Whether she is taking on powerful roles or preparing for the action-packed scenes required in the show, Sophie Turner is always in the news for her fit and athletic look and her latest role is no exception.
Sophie Turner, the former Game of Thrones actress, has recently given fans a first look at her in the role of Lara Croft in the upcoming Prime Video series based on the popular video game. Sophie is known for her slender body type but has talked at length about the rigorous preparation she has undergone for the role of Lara Croft and this has impressed fans.
For those looking at how they could improve their own core strength, a renowned Pilates instructor has shared their insights with HELLO! on how fans could build these into their own daily lives in order to improve their own strength from the inside out.
Sophie Turner’s training routine
Sophie is the third actress to take on the iconic role of Lara Croft in the upcoming series, the first being Angelina Jolie in the 2001 film and the second being Alicia Vikander in the more recent series.
Speaking on the Julia Cunningham Show in the early months of this year, Sophie talked about the rigorous training she had undergone for the role. “We’ve been training eight hours a day, five days a week since last February, so it has been quite an intense process.
Also, I think I learned that building muscle takes longer when you haven’t actually worked out before, so it has been a gradual process.”
Getting better results
Sophie’s training routine is quite rigorous but there is a way in which fans could improve their own results without the same intensity.
According to Jade Edwards, Pilates instructor and owner of Coconut Wellness Studios, the answer lies in shifting the focus. “If you want real changes, both visually and physically, it’s important to stop focusing only on feeling the burn and instead focus on how the core is functioning.”
According to Edwards, the core muscles, as defined in Pilates, extend beyond the abdominal muscles and include the back, hips, and pelvic region. When these muscles are working well, the body looks more stable and balanced.
Core-focused exercises
For those who, like Sophie, are inspired by the transformation, Edwards recommends the following classic Pilates exercises:
“The hundred is a great exercise for building endurance and definition in the core muscles. When done correctly, this exercise targets the entire abdominal region, as well as the breathing and circulatory system.”
Edwards also recommends the single leg stretch, which targets the pelvic region and can help achieve a defined waist, and the roll-up, which targets the core muscles and also improves the flexibility of the spine. This exercise can also help improve the posture and reduce any stiffness.
Strength beyond appearance
While working towards achieving a strong and defined body, it is not just the appearance and the figure that benefit from the exercise. According to Edwards, a strong and defined body also provides strength and support for the body.
“When you focus on working your core muscles, it not only provides definition and tone, but it also helps support your spine, reduces the risk of injury, and improves your balance and posture. It’s a great way to achieve definition and tone without bulk, and it also provides strength and support for the body, which can give us confidence and improve our quality of life.”
