Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer leg and butt strengthening exercises

[Barbara_F]

This is the video that Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer sent to her that apparently will change the shape of your butt in 10 days - guaranteed. I seemed to be reading about it everywhere last week, so I'm glad that it surfaced. It looks like it's ballet-based and really useful for riders because the range of motion exercises look like they would really open up the hip flexors.

http://www.barnmice.com/video/gwyneths-leg-and-butt

[gladys]

Looks a bit hard, but good. I'll give it a go. I also noticed that she uses range of motion, which I think is very important for staying flexible and not too bulky. Thanks for posting!

[Ashby]

Leaving out the question of whether or not this is a good set of exercises (and it does seem good),

1. I always found that the best exercise for riding is riding. In other words, if your butt is low and floppy, go do several gallop sets a day for a few weeks days and it won't be low and floppy anymore.
2. This girl sure is a suck-up. Is one required to be so sycophantic in order to have contact with famous movie stars? Ick.

[gladys]

Ashby, I definitely agree that the workout you get on the horse is fantastic.

My own experience is that cross training off the horse is what got me into the shape I needed to be in to ride better.

Different sports (and types of exercise) work muscles differently and can complement one another, and for me, core exercises off the horse, as well as different types of cardio work have made me a stronger, more balanced rider.

Also, our muscles get used to doing sport- specific work and sometimes need to be woken up (the trainers call it shocking the muscles).

Just some more food for thought. :)

[Balloon]

Ok. De-lurking to embarrassingly admit having tried these as soon as I got the link. As someone stuck in what is essentially a hotel room with no access to a horse or a gym for the next two months, I decided to give it a go. :D:

They are good! Definitely difficult and I sure did get warm. Will see if I'm sore tomorrow.

For those trying...don't forget to activate your tummy muscles. The exercises require lower back muscle so you'll need your tummy muscles for support otherwise it will be easy to injure yourself!! And watch out...when you run the tape again to do your right side, it will be harder (I'm right handed so I was mighty surprised) because that leg has already had to support the left doing the exercises. Oh, also, if you haven't done this type of ballet based exercise before, don't try to go as high as the trainer does. I should send my tape in for comparison :D:sadsmile::D I don't look nearly as elegant. Less ballerina and more like a goat balancing on a rock.

Thanks, Barbara_F for posting!! I'm off to do some easy yoga stretches now to try to recover...

[medical mike]

Excellent comment Gladys on sport specificity.........

My question is though.........I believe Gwen is near 40.....AT that point it is the rare rider who is not dealing with some sort of back pain and or other joint pain.
The instructor is taking the muscles into a very shorted range and driving alot of the movement through the LB and opposite hip. Her torso is also all over the place.....

So good for a movie star, whom I don't think leads the same lifestyle as a horse person.

Just my .02........

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforwar.us

[silver2]

2. This girl sure is a suck-up. Is one required to be so sycophantic in order to have contact with famous movie stars? Ick.
Supposedly this trainer has left a string of fraud convictions in her wake for ripping off clients so I bet she's pretty good at the kiss up.

[Buffyblue]

Being an ex-dancer, I would advise anyone trying these to make sure you warm up first (I note she told Gwynneth to do the aerobic portion first). Also, I wouldn't do the entire left side and then the entire right side, but would do one exercise on the left and then the same exercise on the right, before moving onto the next exercise. It's always done that way in ballet class and makes a lot more sense that way. JMHO.

[ImJumpin]

Very similar to my days of ballet. I tried the routine out and enjoyed how it felt. I noticed lots of pops and creaks though! I never had an issue with ballet and riding as far as my hips and lower back being put at odds. Now my ankles were another story, but the exercises presented in this clip seem to be decent ones that should help with riding.

[RedMare01]

I tried it, and it was a good workout.

Caitlin

[Barbara_F]

For those who did ballet, did you focus on lots of stretching as well? At what point? Alternating with the strengthening work-out? Afterwards?

I imagine ballet as trying to elongate the muscles, which I think would be great for anyone trying to lengthen their leg on the sides of a horse.

[JSwan]

Supposedly this trainer has left a string of fraud convictions in her wake for ripping off clients so I bet she's pretty good at the kiss up.


Oh my.

[ArtilleryHill]

"Do all of the legs on the left side first and then all of the legs on the right side"?

Gwyneth looks pretty good for a spider.

[ponygirl]

"Do all of the legs on the left side first and then all of the legs on the right side"?

Gwyneth looks pretty good for a spider.

ROFL!

[eclipse]

For those who did ballet, did you focus on lots of stretching as well? At what point? Alternating with the strengthening work-out? Afterwards?

I imagine ballet as trying to elongate the muscles, which I think would be great for anyone trying to lengthen their leg on the sides of a horse.

From deep within the ballet-dancing recess of my mind, we did a LOT of warmup stretching before we danced, and then a LOT of cooling down streches afterwards. Not a lot of weight training for dance (didn't want bulky muscles) but you did get nice, long, STRONG, leg muscles from the actual dance & exercises alone. I, still to this day, laugh when I hear about how pilaties (sp) is so new, & innovative & really is a godsend! Err, we were doing all that stuff in the 70's for ballet, gymnastics & figure skating!! LOL

[Ambrey]

Excellent comment Gladys on sport specificity.........

My question is though.........I believe Gwen is near 40.....AT that point it is the rare rider who is not dealing with some sort of back pain and or other joint pain.
The instructor is taking the muscles into a very shorted range and driving alot of the movement through the LB and opposite hip. Her torso is also all over the place.....

So good for a movie star, whom I don't think leads the same lifestyle as a horse person.

Just my .02........

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforwar.us

I was hoping you'd comment, Mike.

I think they look like fabulous exercises for someone who is very flexible and in very good shape. I wouldn't get through them once without serious pain. They should say "don't try this at home" on them.

[RedMare01]

They're not that bad. I don't consider myself in to be in really excellent physical condition, certainly reasonably good, but I won't be running a marathon anytime soon. I take an aerobics class two nights a week, work out (treadmill and weights) another one or two, ride (dressage) two or three times a week (at least in good weather), and I didn't have a problem doing the excercises as she does them. You can tailor them to your own bodies' strength and flexibility level...I'm sure my leg isn't getting as high as hers is! And don't go overboard with the repetitions...I've done these the last two nights, and I can feel in my butt and the back of my thighs, but I'm only doing 10 repetitions of each. She says work up to 20 and then 50...don't think that will be happening anytime soon! So far, they seem to be really good in moderation. I will try to do them for 10 days in a row and how I feel then.

Caitlin

[Nootka]

^^^SPAM^^^^

But I am going to try the original topic to see if it works. Did anyone stick to this plan since it seems to be resurrected from the dead?

[moonriverfarm]

Nah, I would rather clean stalls and ride. But I am over 50 and don't care so much about my arse anymore. More cushion in the saddle makes for a better ride!!!

[NSRider]

I think I will try this out, have fallen into an exercising slump. Cold weather (talking -10 and below celsius, usually about -15 before I can get to the barn) and relying on others for rides to the local indoor are leaving riding time at an all-time low, along with my fitness. I do have some classical training, so will be interesting to see if any changes do occur!