Kerry Washington in Two-Piece Workout Gear Turns "Pilates Moves into Hip-Hop Grooves"

Kerry Washington is doing hip-hop pilates – in her workout clothes. In a new video the Scandal star shows off her flat abs in a sports bra and leggings while executing a bunch of pilates exercises with her trainer, Erika Bloom. “Turning pilates moves into hip-hop grooves with @erikabloomwellness for over a decade! She is the BEST,” she captioned the post. What is pilates and why is it a great workout? Celebwell has the details.

1. Pilates Has Been Around for Almost 100 Years

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century by Cleveland Clinic. Initially the body conditioning workout was used as a method of injury recovery for dancers, who regularly sustain injuries. Now it is a popular mainstream method.

2. It Is Usually Done on a Reformer

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“Some of the principles that guide the Pilates method include concentration on each movement, use of the abdomen and low back muscles, flowing, precise movement patterns and controlled breathing,” explains the Cleveland Clinic. Pilates can be done on a mat. However, it is usually performed on a piece of equipment called a reformer, which Washington uses in the video.

3. It Is a Form of Strength Training That Doesn’t “Bulk You Up”

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Surprisingly, Pilates is considered a form of strength training. However, instead of building muscle the method focuses more on improving muscle tone. The end result? Greater stability and endurance. “Pilates isn’t going to bulk you up — if anything, it’s designed to cultivate a longer, leaner look,” explains the Cleveland Clinic. “Still, it can lay a strong physical foundation for muscle-building activities — and may even reduce your likelihood of injury.”

4. Benefits of Pilates

Why is pilates a good workout? According to the Mayo Clinic there are lots of benefits to the workout, as it “strengthens the body's inner core while increasing its flexibility resulting in improved overall health. It can also promote longer, leaner muscles, injury prevention, relief from stress and back pain, enhanced athletic performance, and heightened mind-body awareness.

5. Pilates Is Backed by Research

According to research, Pilates exercises are designed to increase muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility, and to improve posture and balance. Experts maintain that it is a great workout for leaning out.

Kerry Washington is on a beautiful vacation in sunny Jamaica. Washington, 46, shared several pictures of herself from the trip, posing in a brown bathing suit with a bright crop top and long skirt on top of the bathing suit. “Jamaica, just the way you like it 🔥,” she captioned a snap of herself standing in front of a restaurant in Kingston. “Jamaica looks good on you 🔥,” commented a fan. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Washington stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. Pilates and Hiking

Washington is passionate about the physical benefits of regular Pilates sessions with a trainer. “I'm a big Pilates girl and I love to hike,” she says. “I have a teacher named Julie Turner in LA and I've worked with her for years and she worked with me on Django. She works out with other girls on Scandal. I do juices and Kim Snyder's smoothies, but I try to keep it consistent year round.”

2. Dance Parties

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Washington stays active even when she’s not at the gym, but she makes it fun for all the family. "Things are really busy for me right now, so making time for prayer, meditation is important," she says. "And also movement, for me. And that doesn't always mean like, pumping iron at the gym. I'm a real Pilates girl, I also love to train at the gym, but sometimes it's just going for a walk or having a dance party with the kids, just making sure that I'm moving my body."

3. Yoga Sessions

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Washington has practiced yoga for years, even earning her yoga certification in India. “Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts,” according to Johns Hopkins Health. “Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.”

4. SPF Every Day

Washington never skips sun protection. “We wore SPF as kids, but I didn't really understand how important it was, and I didn't understand the importance of using a higher number, and the importance of reapplying, and really the importance of integrating it into every day,” she says. “We used SPF when we went to the beach, or if we were sitting at the pool as kids. But it has to be part of your daily defense, it has to be embedded into your daily rituals because skin cancer is preventable.”

5. Regular Exfoliation

Washington is passionate about the health of her skin, especially as she has battled eczema in the past. “I've always understood the connection between science and skin. I've been seeing a dermatologist since I was six years old for eczema,” she says. “I really believe in exfoliating and I also use a red light for dealing with bacteria. I have one that I travel with. I really love [Neutrogena's] Visibly Even line because it smoothes skin with soy and prevents new spots with SPF.”

Kelly Ripa is flaunting her fit figure in workout clothes. In a recent social media post, the talk show host flaunts her flat abs in a two-piece exercise ensemble while showing off some of her moves. Celebwell spoke to Kelly’s trainer, Anna Kaiser, global fitness leader and creator of the popular fitness brand, Anna Kaiser Studios, who revealed details about her workout.

1. Kelly Has Trained with Anna Kaiser for Several Years

Kelly has trained with Kaiser for several years. The celebrity fitness instructor is known for her dance-centric workouts that combine strength and interval training with fun movement.

