My best tip for toned legs…
Lunges – especially slow, large range of motion lunges. The slower you go, the more burn you will feel. Also, the more depth you can find at the bottom of the lunge without losing the tension of the muscles, the more you will encourage a long muscle.
And a toned bum…
Bungee! We have an exercise that we do on the Megaformer with a strap on a bungee – it’s the one exercise that will lift your bum. It is an exercise that prevents you from moving any other muscle to try to help your body get through the exercise. The move makes you engage your bum and works it hard. The higher you lift, the higher the lift in your under bum! Don’t stop when you feel your muscles burn! Work through the burn – it is the burn that burns the fat.
To get Alessandra Ambrosio’s body…
She loves Pilates on the Megaformer. Our classes (at Pilates Platinum) are a fusion of Pilates, cardio and strength training that achieves muscle definition faster than traditional Pilates and/or weight training alone.
To achieve results, we recommend Pilates at least three times a week. If you really want to challenge yourself and see changes in your body quickly, then an average of five classes per week is ideal!
If you think Pilates is too hard…
There isn’t really a minimum fitness level someone should have before starting Pilates. Our classes and technique cater to all fitness levels. If you don’t have a fitness background, we encourage you to schedule a one on one session beforehand, so the instructor can focus on just you. You can get comfortable with the machine and some of the basic exercises that you will see in class. The best thing about Pilates is that it works the whole body, creating long lean muscles throughout!
The best thing to wear to Pilates…
My recommendation is clothes that won’t get in the way while exercising on the machines. The less you have to worry about your clothing getting in the way, the more you can concentrate on executing the exercise properly and working hard. In a lot of our classes, you will find most of the clients wearing leggings or yoga pants. Clothes made out of material in which you can sweat in while keeping your skin cool is ideal.
The Fabletics Salar Crop is perfect as it is moisture-wicking, has four-way stretch and an internal waistband pocket and I just love the prints and colours. A lot of clients choose to wear semi-fitted tops but something a little looser allows for more movement.
I especially like the Oula Tank as it is super light and breathable and again has a stretch so you don’t feel like your movement is restricted. Also, keeping your hair back and out of your face is key, so you’re focused on the workout rather than unnecessary distractions. The most important thing to have on you is toe socks. They are socks with rubber grips on the bottom of your feet. This is important for your safety during exercises that require you to stand on the machine. The machine moves so the grips help you stay balanced while the machine is moving. A nice tight grip keeps the exercise most effective!
Being a Fabletics Master is such an honour.
I get to be a part of a great team, learning from one another, supporting one another, and sharing a common outlook on life. Not only am I able to share what I’ve learned, but I’m also continually learning from them. It’s this community that inspires me daily and assures me that I am on the right path. The clothes are definitely a nice added bonus.
