Shaped by Faith with Sandra Mendez and Twins Lennon & Oliver

My Shaped by Faith guest is Sandra Mendez, formerly ofNew York City. Sandra is a renown health & beauty expert and a Health and Nutrition Coach at Gene’s Health Food. She recently gave birth to twins Girl/Boy, Lennon and Oliver. Both of the twins make their debut on Shaped by Faith!

I had Sandra demonstrated the #1 Core exercise to flatten the stomach. Sandra just gave birth to her twins 12 weeks ago and she already looks Amazing!

Watch Sandra demonstrate one of my all time Favorite exercises that you can do anywhere, the Pilates Criss Cross. This is the #1 Exercise to strengthen our Core! Baby Girl, Lennon thoroughly enjoys her Mommy demonstrating the Criss Cross and Oliver seems to be mediating! They both enjoyed their first radio debut!

The Pilates Criss cross exercise focuses on the abdominals with a special emphasis on the obliques. The obliques basically make up our waist. This exercise is sure to help tighten and tone up our waist, yeah! Give it a try!

1. Lie on your back in neutral spine. (Keep your belly Scooped, navel to the spine)
2. Bend your knees and bring your shins up so that they are parallel to the floor at 90 degrees, called Table Top in Pilates.
3. Place your hands behind your head, supporting the base of the skull. Keep             the elbows wide.

4. Exhale: Reach your left leg out long, and as you keep the elbows wide, rotate your torso toward the bent right knee so that your left armpit is reaching  toward the knee.
5. Inhale: Inhale as you switch legs.
6. Exhale: Extend the right leg. Rotate your upper body toward the left knee. Keep      your chest open and elbows wide the whole time. Resist the urge to hold      yourself up with your arms. Make this exercise about the abs.

Modify Criss Cross:

• The higher you work your legs, the easier the exercise will be on your lower      back. Keep your legs high until you have enough abdominal strength to      maintain a neutral pelvis throughout the exercise.

For more Pilates exercises check out my website at www.shapedbyfaith.com