Mail Online - October 2010

Flexible Felicity Kendal puts impressive Strictly display down to Pilates

Felicity Kendal's splits brought a collective gasp from the nation's living rooms on Saturday night. The move during her rumba on Strictly Come Dancing would have pleased someone half her age. But yesterday the 64-year-old revealed there was no great secret to her flexibility - it was all down to yoga and Pilates.

Speaking about her moves, fitness expert Laura Williams said: 'You need to attain a high level of flexibility in your adductor muscles - the ones of the groin and inner thigh - in order to be able to do the splits.
'The thing that many people don't realise is that it can take up to several months of regular stretching to achieve your full split potential.
'The best exercise to start with is not actually wading straight into the splits full-pelt, but instead by practising the splits stretch against a wall, as a developmental stretch where you start with an easy stretch and keep increasing tension - which is an excellent way to increase muscle length and flexibility.

To book a session or to find out how Laura can help you get into shape, email her at laura@laurawilliamsonline.co.uk

Or call her on 07712 001525.