Twisted Sisters
and untwisting your body helps to balance your mind. We asked Ellen Barrett, creator of Crunch: Burn & Firm Pilates DVD, for ways to correct your imbalances.
To open up your hips and chest, sit cross-legged with palms flat behind you, fingers pointing away from body, and elbows straight. Press hips towards ceiling; point knees to floor. Drop head and look up. Return to start. Repeat four times.
For swollen legs and ankles, lie on left side, hips stacked, head propped up with left hand, right hand on floor. Lift right leg to 45º, keeping toes pointed. Flex right foot and slowly bring leg back down to start. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.
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When you're sore from working out, start on all fours, with hands underneath shoulders and knees beneath hips. Curl left hip towards left shoulder so your back forms a C. Return to centre and repeat to the left. Do 10 reps.
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Revive glutes after sitting for ages – lie on stomach, hands supporting chin. Lift right leg 15cm off floor; with knee straight and toe pointed, trace a 10cm circle. Do 10 circles clockwise and 10 anticlockwise. Repeat with your left leg.
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Sit with bum on feet and top body bent over thighs, forehead on floor, with arms stretched above head, palms down. Keeping knees on floor, bring body up into a modified push-up. Do push-up then press back into child's pose. Do 10 reps.
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Editorial content courtesy of Women's Health