This new ballet-inspired workout will get you strong and tone your tush

NOTHING’S going to get you a ballerina’s body quite like a class inspired by ballet itself.

That’s why barre classes seem to be making their way into everyone’s fitness routines.

While they’re certainly known for their upright postures and long, lean figures, ballet dancers are also super strong — and you can be too with this workout based on Virgin Active’s new Barre class.

Barre — devised by LA-based balletworkout guru Tracey Mallett — is designed to give you a core of steel, which in turn improves your posture, back health and overall strength. On top of this, you can expect to firm up from head to toe and tighten up those loose areas, as well as benefit from the other expected results of working out like a ballerina: flexibility, a pert bottom and that air of elegance.

How to do it: Beginners should do 2 sets; intermediates should do 3-4 sets; those who are more advanced should aim to do 4-5 sets.

ATTITUDE

Area trained: BOTTOM

Technique:

Start with your forearm on the barre or the back of a chair so that your body is pitched forwards from your hips.

Place your other hand on your hip to guide your pelvis square to the floor rather than lifted up.

Extend the leg furthest away from the chair and lift it a few inches off the floor.

Bend the knee of the lifted leg, maintaining the turn-out from your hip.

Lift the whole leg up an inch and down an inch in a pulsing motion.

REPS: 16

SAFETY TIP: Keep your body forwards so you feel the stretch in your bum and not your lower back

CHARLIE’S ANGELS

Area trained: STOMACH

Technique:

Sitting on a mat, press your inner thighs together and roll your spine into a C-shape curve.

Reach both arms forwards with your hands together.

Roll down to the mid-upper back, then roll back up, maintaining the C curve.

REPS: 10

SAFETY TIP: Keep your neck long and strong throughout

BOOTY HIPS

Area trained: BOTTOM

Technique:

Rest one hand on a barre or the back of a chair and place the other on your hip.

Start in first position; squeeze your bum muscles together to rotate out your thighs — your knees and toes will then turn out slightly.

Rise up on to the balls of your feet and bring your heels together, maintaining the turned-out legs.

Bend the knees into a plié, keeping your back long and shoulders directly above your hips.

Lift your right hip up towards your right ribs, lower back to neutral and repeat on the left, keeping your feet still.

Lower to the start and repeat.

Reps: 4 per side

HOT TIP: To intensify the move, bend your knees as you do the exercise

KNEE TO CHEST SIDELINE

Areas trained: BOTTOM, OUTER THIGHS, WAIST

Technique:

Start with your left forearm resting on a barre or the back of a chair and place your right hand behind your head.

Leaning into the barre, bend your left knee very slightly and extend your right leg straight out to the side, parallel to the floor and knee pointing forwards.

Bring your right knee in, keeping both sides of your waist even without making a curved shape through your side.

Extend back out and repeat.

REPS: 8-10 per side

SAFETY TIP: Check that your pubic bone is lined up with the heel of leg you’re standing on

ELBOWS DOWN

Areas trained: SHOULDERS, TRICEPS

Technique:

Balance on one leg in tree pose, one foot placed against the inner thigh of the other leg.

Hold light dumbbells and raise your arms out to the sides, elbows at right angles at shoulder height.

Extend your arms to the ceiling, then lower them back to shoulder height.

REPS: 16 per side

SAFETY TIP: Keep a good posture with your shoulders back and down