Inside Model Lindsay Ellingson's Fitness Routine
By Lindsay Ellingson
Hey Byrdie babes! I hope everyone is enjoying a healthy and successful start to 2015! This month, my focus is to get back to my best self! I want to share a few workouts that I absolutely love. I believe in switching up your routine and making it convenient so that it fits seamlessly into your schedule. As you will see, I also swear by exercises that elongate and stretch your muscles. Here’s a look into what I do to stay bikini-ready all year…okay, maybe not all year.
Scroll through to see what I’m doing and loving right now!
Ballet Beautiful With Mary Helen Bowers
I’ve been working out with Mary Helen Bowers, the founder of Ballet Beautiful, for over three years. I credit her for getting me in the best shape of my life for the Victoria’s Secret fashion shows. She targets muscles I never knew existed!
Mary Helen and her talented team of instructors also teach online classes which are great to do at home or while traveling. I have to admit, I also love an excuse to dress up like a ballerina. It takes me back to my high school and college dance-team days. Her line of ballet leotards and slippers are so beautiful and elegant, you will want to wear them outside the studio.
Speaking of dance, here’s a throwback to my senior year of high school with my friends from dance team. We used to wake up at 5a.m. for practice every day and had competitions on the weekends. Now that was dedication!
I attended UCSD for a year before starting my modeling career. And I danced during that year. We had intense practices every day and competed nationally. It was a blast. As a bonus, I became an expert at applying fake eyelashes!
On-the-Road Workouts
So far this year, I’ve been to Turkey, Florida, California, and the Dominican Republic. Needless to say, I travel a lot! I’m not a fan of hotel gyms. They can be a little intimidating with all the equipment, so I like to pack my ankle weights instead.
When I’m traveling, I have a 10-minute workout I do everyday that targets my glutes, inner thighs, and hamstrings. You can do twice the amount of work in half the time—perfect for any woman on the go!
Yoga
My go-to workout is yoga. I practice at Yoga 216 in Chelsea, owned by Nicole Katz. She’s an incredible instructor! Yoga is not only great for your body; it’s a way to quiet the mind, a must for any busy woman or man. Here’s a really fun pose I worked on with Nicole, as well as her instructions for getting into it correctly. Just make sure to have a spotter near by.
Start by kneeling at the wall. Measure the distance from the wall to the top of your shin and place a block as a marker.
Position your hands in line with the block and come into downward facing dog.
Then, lift one leg high, keeping it as straight as possible, and your hips square.
Bend your opposite leg, hop into the air, and come to the wall.
Bend both knees and “stand” on the wall.
Slowly, one at a time, lift your feet up off of the wall to “stand” on an imaginary ceiling.
Come into a fully balanced handstand and fire up your core! Again, make sure to have a spotter nearby. Come down the way you went up and rest in child’s pose.
The Gear
You have to have fun with your workout gear. I’m obsessed with the colorful prints from Onzie (like these peacock feather leggings!).
Post-Workout Musts
After a tough workout, I love to apply this Skin Trip Coconut Moisturizer ($11) from Mountain Ocean right when I get out of the shower. It has hydrating ingredients like coconut oil and aloe vera, and the scent is so relaxing (beach not included, unfortunately).
Gratitude
This year, my New Year’s resolution has been to write down a few things that I’m grateful for every day. As Jack Canfield [co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series] says, “Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life.”
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