Planning a wedding can be stressful. So when the chaos of finding a dress, finalizing the invitations and choosing a perfect venue for your reception starts taking a toll on your body, it might be time to turn to the power of Pilates.
Pilates is an amazing way to recharge and to obtain that long, lean bridal body you’ve always dreamed of. It can help tone your body and improve posture (perfect for strapless dresses), leaving you with an elegant silhouette like a ballet dancer.
According to Amy Brown, a Yorkville Pilates instructor, all it takes is a little bit of ambition and 20 minutes a day.
Brown is the owner of Pilates for Life, Yorkville's foremost Pilates and yoga studio.
Her skills are also featured in eight instructional DVDs offering 20-minute Pilates workouts—perfect for busy brides.
Not only will Pilates help tone and strengthen your muscles, it will also help alleviate bridal stress and leave you feeling energized rather than tired from an exhaustive workout.
And the results are amazing, says Brown.
“I don’t like to sweat and I hate cardio,” she admits. “Pilates is an hour to myself. I feel energized afterwards, not tired. It does amazing things for my body. It gives me more energy instead of taking it away.”
Brown says her first video, Pilates for Life: 20-Minute Overall Body Workout, was actually created with busy brides in mind. “Brides are so busy, their lives are so hectic,” she says. “All it takes is 20 minutes, four or five times a week.”
And she swears you’ll feel it—in your abs, butt and hips.
Most people confess to feeling taller and stronger after trying it for the first time, but they don’t feel sore like they might after lifting weights. And it surprises them. “You work your body in new and different ways, and you’ll see changes fairly quickly,” she says.
While exercise should always be part of a healthy lifestyle, Brown says you can transform your body in as little as three months before the wedding. Combine your workout with some cardio for weight loss and you’ll have yourself an aisle-marching physique in no time.
Brown says the key is a healthy balance between exercise, sleep and drinking lots of fresh water. Staying focused is also important. Sometimes exercise gets pushed aside because of a busy schedule.
“Do it first thing in the morning or after work—you can fit this in,” she says. “This really is the one time you want to look your absolute best.”
For more information on Pilates for Life go to pilatesforlife.ca.
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