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Shedding pounds with the 'magic circle'

By Daisy Carrington | dcarrington@am-ny.com

August 8, 2007

Wouldn't it be great if you could wave a magic wand and make your back fat disappear? Or if you could cast a spell to turn cellulite into muscle?

While, alas, there are no supernatural solutions to the battle of the bulge, proponents of b.e. pilates (bodease evolved pilates) have achieved toning results verging on the mystical.

This form of Pilates incorporates a full range of total body conditioning and advocates the use of tools, including, fittingly, something known as the magic circle.

"b.e. pilates helps condition your body without punishing it," says Monika Werner, co-founder of Joschi Body Bodega in Chelsea. "The beauty is that anyone can do it, and everybody can achieve jaw-dropping results."

1. Ab lift (libido lifter)
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on a mat. Exhale, and tighten your abdominal muscles while pressing a magic circle between your thighs. Keep your shoulders on the mat and raise your pelvis, as well as your lower and middle back. Inhale, and return your back and pelvis to the mat in reverse order. Repeat eight to 12 times.

2. Sit-ups with bicycles
Lie on your back. Hold on the sides of a magic circle and place it behind your head. Exhale, tighten your abdominal muscles and point your elbows toward your knees. Slowly pull on the sides of the magic circle to lift your head, neck and shoulders. Exhale, and lift your legs into a 90-degree angle, so that your body forms a tabletop. Slowly start to pedal (six to eight times). Inhale, and return your legs and upper body to the mat in reverse order. Repeat eight to 10 times.

3. Thigh strengthener
Lie on your right side with your left hand on the floor at chest level and your palm facing down. Squeeze a magic circle between your ankles, calves or thighs. Exhale, and tighten your abdominal muscles, lifting both your legs toward the ceiling while pressing your right leg upward. Inhale, and lower your legs to the ground. Switch sides. Repeat eight to 12 times on each side.

4. Core power
Kneel on a stability ball and place your hands on the floor. Lower your knees closer to the floor as you walk your hands away from the ball. Pull in your belly button, bring your shoulders above your wrists and straighten your legs to come into a high push-up. Engage your abdominals and roll the stability ball forward, brining your knees in toward your chest. Reverse the movement and come into a straight line again. Repeat eight to 10 times.

5. Quad press
Stand facing away from a wall, place a stability ball behind your back and plant your feet firmly on the floor -- the ball should act as a cushion between your back and the wall. Bend your knees and slide down into a comfortable sitting position, keeping your waist above your knees. Exhale while tightening your abdominals and pressing a magic ring between your thighs. Lift both your heels as high as you can and hold the seated position. Gently press your heels back into the floor and roll back up the wall into starting position. Repeat six to 12 times.