A healthy diet, exercise and feeling positive are always the best ways to achieve a slim and healthy body. However, sometimes we could all do with a little bit of extra help to look and feel our very best. Just knowing some simple tricks can give you that additional boost and can even make you look like you have dropped a dress size.
Perfect Posture
Posture makes a significant difference to how we look and feel. Just by knowing the right way to hold yourself, you can look leaner, fitter and more confident.
How to get the perfect posture
In a standing position, bring your legs hip width apart and have your knees slightly off lock. Gently tuck your pelvis under and pull in your abdomen. Relax your arms by the sides of your body and bring your chin parallel to the floor. Then to position the shoulders, hunch them up towards your ears and as you exhale let them drop down. Repeat a couple of times and then finally let your shoulders relax, not to far forward or back. Finally, visualise a string attached to the ground, moving up your body and reaching towards the ceiling. Feel this pulling you upward and enjoy your lengthened, lifted posture.
Tummy Control
If your stomach area is your problem zone, particularly when wearing a tight dress or t- shirt, then learning to hold your tummy correctly can make it look slimmer. It can help your middle to appear instantly flatter and also has long term muscle toning benefits.
How to have tummy control
First, locate the area about 2 inches below the navel. Then, imagine you are zipping up tight jeans and pull the tummy in. As you do this you should feel the lower abdomen being pulled upwards and inwards. Whilst you hold this area in, use the side and the back of your lungs (about 2 inches above the navel) to breathe, leaving the chest as still as possible.
Try to check yourself at points in the day, so this tummy control becomes a habit. This technique was designed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's and gives the illusion of a flatter tummy straight away, tones the muscles long term and strengthens the back as well.
Visualisation
Gordon Ramsey uses it to create his food and David Beckham uses it to score the perfect goal. Visualisation is a trick used by some the most successful people in the world as the ultimate way to achieve what you want. By imagining yourself how you want to be, you already know what it feels like so it makes it much easier to get there. Try using this visualisation technique and not only will it make you feel you are already slimmer but it will train your mind to ensure it knows just how to get there as well.
How to use visualisation
Close your eyes for a moment. Then picture yourself at your optimum health and size. See that image as clearly as you can in your mind and make it really bright. Then start to engage more of your senses. Imagine stepping into that body and really feel what being your optimum health and size is like. Then start to imagine the way people are responding to you at your optimum health and size, Feel it as though it is happening now. Repeat this as many times as you can until you truly know what it feels like to be the way you want to be. Then, you will have no doubt you will be able to get there.
Confidence
We all know someone who seems to attract their perfect job, their perfect partner and always seems to be full of confidence. That person isn't always a supermodel with the perfect body either. The key to why they have it all is simple. They have confidence. Confidence at any size is important but often we think that when we become our perfect weight, then we will feel instantly fantastic. However, confidence is something which is in your head, not in your body. So by learning to be confident, you will appear more attractive and more importantly, will feel happier and healthier.
How to boost your confidence
Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Just take a moment to notice how you are feeling right at this moment. Jot it down if you need to. Then follow these 6 steps:
1.Write down all the things you love about yourself
2.Write down all the achievements you have made in your life
3.Write down 5 things you are grateful for about today
4.Write down 5 positive things your best friend would say about you
5.Write down 5 things that makes you different/special/unique
6.Write down 5 things which make you beautiful
Now notice how you are feeling after completing this exercise. Remember and enjoy this feeling and use it when you need a feel-good boost. Practicing this exercise regularly will allow you to look and feel the very best version of you.
For more information on Danielle's tips and advice visit www.faceyogaexpert.com