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7 2 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 9 BUFF brides Tips for looking and feeling your best on the big day BY RENÉE CORWINE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT ODOM I t will likely be the most photographed day of your life. Every detail has been meticulously planned – the flowers, the food, even your nail polish has been chosen with care. You found your dream dress, and dare to dream that decades later you will look back on wedding photos and think, "my what a beautiful bride." With all that pressure to look your best, many brides start months before the wedding with an exercise and/or diet routine. A dear friend, Caroline (Amos) Jones, was married Dec. 15 at First United Methodist Church in Perry. I asked her about her pre-wedding fitness routine, and was lucky enough to see her look absolutely stunning on her wedding day. "My wedding dress was very form-fitting, and is covered in lace and sparkle from head to toe," said Caroline, a 24-year-old accountant at William A. Amos, P.C., CPA. Caroline's husband, Chance Jones, is the head football coach at Tattnall Square Academy, and the two met at a church camp before Caroline went off to college. She credits a Ketogenic diet and a strict exercise routine at Pure Barre Macon, where she also works as an instructor, with helping her tone up for the big day. " When I exercise, I always work to make my entire body stronger. With my form fitting dress, the four target areas I really wanted to work on were my core, thighs, seat and arms." I took a look at four basic wedding dress styles and target areas to tone based on what part of the body the dress accen- tuates. Here, some exercises for each that will help brides – or bridesmaids – look and feel their best on the big day. STRAPLESS: Sculpt the upper body with Plank Shoulder Taps and Modified Reverse Fly. A-LINE: Tone the arms and core with Tricep Extension and Curtsey Lunge and Curl. BALL GOWN: Trim the waistline with Twisting V-Up and Side Plank Hip Lift. MERMAID: Tighten the hips and seat with Side Lying Leg Lifts and Glute Kick Backs. C OAC H ' S C O R N E R Renée Corwine is a personal trainer, Pure Barre instructor and yoga teacher. Contact her at reneecorwine@gmail.com. CURTSEY LUNGE AND CURL Begin standing with heels together in a slight turnout position. With one weight in each hand, reach the arms out wide, with elbows lower than shoulders, palms up. Step the left foot back and slightly across to the left diagonal, coming onto the ball of the back foot. Take a deep bend in both needs, lowering into a curtsey lunge as you curl the weights toward your shoulders, then extend arms and legs back to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 12 on each side. PLANK SHOULDER TAPS Begin in a plank position with hands shoulder-distance apart and feet wider than the hips. Keeping your core engaged and your back flat, alternate tapping your shoulders with the opposite hand. Try not to sway the hips as you do this. Start with 30 seconds and work up to 1 minute. MODIFIED REVERSE FLY Begin on your hands and knees. Grab a weight in your right hand. Lift the right arm straight out to the side, to CURTSEY LUNGE AND CURL