This week our favourite Victoria’s Secret Angels took to the glitter runway of Paris, sporting some of the most sculpted figures in fashion.
From gruelling daily workouts, to ballet, boxing and yoga – these runway bodies are all about strength and athleticism. It turns out it isn’t so easy being an angel!
The hashtag #TrainLikeAnAngel has over 50k posts, featuring both the VS crew getting their sweat on in gyms, studios and boxing rings, and normal people who are inspired by their hard work and dedication.
While you may not be getting ready to do your thang on the catwalk, you too can snap up that heavenly figure thanks to these get-sexy workout tips from Victoria’s Secret trainer and former professional boxer Michael Olajide.
“This is going to help you look good and make your life a lot more efficient and fun!” says Olajide.
Get ready to #TrainLikeAnAngel
Workout tips
Generally Victoria’s Secret models work out every day. They’re professionals and understand that’s one of the major reasons they get hired. But many also love working out because it makes them feel good!
A proper warm up routine gets you in the groove for exercise and is important to prevent any injuries and get the boy prepared for the workout.
“Before we do anything, we want to get warmed up, for between 60 seconds and two minutes,” Olajide says. Try a jog or some skipping.
“When your heart rate starts to elevate, that’s cool. Bring it down, shake it loose and then you’re ready to start.”
Olajide focuses on helping the models ‘sleekify’ their bodies as opposed to bulking, so they can get into their most killer shape ever.
“For the arms, you don’t want to bulk, you want to keep it sleek,” Olajide says. “So intersperse floor moves with boxing moves.”
If you’re more of a lover than a fighter, you can substitute boxing for ballet, cycling or running.
“The legs are the wheels that get us around. They help the Angels walk down that runway,” Olajide says. He suggests a combination of lunges, reverse lunges, side lunges and calf raises to get those pins in peak form.
For abs and core, a range of workouts such as the aerotwist, jump rope, the plank, aeroliques and the basic crunch, will have you on your way to getting the sexiest core ever.
Olajide says that in order to effectively change the body, you really need to make a lifestyle change. It’s not only about how you work out, but how you eat and how you rest.
“It takes incredible discipline. I really admire that discipline in the girls I work with. If you aren’t going forward, you’re going backward. Making a change to your body is such a particular undertaking and not every body responds the same way. Find out what feels right to you.”
The angels’ secrets
Get ready to replace those bra bulges with angel wings and aspire to be your healthiest self yet, with a little help from the hottest (and fittest!) girls on the planet.
“I do lots of jumping rope for about a month and a half before the show. I have been doing boxing for over 10 years – it’s a passion of mine. Since you’re not wearing much and you’re on television, you have to pay attention to different areas! I do try to work out every day before the show.” – Adriana Lima
“I do Ballet Beautiful all year round, but amp it up for the show.” – Lily Aldrige
“I stay fit all year round but start to work out a couple more times per week in the month leading up to the show. I love doing squats! I’ve also been doing the P90x workout – it’s such a great workout. I like to work out seven days a week before the show, whereas I’d normally do three.” – Jasmine Tookes
“I do the Brazil Butt Lift class. I think I’m in better shape now than I was 10 years ago, but it takes a bigger toll – I get back pain!” – Alessandro Ambrosio
“I do lots of Pilates and some shadow boxing, jumping rope. I’ve tried every workout class in New York City. Going to the gym and running on the treadmill is not for me. So yoga, boxing, everything, but mainly a mix of toning and cardio.” – Devon Windsor
“I have a private coach so I can do different exercise every day – we spend an hour in the gym every day before the show so we have to keep it varied.” – Ming Xi
