Ballerina turned fitness guru Mary Helen Bowers is, undoubtedly, her own best advertisement for the cultish dance-based workouts she creates. Long- and lean-limbed with seemingly nary an ounce of excess fat, plus perfect posture, wicked flexibility, and, did I mention, amazing hair? And since famously whipping Natalie Portman into prima ballerina shape for her role in Black Swan, her high-profile clientele has grown in ranks to include beauties like Liv Tyler, Lily Aldridge, and Doutzen Kroes. But even women who will never be coronated Victoria’s Secret Angels—even women like me: short, pear-ish, not so bendy—can benefit from Bowers’ workout wisdom. All of which is imparted in a sweet, encouraging tone that will keep even the most slothful among us focused and motivated. If you can’t make it to Bowers’ Soho studio to experience her teaching firsthand, her at-home workout DVDs are the next best thing, and now there is a new one to slip into regular rotation. Ballet Beautiful Cardio Fat Burn is her most fast-paced offering to date, with a combination of up-tempo Allegra intervals to sculpt muscles and boost metabolism interspersed with targeted mat exercises focused on toning and lengthening. Much like with Bowers’ previous DVDs, the movements are deceptively simple but, rest assured, you will feel the burn.
Ballet Beautiful Cardio Fat Burn, available at www.amazon.com.
