Earlier this week, Sara Ali Khan showed off her latest Pilates moves on Instagram. The actress was seen working up a sweat on a reformer machine under the guidance of celebrity trainer Namrata Purohit. Snippets from the class showed her practising an advanced Pilates position called ‘Star’ and performing various repetitions of it. It’s a low-impact, high-impact workout for those looking to improve their core strength and flexibility. Actors like Janhvi Kapoor and Malaika Arora have also been seen adopting this form of exercise.
The best thing about Reformer Pilates is that it uses your own body weight as resistance, offering a personalized approach to building muscle, improving flexibility and promoting balance, so if you’re looking to slowly get started on a full-body workout, consider Kahn’s approach.
Sara Ali Khan has incorporated side twists to focus on the obliques and core. This combination of movements targets the lateral and spinal flexors, hip flexors, elbow extensors, and improves shoulder stability while focusing on the core. If you are new to Pilates, it is a good idea to start with mat Pilates. However, if you have been practicing on the reformer for a while, you can start after consulting a trainer.
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Begin by closing the carriage: Place one hand on the center of the foot bar.
Step 2: Place one foot near the nearest shoulder block on the reformer. Keep your foot at an angle, not flat.
Step 3: Lift the other leg and upper back.
Step 4: Lengthen your hips and stick your chest out until you reach the desired position.
Step 5: Make sure your bottom hips are lifted.
Benefits of Star Pose
Strengthen your core: Star Pose engages your core muscles, including your abdominals, obliques, and lower back muscles, which in turn strengthens your core and improves your overall stability.
Improves balance and coordination: Stretching your limbs while balancing on the moving trolley of the Reformer challenges your balance and coordination. Practicing Star Pose enhances proprioception, the body’s ability to sense its position in space, improving balance and coordination skills.
Hip and shoulder stability: For your body to extend into a star shape, your hip and shoulder joints must be properly aligned, which strengthens the muscles around these joints, improving stability and reducing the risk of injury.
Read also:
Sara Ali Khan maintains her healthy figure through weight training and HIIT exercises
Sara Ali Khan practices these exercises to tone her back, here’s everything you need to know
Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor prove that it’s better to train with your partner.
