5 ways to look your bare-legged best this spring

Spin, lunge and stretch your way to spring-ready power pins, says Susannah Butter
Rex

Hosiery is divisive. As the sun makes a reappearance, the debate about the right time to ditch tights is hotting up. It’s acceptable to hide away in 60 deniers during the winter, or only shave and moisturise the bottom quarter of your leg if it’s on show between a cropped trouser and a loafer. High fashion has its own rules: the moderate say tights can only be worn when there is an ‘R’ in the name of the month but the truly powerful bare all year round — a naked leg indicates that you are the type of person who never worries about being cold because you are too fabulous and don’t live in a world where you hang around waiting for buses.

Whatever tribe you’re in, now is a good time to make a head start on spring legs with a new exercise class that gets you into the tone zone.

Barre classes

Heartcore’s barre workout is a mix of strengthening and firming. Jess Schuring, the founder of Heartcore, says: “Toning legs means losing fat and building lean muscle without bulking. Our TRX classes turn up the burn by adding some cardio to the mix. Pilates, barre and TRX all tone major and minor muscle groups in the legs using sequences of strengthening and lengthening movements. They work differently but the key in each is building well-balanced, supple muscle in different areas.” She recommends lateral lunges, the Brazilian butt lift (a type of leg extension) and Haka Squats.

Zero Gravity Pilates’ ballet barre class aims “to shock muscles into shape”, while Virgin Active’s new barre class, developed with American company Bootybarre, combines ballet with yoga and Pilates to build strength in the legs and core, making legs more lithe.

Reformer Pilates

The reformer Pilates machine at Ten Health & Fitness allows you to isolate and work specific muscles. Trainers there recommend adding lunges to a routine in order to work the upper leg area, tighten it up and prevent injury by improving posture.

Hot yoga

Sustained movement helps build muscle. Triyoga hot is an effective way to do this as legs are used extensively in dynamic yoga. Regular practice improves blood circulation, combating cellulite, flushing out toxins and increasing flexibility.

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Spinning

Spin classes are a lively way to have a full leg workout. Hilary Gilbert, the owner of Boom Cycle, says: “Different leg muscles are targeted throughout our classes. Flexing out of the saddle engages the quads, while surging with resistance is the ultimate test for the legs, blasting all the muscles — so you can feel the burn.”

Moisturise

Boost your efforts with a good moisturiser. This week, trainer Rory Knight is launching This Works’ new lotion for perfect legs with a series of classes at Equinox. He says that leg- shaping is a priority for his clients at this time of year and recommends cardiovascular activity, such as running, complemented by strengthening exercises. Follow with the cream, which is richly moisturising and contains natural illuminating powders that contour your limbs, so you won’t want to hide them away in tights.

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