Kristen Bell's Yoga Workout

With a voice that graces the hit TV show Gossip Girl as well as the animated film Astro Boy, a brain made famous in Veronica Mars, and a bikini body revealed in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Couples Retreat, Kristen Bell is logging serious spotlight time these days.

How is it that at just shy of 30 years old, Bell can keep both her cool and sense of humour intact? In a brief interview she explains: "don’t take anything too seriously, especially yoga".

Has yoga helped you make it in Hollywood?
JoAnna (Bell's yoga teacher) used to tell me "If you have to make a hard decision, stand on your head for a minute before." It sounds silly but its simple science that more blood in your brain could help you think more clearly. And I believe it does.

Does yoga open you up to being a more creative actor?
I think it does. With all the hurt, embarrassment, and rejection in life, our bodies and minds try to shut down. We hunch forward, we get snappy… We have to fight that inclination. If you are good to your body, your body will be good to you!

Does yoga impact your diet?
I always find when I am practicing, I crave less junk. I think your body looks for quick fixes with sugar and salt and when you are treating well it craves the good stuff.

Yoga is one of the many ways Bell is good to her body. Here's a sequence you can use to be good to yours.

The creator of this workout, JoAnna Ross, is an accomplished yogi, dancer, and fitness instructor. She is also the founder/developer of Yoga By The Doze, a kids yoga program – and a DVD of the same name.

Start with your feet parallel and pressed firmly into the mat. Imagine you are hugging a block between your feet.

Draw your shoulders up to your ears like you are saying “I don’t know,” then move them down your back. Draw in your ribs.

Bring your arms to your chest, palms together, then take them up overhead.

Stretch up and over to the right, keeping your left foot solid on the ground as you stretch a little farther on your right side.

Slowly bring your outstretched arms over to your left side.

Repeat the stretch on the left side (remember to keep your right foot firmly planted).

That's one rep. Do two reps.

Last updated: Mon, 2012-05-21 15:35

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