2. Power Push Ups

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During her workout Kelly does power push ups, according to Kaiser. “Try this new push-up challenge: Slowing down the lowering of the push up to two counts and then push up in one count, loading your upper body and then adding a quick burst of power,” she suggests. “I am always adding new variations of exercises or different ways to execute exercises to keep Kelly challenged and getting stronger!”

3. Strength and Interval Training

Kaiser also switches up Kelly’s workouts every day “to alternate between strength and interval training/power,” she tells Celebwell. “Both are important to build and maintain lean muscle, increase bone density, stabilize HRV, skin tone, increased circulation and cell turnover, as well as ample time for recovery. Our focus is strength. We use cardio and conditioning intervals to boost her strength workouts.”

4. Dance

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

Kaiser says that she also uses dance “to train her brain.” She cites a New England Journal of Medicine 10-year study, finding that learning dance and new movements was the only method that increased cognitive function by up to 75 percent. A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine also foundthat people who engaged in moderate-intensity dancing were 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease or die from it than non-dancers. In comparison, moderate-intensity walkers were just 25 percent less likely to suffer heart health issues.

5. Glute Work

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Kelly also does a lot of glute work. She “loves to work her booty so in addition to high impact moves like dance, jump, squats, step ups, box jumps,” Kaiser tells us. “We also add glue isolations with extra weight and resistance bands.”

6. High Alkaline Diet

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

As for her diet, Kelly dished to People that she swears by a high-alkaline diet, and that the low-acid meal plan is “responsible for [her] not being in pain.” “I actually eat much more on this cleanse than I do in my actual life, but it’s what you eat and how you eat it,” she said. As part of her healthy eating plan, she shies away from animal products. “I like to drink coffee. I occasionally will have fish. The alkaline diet is primarily a vegan diet, but I like cream in my coffee. I like to have a glass of wine. So I don’t adhere to it strictly, but when I do a cleanse, it will be seven days, and then I go back to my normal life. But my normal life, like I said, is not that different than the alkaline cleanse,” she said.

Kelly Ripa is getting ready for the Academy Awards by working her core. In a few new social media posts the talk show host shows off her washboard, rock hard abs in a black workout ensemble while getting her sweat on with Anna Kaiser, global fitness leader and creator of the popular fitness brand, Anna Kaiser Studios. “Oscar ready,” she wrote about the photos. ​​“Live with Kelly & Mark” are hosting their annual “After the Oscars” episode on Monday, March 11 from Hollywood’s Dolby Theater. Celebwell recently spoke to Kelly's trainer, who revealed details about her workout.

1. Power Push Ups

Kaiser, known for her dance-centric workouts that combine strength and interval training with fun movement, recently shared details about a recent workout. In it, Kelly does power push ups, according to Kaiser. “Try this new push-up challenge: Slowing down the lowering of the push up to two counts and then push up in one count, loading your upper body and then adding a quick burst of power,” she suggests. “I am always adding new variations of exercises or different ways to execute exercises to keep Kelly challenged and getting stronger!”

2. Workouts Alternate Between Strength and Interval Training/Power

Kaiser mixes up Kelly’s workouts every day “to alternate between strength and interval training/power,” she tells Celebwell. “Both are important to build and maintain lean muscle, increase bone density, stabilize HRV, skin tone, increased circulation and cell turnover, as well as ample time for recovery. Our focus is strength. We use cardio and conditioning intervals to boost her strength workouts.”

3. Dance

Dance is used in the workout to “train her brain,” says Kaiser, citing a 10-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It found that learning dance and new movements was the only method that increased cognitive function by up to 75 percent. A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine also discovered people who engaged in moderate-intensity dancing were 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease or die from it than non-dancers. In comparison, moderate-intensity walkers were just 25 percent less likely to suffer heart health issues.

4. Glute Work

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

Glute work is also key, per Kaiser. Kelly “loves to work her booty so in addition to high impact moves like dance, jump, squats, step ups, box jumps,” Kaiser tells us. “We also add glue isolations with extra weight and resistance bands.”

5. High Alkaline Diet

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

Kelly famously swears by a high-alkaline diet, a low-acid meal plan is “responsible for [her] not being in pain,” she tells People. “I actually eat much more on this cleanse than I do in my actual life, but it’s what you eat and how you eat it,” she said. She consumes no animal products. “I like to drink coffee. I occasionally will have fish. The alkaline diet is primarily a vegan diet, but I like cream in my coffee. I like to have a glass of wine. So I don’t adhere to it strictly, but when I do a cleanse, it will be seven days, and then I go back to my normal life. But my normal life, like I said, is not that different than the alkaline cleanse.”