Try This Beach Ready Yoga Workout

The second of our two-part summer shape-up takes your yoga to the next level, with plenty of challenging, toning poses

- Sarah Ivory

Want to tone up for your summer holiday? Read on! In our exclusive two-part series, we’ve joined forces with yoga guru Julie Montagu to show you how to flow to a fitter body. You won’t find many restful poses, such as savasanna, here, so be prepared to work hard. ‘The more you ramp up the intensity of your flow, the more calories you’re likely to burn. If you turn up the heat or opt to do hot yoga, you'll blast even more kilojoules,’ says Montagu.

Last month, Montagu revealed a challenging eight-move sequence that worked your entire body and set you well on your way to a toned physique. This month, it’s going to get a bit tougher, with more advanced poses that will really challenge your muscles. ‘The best way to use yoga to tone up is to choose sequences that are challenging but still achievable,’ explains Montagu. ‘You can then work to hold the poses for longer, or add some more difficult poses into your sequence.’

Ready for part two? Not so fast! Montagu is quick to note that meditation and mindfulness are part and parcel of the slim-down plan. ‘It’s important to tackle stress, which you can do by creating daily rituals surrounding normal everyday tasks. Spend five minutes each morning and night applying a soothing oil or cream to your body – I like Nivea Q10 + C Firming Body Lotion – and you’ll embrace mindfulness effortlessly and consistently.’

Be sure to mix it up

It’s important to switch up the way you move, too. ‘Making sure you don’t rely on the same sequence or type of yoga for too long will help you progress,’ says Montagu. ‘You should challenge your body in new ways when you’re trying to build muscle mass or definition.’ With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know to challenge your body this month.

YOUR YOGA WORKOUT