New year, STRONGER ME!

Pick up a resistance band and tone your whole body with low-impact moves that trick your muscles into working harder

If you’ve resolved to overhaul your health this year, Pilates instructor Kirsten King explains small, easy-to-master movements can deliver big results. The only catch? You have to stick with it.

“Careful, subtle movements will activate your muscles, creating stability in your joints and tone in your muscles,” says Kirsten. She counts the most significant benefits as being an improvement in mental strength and confidence, followed closely by increased energy and better moods.

There is, of course, the physical comfort that also comes with building muscle and tone. “As we get older, we naturally start to lose strength throughout our bodies, which impacts our balance, alignment and affects the structure and health of our spines too.”

Committing to just 20 minutes (at a minimum) helps turn this around. “The beauty of bands is that they create resistance, so the body is forced to work a little harder,” explains Kirsten. “The resistance also means you have to work to stabilise your body to achieve connection and balance, which engages your entire body with the most minimal of movements.”

Side glutes