Photo: Getty Images
There is no doubt about it: Jennifer Lawrence stunned at the 88th Academy Awards last night in a sheer black lace gown by Dior. Not to take anything away from the dress, but part of the reason it looked so fabulous on Jennifer (aside from the fact that she is in incredible shape) was because her posture was perfectly on point.
“I tell all of my clients, ‘Shoulders back, chest up, chin tucked,’” says Dalton Wong, author of The Feelgood Plan ($22, amazon.com), director of the Twenty Two Training studio in London, and, yes, JLaw’s trainer. “It automatically makes you feel amazing.”
RELATED: Jennifer Lawrence Just Dropped a Major Truth Bomb About Body-Shaming in Hollywood
You know what else makes women feel amazing? A banging body. For that, Wong has his female clients, including Jennifer, do exercises that target the posterior chain (muscles and ligaments in the back of the body) which never seems to make it onto our gym to-do list. Here are three ways Wong suggests you work that rear view.
Incorporate rowing motions
Think: low, medium, and high cable rows. “These are good strength training exercises that work your back and will pull your shoulder blades down, which also lifts breasts too,” says Wong, who advises against the rowing machine in this instance. No access to a cable machine? Try this dumbbell-based balance row instead: Start on hands and knees, with a 5-pound dumbbell in left hand. Extend right leg and lift it to hip height. Bend left elbow; draw weight up until even with torso. Lower weight. This is one rep. Do 12-15 then switch sides.
Perk up postural muscles
“Imagine your back, you have the deep muscles that help keep shoulder blades down and the little postural muscles that hold you in place while you are working, and you need to do both of those,” says Wong. To challenge those postural muscles, you’ll have to channel your inner yogi for poses like cobra, and hold them for at least 60 seconds to get the benefits. To do cobra, lie on your stomach. Place your hands near your shoulders or slightly forward and start to lift your upper body off the mat. Keep your pubic bone on the mat and make sure your shoulders are down and away from your ears. Hold for one minute.
RELATED: 18 Moves to Tone your Butt, Thighs, and Legs
Build that butt…
…And your hamstrings too. Women are very quad dominant, explains Wong, and tend to naturally use their quadriceps over their their butt or hamstrings. “Having a strong butt makes it looks nice and perky, but it also helps prevent back pain,” he says. “And stronger hips help control how well your knees moves.” Wong’s suggestion for bringing sexy back: step-ups and hip extensions.
Step-ups: Step up onto a low bench or stair with your right foot, and then bring up your left foot. Step back down, right foot first. Do 20 reps; then repeat, starting with your left foot. Too easy? Make the move more challenging by holding a dumbbell at your shoulder with your right arm when stepping with your left leg, and your left arm when stepping with your right leg.
Single-Leg Hip-Ups: Rest your back on a Swiss ball, with right foot on the floor and left foot extended straight out, foot flexed (A). Lift hips so that body forms a straight line from chest to foot (B). Lower back to “A.” Do 10 to 12 reps, then switch legs and repeat. This is just one variation on a hip extension. Find one you love to hate!
from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1RB7W50
