A recent survey has revealed that 65% of the women in America wish they had Jennifer Aniston's abs.
Well ladies, that toned tummy didn't appear over night. In fact, it's the result of working out for 22 long years with El Lay yoga instructor Mandy Ingber!
The successful teacher created and coined her "yogalosophy" by combining traditional yoga poses with calisthenics to increase body strength and flexibility.
In the interview below, Mandy not only discusses what it's like working with Jen, but what it takes to get a body like hers — motivation, dedication, and hydration!
What pose is hardest for Jen?
“It may be plank. I hear her grunt with that one sometimes. Or bringing the knee to the forehead from downward-facing dog—the moves that really engage the core.”
What poses does Jen like the most?
“She likes sun salutations. Those are good for her arms. And she loves balancing poses. She’s very focused and graceful. She could stay in tree pose longer than I could! She’s learned how to stay focused amid a bunch of other stuff happening.”
How are celebs like Jen different when they practice yoga?
“They’re not. There’s no secret. Everyone has to heat up and sweat through it. I’m not here to feed spirituality. I’m no guru, and I don’t see myself as that. Spirituality is highly personal. But what I do with celebs is motivate to keep their workouts going. People need motivation on a daily basis.”
What’s different about your approach to yoga?
“It’s light-hearted and open-minded. I don’t take it too seriously. Life is hard enough—exercise is hard enough! Yoga is detached in a way. It shows you that you shouldn’t let things bother you too much.”
How should you prepare for a hot yoga class?
“Hydration is key. Coconut water or Emergen-C, the vitamin drink mix, are full of electrolytes to fuel the body and have nutritional value but won’t give you that full-stomach feeling, which can make it hard to practice yoga.”
I’ve seen people suddenly explode into tears or laugh like hyenas in classes. What’s that about?
“Yoga can trigger a hit and release sensation. We hold a lot in our bodies. When we get physical and start moving, old stuff comes up to be released. That’s part of the purification process. That’s part of the transformation. We all feel so much better after. The real teacher is your body.”
[Image via WENN.]
Tags: calisthenics, dedication, el lay, flexibility, hydration, interview, jennifer aniston, mandy ingber, motivation, nutrition, strength, yoga teacher, yogalosophy
