Although I ate healthy 5 years ago, and was sipping on green juices long before it became super trendy thanks to my mum making them for me over 15 years ago,  I was an “ unfit skinny chick”, I had a gym membership but used it no more than a handful of times each year; and considered dancing till dawn on the weekends and walking everywhere my form of exercise. After hearing amazing reviews about pilates reformer and how it promises to tone, tighten and elongate your body, I finally booked in for my first class with Daniele Biodo at Body Works West in London. I was definitely the most uncoordinated, least graceful gal in the class from what I remember. Getting out of bed the next day was very difficult; my limbs were aching, every muscle in my body was so sore, and I could barely even brush my own hair… fast forward a couple days later, and seeing how my body responded, I was instantly hooked.  After 30 sessions, I saw a massive improvement in my body, I went from skin and bone to looking long and lean. Once I got back into a good fitness regime, felt stronger and more confident, I wanted to explore other classes, like spin, boxing, body conditioning, personal training sessions, running and general gym circuits; however the top three workouts I thought made me feel and see a difference and got me to healthy and happy place, was combining pilates, yoga, and barre. Emily spriggs really got me into barre and yoga at Body Works West; a former ballerina turned teacher, I loved her style so much, we even conducted mini health and yoga retreat last summer. Emily would teach a dynamic class in the A.M and a restorative relaxing session in the evening before bed, and I would prepare and cook nourishing meals throughout the day.

Here is why these are my favourite fitness regimes that optimise my fitness health. 

Pilates
Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility.
Emphasise on proper breathing, which helps you focus on breathing and help zap all those worries about money, men, moving, or whatever leaving you feeling less stressed at the end.
Tones and tightens which gets you long and lean
Helps improve your posture and flexibility.
Amazing for strengthening your abs, core and lower back.
Barre
Work muscles to move in a similar way to a professional dancer’s
Increase your heart rate which helps burn fat
It elongates the body, and makes it lean rather than bulky looking
Helps with flexibility, as well as pelvic and spinal alignment
Improves posture
Yoga
Improve inner peace from within without having to fly to a exotic beach
Improves flexibility
Total body work out for your mind, body and spirit
Energising
Stress relieving

On top of mixing up pilates, yoga and barre 5x a week, I also walk at least 30 minutes a day. The balance of the bunch has helped me feel and look better today at 32 than I did at 22. Obviously nutrition plays a huge role in terms of a lean looking physic, if your working out regularly, but do not see any results, take a look at your day to day eating habits, and stay away from foods that claim they are “healthy”, chances are they are filled with hidden sugars, and gunk, choose high quality nutrition from mostly plant based foods, fish and poultry.   When you are truly healthy, you are, physically fit, and mentally/ emotionally balanced.  I ashOlutley love this quote by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: “Health is not a mere absence of disease, it is an expression of life- in terms of how joyful, loving and enthusiastic you are.”  

Mixing up strengthening, fat burning, and mental building workouts, give you a whole holistic healthy fit package, summer bodies are made in the winter, so check out these fab workouts that will get you bikini ready in no time.  

Ashley xoxo