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Jennifer Aniston's Yoga Workout

First Posted: 03/21/2012 8:26 am Updated: 03/22/2012 3:27 pm

By Kristen Aldridge for Shape.com

Jennifer Aniston recently stepped out for the premiere of her new movie "Wanderlust" (in theatres now), which had us lusting over her awesome bod (but let's be honest... when are we not?)!

As if rocking practically every red carpet isn't enough, check out the March 2012 cover of GQ -- the actress makes being tight and toned look easy in a black satin bra and mini-skirt for the world to see.

Aside from those obvious good genes, Aniston can credit longtime yoga teacher, wellness advisor and dear friend, Mandy Ingber, for keeping her body, mind and soul in tip-top shape.

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Ingber, who also works closely with Kate Beckinsale and a slew of other stars, has been working with Aniston for three to four days a week since 2005.

Using a combination of yoga, spinning and toners, the talented actress follows Ingber's Yogolosophy program (Aniston even took the inspiring DVD with her while filming "Wanderlust").

When the dynamic duo first started working together, Ingber says it was important for Aniston to develop a better connection to her mind, emotions and body.

"She hadn't been exercising much because she was overloaded with work for so many years, so it was really about grounding into her body during a major professional and personal life change," she says.

The results have spoken for themselves. Though the pair didn't have an ultimate goal, Aniston's body has never looked better!

"Part of why Jennifer looks so awesome is her balance. She's a balance of having strength, being toned and being lean -- beautiful but natural," Ingber says. "She works hard, but you also see her taking care of herself. She's a career woman and a relationship person. We should have balance in all aspects of our lives! Always address all aspects of who you are."

We're inspired too, because it's clear Aniston has an incredibly healthy outlook when it comes to her busy career, personal life, and fitness regime.

"Jennifer is very disciplined, but moderate," Ingber says. "She knows what works and is quite consistent. I love working with her! She is a very positive, down to earth and loving person... I'm inspired by her."

Sun Salutes
Works: Total-body, but especially arms, abs and legs.

Begin in Mountain Pose, with your feet together. Place your palms together. Close the eyes. Get centered. As you inhale, sweep the arms above the head, as you exhale, hinge at the hips forward fold. Again, inhale, keep the palms on the floor, or bring your hands up to the knees, raise your chest halfway forward, flatten your spine.

Exhale, step back to Plank, top of a push-up. Look straight ahead.

Inhale. Exhale, lower down, hugging the elbows in close to your body.

Inhale, lift the heart up, shoulders roll back away from the ears into a Cobra or Up Dog. Exhale, press back to Downward Facing Dog.

Take five deep breaths. At the end of the last exhale, look up to the hands. Step the feet to the hands. Inhale, look up. Exhale, fold down.

Inhale, press the feet into the mat and firm the thighs to rise up to Mountain Pose. Exhale, press the palms together at the heart.

Repeat five times.

Tree Pose
Works: Inner-thighs, core and mental focus.

Place most of your weight on your right leg and draw your left heel to the inner-thigh of the right leg. Steady your gaze and connect with your breath. Keep the left knee turning out, and gently tuck your tailbone, as you extend out throughout the crown of the head.

With the hands in prayer position, press the palms together, at the same time press the inner-thigh and the sole of the foot together.

Ingber's Yogalosophy Moves
Yogalosophy moves pair a traditional yoga pose with a toning exercise for maximal results in minimal time.

Temple Pose to Plie Squats
Works: Outer-thighs, glutes, inner-thighs.

Complete three sets, 30 seconds plus eight reps and eight mini reps.

Temple Pose:
1. Bring your feet about three feet apart, planted on the floor with the toes turned out. Bring your palms together in prayer position, and bend both knees.

2. Sink down with the lower body as you stay lifted through the upper body.

3. Try not to sway your lower back or lean forward; tuck your tailbone under slightly. Engage your quads and your glutes.

4. Take five deep breaths.

Plie Squats (x8) -> Back To Temple (x2) -> Then Pulse:
1. Press into both heels, using your glutes to rise up. Immediately lower back down, squatting the hips eight times. Make sure to keep your knees pressing open and your spine straight.

2. After eight, hold the hips down in Temple Pose for five breaths. Repeat eight more squats.

3. Hold the last squat, and pulse the hips down eight times.

Chair Pose to Squats
Works: Legs and glutes

Complete three sets that are 30 seconds each, plus eight reps and eight mini reps.

Chair Pose:
1. Start with your feet together. Sink down into an imaginary chair, so it is as if you were seated. Your butt and sit bones are sinking down towards your heels. Your arms are extended up towards the sky. Palms face each other or touch together.

2. Firm your triceps and send energy out through the arms, as you continue to ground down into the earth. Five breaths here, in and out of the nose. Press your feet into the floor, lead with your sternum, and rise up to standing.

Add Squats (x8) -> Back To Chaire (x2) -> Then Pulse:
1. Step the feet apart slightly, about hips-width distance, and bring your palms together at your chest. Sink the hips back into a seated position, and immediately press back up. Continue to breathe.

2. Do this eight times, then step the feet together. Back to Chair Pose.

Boat Pose to V-Ups
Works: Abs

Complete eight reps, breaths, three sets

1. Come into Boat Pose by balancing on your sit bones. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the floor, and lift your chest and sternum upward as you gaze up.

