We’ve teamed up with Niki Rein, founder of London’s premier barre fitness studio, Barrecore, to bring you 5 top tips for staying motivated, active and healthy as summer sets in. We also have Niki’s top 3 ab exercises and an exclusive offer just for you…

This blog post has been written in collaboration with our friends at Barrecore.

MEET US AT THE BARRE
Exclusive MORI Introductory offer

Loved by celebrities such as Jourdan Dunn and Poppy Delevingne, Barrecore is intelligent exercise, integrating the fat-burning format of interval training with static stretches after each major muscle is worked.

Barrecore is offering MORI customers the chance to book one Barrecore class for just £18 – that’s £10 off! Quote code BABYMORI16 online or in studio.

www.barrecore.co.uk

*Terms & conditions apply. Offer ends 6th July 2016 subject to availability.

Barrecore founder, Niki moved to London from the US in 2009 and was surprised to find a lack of barre and boutique fitness studios overall. So many people (especially women… high powered to busy mums) were desperate for a fitness regime that made them feel feminine yet helped them achieve incredibly quick results. In late 2009, Nikki began teaching what she calls ‘barrecore’ classes out of a little mews house in Central London and word of rapidly transforming bodies travelled quickly. Before she knew it, barrecoreCHELSEA was born in November 2011. Now, there are several more London locations as well as online barrecore classes that can be done anywhere in the world.

Nikis top 5 tips for staying healthy and motivated this summer:

1. Look forward to working out – If you’re not excited by your current routine, mix things up by trying a different class format. The more your mind is involved in your movement, the more results you will see.

2. Get exercising in the mornings – You have heard it before – early morning workouts are the best for your overall stress, lowering body fat, and your mental health. You will be happier, leaner and more motivated with your food and lifestyle choices if you exercise in the early hours of the day

3. Make working out a social activity – Life can get incredibly stressful and busy sometimes and can get in the way of two great stress relievers, exercise and friendship. Instead, try pairing these mood boosters and workout with your friends.

4. Be prepared with your nutrition – If you are eating poorly, you are likely to have low energy and therefore lack motivation to train. Make sure to order your groceries ahead of time, meal planning is key.

5. Book in advance – Book your workouts as non-negotiable meetings in your diary. By committing to classes or private training sessions in advance, you are more likely to show up.

Niki’s 3 favourite and toughest core exercises to get your abs sizzling as summer approaches.


1) Fingertip curl

Sit up tall onto your sitting bones on the floor, with knees bent at roughly 90 degrees out in front of you, feet flat on the floor. Press fingertips of both hands on the floor, underneath where your calves are placed and inhale. As you exhale, lean forward with the upper body slightly, press as deeply as you can into the fingertips (so they change colour), and think of scooping out the abdominals. Repeat, adding a lift of one leg at a time, and for a challenge, try both.

This one is great for finding the deepest core area – the more you scoop and press down, the more you will activate it.

2) Flat Back Abs – Heel Presses

Lie on your back with both knees raised to a 90 degree angle, or tabletop position. Flex the heels and squeeze the thighs together tightly. Inhale, pressing both heels away with resistance, and as you exhale, draw them strongly back to their original position – pulling your belly button towards your spine. To make harder, try placing a ball or small cushion between your thighs to encourage a deeper connection.

Flat Back abdominals really encourage a connection through your pelvic floor and transverse abs (lowest layer) – with added movement, you are working on strengthening and stabilising the whole pelvic area.

3) Forearm Plank Rocks

Come into a plank position on the floor, pressing your forearms and palms down to create a “Number 11” shape. Keep the legs extended long and draw your naval to spine, avoiding any arch in the lower spine. Press your weight forward over the palms and slide back smoothly, keeping the body in one low, strong line. Think of zipping up from head to toe as you go and repeat 16 times – or until your abs feel that desired burn and shake!

Planks are a killer full body exercise, but this sliding forward and back movement targets the centre line of the body and core, and targets it fast!

MEET US AT THE BARRE

Exclusive MORI Introductory offer

Loved by celebrities such as Jourdan Dunn and Poppy Delevingne, barrecore is intelligent exercise, integrating the fat-burning format of interval training with static stretches after each major muscle is worked.

barrecore is offering MORI customers the chance to book one barrecore class for just £18 – that’s £10 off! Quote code BABYMORI16 online or in studio.

www.barrecore.co.uk

*Terms & conditions apply. Offer ends 6th July 2016 subject to availability.