically include dumbbell press, barbell bench press, dips on parallette bars, and cable pull-downs, in repetitive sets arranged by her trainer. Lauren Sanchez's diet secrets Image credits: Getty Images For a healthy body, it is vital that you eat healthy and Sanchez follows the principle very well. Her morning begins with a protein-rich breakfast which includes egg whites, sliced avocado and coffee- an energy-boosting meal that aids in cardiovascular health and muscle recovery.
