2007-01-26

Get A Body Like Jennifer Aniston – Click Here 

Back in December SELF magazine did an article about Jennifer Aniston and her love for yoga. I know it’s old news to some but my friend gives me her old magazines (thanks girl) and I just thought I’d share. It’s better late than never, right?

Here are Jen’s favorite yoga tunes.

• “My Friend,” Groove Armada
• “Pastime Paradise,” Stevie Wonder
• “Let Me Roll,” Seal
• “Lebanese Blonde,” Thievery Corporation
• “Speed of Sound,” Coldplay
• “Jane Says,” Jane’s Addiction
• “If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys
• “Trouble,” Ray LaMontagne
• “Shelter,” Ray LaMontagne
• “Wild Horses,” The Rolling Stones
• “Landslide,” Fleetwood Mac

I’ll also share one of Jen’s favorite poses.

The Boat Pose:

HOW TO DO IT: Sit with knees bent, feet flat on ground. Lean back about 45 degrees, chest lifted, and extend arms at chest level, palms up, as you straighten legs. Hold for 5 to 10 breaths.

CALISTHENIC: SIT-UPS From Boat, place hands behind you, palms flat, fingers forward. Brace body with hands as your contract abs to bend and straighten legs in and out. Do two sets of 8 to 10 reps.

What Aniston has to say about this pose: “This is a tough one, but I love it. It makes me feel really strong in my center.”

2007-01-16

Get A Body Like Your Favorite Celebrity – Click Here
The Bicycle just so happens to be one of my favorite tummy tighteners!

• Lie on your back with bent knees and feet on floor. Press lower back into floor. Cup hands lightly over ears. Lift left foot off the floor until left knee points toward ceiling. Extend right leg, lifting it slightly off floor. Exhale slowly, curl torso upward, and touch right elbow to left knee; lower to starting position.
• Repeat on right side, touching left elbow to right knee. Do 10 reps.
• Too much, too soon? Instead of incorporating your upper body, just keep shoulders and head flat on the mat. Eventually, start to curl up.
• Why do it now? You might think the Bicycle is an old-fashioned ab exercise, but a study of 13 abdominal exercises at San Diego State University (SDSU) found it to be the most effective midsection strengthener. “It requires constant abdominal stabilization, as well as body rotation. And in this study, it generated the most muscle activity in the obliques (side abdominal muscles),” says Peter Francis, PhD, an SDSU biomechanist.

SOURCE

2006-12-07

 

Fit this simple abdominal routine in just two times a week, and you’ll be on your way to a flatter tummy.

Exercise One:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your legs 12 inches apart.
• Put your hands on your abdominals so that you focus on using only those muscles.
• Lift your bent right leg up to the ceiling, then your left. Lower your right leg, then your left.
• Repeat, but this time pull your abdominals in even more when you lift the second leg up.
• Continue the exercise by lowering the right leg, then the left, to starting position.
• Keep your abdominals as tight as possible.
• Do three sets of 10 reps, alternating the leg that goes first.

Exercise Two:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet off the floor at a 90-degree angle.
• Keep your ankles crossed and your hands behind your head.
• Contract your abdominals and try to lift your hips off the floor.
• Concentrate more on the contraction of your abdominal muscles than lifting your hips.
• Your hips should lift only about an inch.
• Do as many as you can correctly, working up to 50.

Exercise Three:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your hands behind your head.
• Lift your upper body up to contract your abdominals. (This may only be two or three inches when you begin doing this exercise.)
• Return to starting position.
• Make sure that you feel the weight of your head in your hands.
• Exhale when you are curling up and inhale on the way down.
• Do as many as you can correctly, eventually try doing fifty.

Here’s a picture of Alessandra Ambrosio showing off her flat stomach.

SOURCE

2006-12-10

About Pilates:

• Pilates was created by Joseph H. Pilate in the early 1900s for rehabilitative purposes.
• The exercises target the deep muscles  of the body, particularly the core (abdomen & spine).
• It is important to coordinate moves with proper breathing techniques.
• Pilates builds strength but not bulky muscles.
• Pilates is to lengthen your entire body, even while performing moves working specific body parts.
• Through Pilates many acquire a mind-body connection.
• Pilates is usually done on regular exercise mats or spring based machines that were developed by Mr. Pilate himself.

Physical Benefits:

Regularly practicing Pilates helps develop…

•  strength
•  flexibility
•  coordination
•  speed
•  agility
•  endurance
•  body awareness
•  balance
•  proprioception
•  focus
•  correct posture
•  good body

Pilates is a low impact exercise that is very good for…

• Pregnant Women
• Older People
• Athletes recovering from injury
• People who our out of shape, but want to return to a fitness program

If you want to participate in Pilates, regular mat classes are usually priced around $20 per class. however many Pilates studios offer package deals. There are also many great Pilates Dvds available for a less expensive option. To download 10 free moves CLICK HERE

SOURCE

2006-12-07

 

Fit this simple abdominal routine in just two times a week, and you’ll be on your way to a flatter tummy.

Exercise One:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your legs 12 inches apart.
• Put your hands on your abdominals so that you focus on using only those muscles.
• Lift your bent right leg up to the ceiling, then your left. Lower your right leg, then your left.
• Repeat, but this time pull your abdominals in even more when you lift the second leg up.
• Continue the exercise by lowering the right leg, then the left, to starting position.
• Keep your abdominals as tight as possible.
• Do three sets of 10 reps, alternating the leg that goes first.

Exercise Two:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet off the floor at a 90-degree angle.
• Keep your ankles crossed and your hands behind your head.
• Contract your abdominals and try to lift your hips off the floor.
• Concentrate more on the contraction of your abdominal muscles than lifting your hips.
• Your hips should lift only about an inch.
• Do as many as you can correctly, working up to 50.

Exercise Three:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and your hands behind your head.
• Lift your upper body up to contract your abdominals. (This may only be two or three inches when you begin doing this exercise.)
• Return to starting position.
• Make sure that you feel the weight of your head in your hands.
• Exhale when you are curling up and inhale on the way down.
• Do as many as you can correctly, eventually try doing fifty.

Here’s a picture of Alessandra Ambrosio showing off her flat stomach.

SOURCE