What do Rose, the star of the Titanic movie, Rachel from Friends, the queen of pop, a world-famous top model and the brightest star in English football have in common? Yes, they're all millionaires and all hugely popular, but that's not what we're aiming for here. So what do they have in common?
Pilates!
Yes - they are all fanatical pilates fans. Let's see why!
1. Jennifer Aniston
For many years, the much-loved actress who played Rachel Green has struggled with chronic back pain and nerve pinching. The last straw was a hip problem - when the pain in her hips started, she decided to try Pilates. It only took a few hours for her to become a real addict. The back pain and hip problems soon disappeared. Since then she has become used to Pilates and feels healthier and taller thanks to the sport.
2. Vanessa Williams
Pilates may seem like a new trend, but it's actually a hundred years old! Vanessa Williams, Renee from Desperate Housewives, was introduced to Pilates over 20 years ago. She used it to regain the shape of her torso after the birth of her first child. As Pilates focuses mainly on the torso, Vanessa soon regained her slimness and has been practising Pilates ever since.
3. Kate Winslet
Who would have thought that the beautiful, slim actress struggled with excess weight as a teenager? Yet Kate Winslet hit 82 kilos at one point, and by adulthood she had already experienced the excesses of strict diets and relentless exercise regimes. The actress was not immune to the criticisms of fame - she was expected to be in perfect shape at all times. After giving birth, she decided to give Pilates a try and has been training enthusiastically ever since. She claims to have regained her health and fitness through pilates and achieved the perfect figure for her.
4. Madonna
The queen of pop is also a true Pilates fan, which is probably why she still looks crazy over 60. Madonna's form has always been impeccable, as she has spent her life trying to live as healthy as possible. The singer has many reasons to continue to stick with pilates - she credits pilates for her good posture, her correct breathing technique and for helping her avoid injuries during tours.
5. Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum simply can't look bad! It's all down to her rigorous exercise regime (and her genes, of course). Pilates is of course an indispensable part of this training programme. Heidi loves Pilates so much that she didn't give it up even during her pregnancy. As Pilates is also an excellent form of exercise for pregnant women, she was able to keep her figure while keeping her baby perfectly safe.
6. Megan Fox
Megan Fox is an example of how Pilates is perfect even for the lazy. Megan admitted in an interview that she is extremely lazy and doesn't like going to the gym. That's why she enjoys the slow, controlled movements, long stretches and deep breathing of Pilates. She says she does a lot of Pilates to keep her body lean and toned.
7. David Beckham
That's right, because Pilates is not just for women! More and more men are discovering the positive effects of Pilates. Professional athletes are not left out. They use Pilates to build a long, injury-free career. The English footballer has also recognised the potential of Pilates. The Italian football team AC Milan introduced him to Pilates when they insisted that all their players do it. The exercise programme has drastically reduced Beckham's body fat. He said of Pilates: „I do an hour of Pilates a day. It's fantastic, and fitness-wise I haven't been in such good shape for a long time.” He added that he hasn't looked this good in years.
The list goes on and on: Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon, Selena Gomez, Lucy Liu, Naomi Campbell... When you look at the benefits of Pilates, it's no surprise that some of the world's stars are also taking it up. So try it yourself and you can say you're following the same exercise regime as the celebs!