2. Extend your legs so that your toes are at eye level. Cross your arms over your chest, and using your lower abdominal muscles, slowly lower yourself down so that your shoulders and heels are hovering a few inches off the floor.

3. Then raise back up into Boat Pose, again using your abs.

One-Arm Balance
Works: Core, abs and arms.

1. Begin in Plank position, and bring the feet together.

2. Move the right hand directly below the face.

3. Shift your body to the side, so that you are balancing on the right hand, and the outside edge of your right foot. Make sure that your feet are flexed and the underside of the waist is lifting up, so your top hip is lifting up towards the ceiling.

4. Press the bottom hand into the floor, so that you are not dumping into that right shoulder. Keep the right arm straight (but not locked). If you are super flexible to the point of hyper-extension, make sure you don't lock your elbow. Slowly bring your body back to the center and balance it out. Repeat on the left side. Take Five breaths.

Spinning: 30 minutes
Works: Everything! Spinning is excellent heart rate training, and it builds muscle while you burn fat, which transforms the body into a fat-burning machine.

"Muscle burns more calories that fat does, so we change the ratio of stored fat to lean muscle mass. That means you are burning more calories, even when you are standing in line at the grocery store," Ingber says.

For more on yoga, click here.

For more on celebrity fitness, click here.

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03:55 PM on 07/22/2012
One of the best styles of yoga I've discovered is power yoga. It incorporates strength and flexibility. My favorites are the videos by Mark Gonzales. Anyone heard of him? His videos seem to be very popular: http://vimeo.com/channels/poweryoga
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PrunellaC
He's Cooking Up a Revolution!
12:19 PM on 06/25/2012
I began yoga prior to having weight loss surgery several years ago. I started with Lilias (yoga for people with physical limitations -- I didn't want to do something like jogging that would potentially hurt my knees and ankles, they also don't make sport bras in my size) from her PBS series. When I outgrew that, I switched to Barron Baptiste. Some of his homilies continue to grate ("rapport with the floor") but overall he is amazing and encouraging. I have a 3-DVD set that I still follow along with. I also have a Rodney Yee DVD but he is still a bit too challenging for me.

Yes, I know that yoga looks wimpy as hell, but anyone who gives it a decent chance will see that it works and stretches every muscle in their body and results in musclular and cardio strength as well as incredible flexibility.
07:38 AM on 05/31/2012
It's nice to see such a well known person promoting yoga. At the same time, I must laugh because of the kind of yoga that's being practiced around, especially in the west. I am not an expert, don't get me wrong, all that I know is that practicing yoga to get you abs and young look is just like using an air plain as a automobile or actually, it's even worse...
11:29 PM on 03/23/2012
lets see how she looks after she pumps out a couple of kids then talk....
1Maverick1
HP made me lose faith in humanity.
05:34 PM on 03/21/2012
Nice to have a story here with something useful in it! She does look amazing, and I just might add some of this to my routine if it can give me results anywhere near what she gets!!
02:11 PM on 03/21/2012
Aniston has done great things to raise the awareness about yoga. Her personal practice is a great testimony. Yoga is the fountain of youth because she looks better than ever.
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ethiopia1a
The COMMA Sutra,,,,making grammar sexy since 1875
04:12 PM on 03/21/2012
YAWN.
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sf girl
I like my micro-bio empty.
04:19 PM on 03/21/2012
And you were forced to click on this article and read, right?
12:55 PM on 03/21/2012
Will her PR people ever give up? Enough of her BS! Report on someone worthwhile.
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Jill in NYC
The cat ate my micro-bio.
12:44 PM on 03/21/2012
That's an idea. She can start a new career filming exercise videos because her movie career is going nowhere after her last film tanked.
viciousvirago
Veritatum Dilexi
12:40 PM on 03/21/2012
I am so sick and tired of reading about this non-entity. I could care less about her or anything shoe comes in contact with. She has a retinue of personal trainers, chefs, et al, so how and why should the average woman care about how she looks? She's a tad higher on the evolutionary scale than the Kardashians, but not much. And all because she and Brad Pitt were married.
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aviandonn
My micro-bio is empty
06:21 PM on 03/21/2012
Uh oh. Thems fighin' words. Be prepared to duck the flying missles of the JennHeads.

In the meantime, all these constant posts about this non-entity makes me wonder if one of the ways HP makes money is by charging individuals like Aniston a fee to post articles about them. I can't figure out any other reason why HP would post articles daily about this woman doing nothing yet again.
viciousvirago
Veritatum Dilexi
06:34 PM on 03/21/2012
Before Hollywood, believe it or not, we had singers (opera) and poets and theater actors to emulate and want to be like.

Once Hollywood arrived, the word star came into play and now we are inundated with people, the non-entity variety, whose every move and drug bust and rehab and sex tape makes the 'news'. This 'news' is for people who do not read books, don't vote and could care less about l5 million children in our country on Food Stamps.

I cannot stand anything about the Hollywood lifestyle. The 'stye' says: I'm famous, I'm important, bow down to me'....and we do.
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annasophie1228
how you like them apples?
11:43 AM on 03/21/2012
okay, thanks.
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ethiopia1a
The COMMA Sutra,,,,making grammar sexy since 1875
04:12 PM on 03/21/2012
LOL.Hi Anna.
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annasophie1228
how you like them apples?
05:56 PM on 03/21/2012
hey baby...