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Helen Mirren is a celebrated actress whose career and personal approach to life is an inspiration to many. In recent press she is now also seen as a fitness icon thanks to revealing the details behind a specific type of workout .
Mirren has shared the secret to her fitness and youthful appearance being a 12-minute exercise routine known as the XBX plan created by the Canadian military for women in the air force. She’s done this routine, almost daily for the last 60 years making it an inspiration for what long term commitments and benefits can offer.
The XBX plan came about in the late 1950s from a military plan made for women new recruits by Dr. Bill Orban with a focus to increase flexibility, muscular endurance and strengthen the heart through ten progressive exercises. Many women over 600 helped participate in the plans creation. She was adamant this work out could be performed at home not in a gym to be inclusive for all people with all lifestyles.
One of her most important concepts was to show exercise isn't solely at a gym membership price, but is adaptable in all spaces. She mentions that many start with a very low and easy routine. If you can keep with it, it can eventually lead you to become stronger over time by increasing difficulty.
This work out plan progresses through four charts each with ten exercises. Those charts also contain twelve different difficulty levels which range from beginner to expert levels to test what can be pushed for endurance. To use as an example for charting levels, the second chart will show that you do exercise two, twelve times for level 18 while for level 19 that number increases to 14. To get the most of the plan participants must stay consistent at their level before moving up to the next which should take 12 minutes or less.
To give a better idea on what her program contains, warmups come with stretches from toe touching, knee raises to stretches to promote circulation. As a more moderate challenge the sit ups, side raises and back stretches are highlighted in their progressive method. Higher levels include complex stretches with push ups at varying levels with the option for advanced participants to end the entire routine with ten star jumps to raise heart rate.
The focus that Mirren makes known through her messAging is that exercise routines are to be long term commitments to make improvements. That this form of self-care is something to be done in your own time at your own level. All should remain focused on their bodies inner work as what goes inside the body will influence how we see ourselves.
While Mirren admits she has never progressed passed level two she is consistent in that effort. She believes in exercising daily and being proactive with all aspects in our life journey. Mirren values routine in addition to small steps which she views to produce the best long term results.
Mirren has consistently spoken about Aging issues as well as how to grow gracefully while embracing life. She calls out ageism as well and has partnered with different organizations to showcase awareness. All feel the challenges that life throws while aging and this can also be tied to taking care of all of our bodies as a long term commitment.
Mirren makes statements on how many senior individuals are still experiencing prejudice. Also that no one no matter their age should feel not valued as an individual. She wants others to start believing that they are worthy at all stages of their journey and to fight for respect for their elders.
Mirren has been in the acting world for an impressively long time. With numerous film, and Television and stage appearances she has showcased skills while being adaptable across different forms of media making a large global impact with a large demographic. As time passes she is still making an impact and expanding to new audiences for both personal and artistic expression.
At 79 almost 80 years of age her influence and drive continue to be on the forefront. Her dedication to film and personal life prove longevity is what she values above all else. Her choices have made her more than a name in film but a respected person who practices what she believes in while also encouraging others.