BALLET INSPIRED WORKOUT

With devotees like Madonna, Kelly Ripa, and Natalie Portman, it's not surprising that women everywhere are flocking to barre workout classes. But it's not just Hollywood hype! Ballet-inspired workouts are a great way to develop lean muscle mass while improving your balance, flexibility, and range of motion. The only downside: Some classes come with a high price tag. To help you get in on the barre craze on any budget, we asked Miami-based fitness expert Jessica Smith to create an at-home, ballet-inspired routine that will help lift, lengthen, and tone your entire body.
Workout details: Do 1 set of the recommended number of reps for each move, moving from one to the next with little rest in between. Depending on how much time (and energy) you have, repeat the full circuit 1, 2, or 3 times total.
You’ll need: A sturdy, high back chair and a set of light hand weights (2 to 5 lbs).
Ballet-inspired workout classes are everywhere these days. But when it comes to sculpting lean muscle, one workout seems to rein supreme (especially with the celebrity set): Ballet Beautiful. So does it work? Well, judging by their client list—Victoria’s Secret models such as Lily Aldridge are known to frequent the studio—we’d say absolutely.
Created by professional ballerina and celebrity trainer Mary Helen Bowers, the workout mixes athleticism with the grace of classical ballet by utilizing targeted exercises to sculpt a dancer’s toned, lean bod. To increase flexibility and strength simultaneously, the fitness routine works the muscles in your legs, butt, core, and upper body. (Tone your body all over with Women's Health's Ignite Routine by Next Fitness Star Nikki Metzger!)
It’s consistency that’s key, according to Mary. “For a workout to be truly impactful it must be about more than just how you spend a few hours a week, but also how you live,” she says. “Getting into a positive, healthy frame of mind is everything when it comes to building a lifestyle in which your own fitness and health is a priority.”
Ready to unleash your inner ballerina? Get the Misty Copeland calves of your dreams with this Ballet Beautiful workout you can do at home.