Why Victoria's Secret models follow the Ballet Beautiful workout

It’s no secret that looking like a Victoria’s Secret model takes a lot of work.

Today, their bodies are taking centre stage once again as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show kicks off in Shanghai.

But how do they keep their bodies in such great shape? It may all come down to one trainer: Mary Helen Bowers.

Bowers is the woman behind Ballet Beautiful, the business with a cult-like following (just check out her 576,000 followers on Instagram).

A former New York City Ballet performer, Ballet Beautiful began as a series of exercises she created for herself to do backstage, which later expanded into a workout method that anyone can use to build a dancer’s sleek and powerful form.

This method has proved so popular with the model set that Bowers now counts many VS models among her clientele, such as Lily Aldridge, Matha Hunt, Stella Maxwell, Romee Strijid, Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, Miranda Kerr and Karlie Kloss.

Bowers told the Standard: “After I retired from NYCB I went back to school and finished my Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbia University in 2008. I found that I missed moving my body and being active, I wanted to reconnect with ballet but in a way that was more healthy and inclusive.

“I launched Ballet Beautiful not long after finishing at Columbia and met Natalie Portman shortly after. We began training and preparing her for her role in Black Swan. From there I continued to build and expand the method itself along with the business, always looking for ways to share the workout with others around the world.”

Now, Ballet Beautiful has a global subscription service, two studios in NYC, books and an activewear line among other things.

So what are the benefits of ballet-style fitness?

Bowers explained: “Ballet Beautiful is a workout that transforms the body without overtaxing the system or joints. It's empowering to find a workout that builds strength and grace.”

What does a training session consist of?

“With private clients we can customise every workout. Generally speaking I love a workout that includes stretching and toning exercises for legs and core on the mat paired with ballet inspired cardio and Barre exercises to get the heart rate up and take the results to the next level.”

How can people in the UK take on this type of fitness?

Ballet Beautiful workouts can be accessed from anywhere in the world from its website.

Bowers has recently brought out a new book called Ballet for Life which explains how anyone can make ballet part of their everyday life, it is available to buy here.