Revealed: Yoga secrets that let Debbie do startling splits at 59
HER incredible flexibility has wowed Strictly Come Dancing fans – and the judges – for weeks.
And Debbie McGee performed her most agile routine yet on Saturday night, including doing the splits three times.
The 59-year- old has credited yoga for her impressive fitness – and now her teacher has revealed exactly which moves have helped the star stay so supple.
Joelle Pettitt said Miss McGee attends her hour-long classes on Tuesdays and Sundays to practise Ashtanga yoga, in which a set sequence of movements is performed in time with the breath. It is often seen as one of the exercise regime’s most demanding forms.
Miss Pettitt, who has been teaching the star for almost a year, described her top poses for improving flexibility, including the ‘downward facing dog’.
The challenging move involves keeping the hands and feet flat on the floor with the hips lifted, while working to straighten the arms and legs.
Miss Pettitt, 33, said: ‘It builds both strength and flexibility and helps to lengthen the back, hamstrings and calves whilst strengthening upper body and core.’
Another key move for the legs and back is the wide-legged forward bend – holding the toes with the legs straight, eventually bringing the head down to the ground. She also described the seated forward bend, which involves sitting with the legs out in front and reaching forward as far as possible. The teacher said: ‘This helps to open the whole back of the body – hamstrings, spine and shoulders. When paired with deep, free breathing it has a calming effect.’
Miss Pettitt – who teaches at a gym in Maidenhead, Berkshire near where Miss McGee lives – said the TV star’s ballet training helped her become advanced in yoga quickly. But she added that her commitment to practising was also key , describing her as a ‘very dedicated, hard-working student’.
Devotees are urged to practise the sequence of poses six times a week, but many students struggle to do this. Miss Pettitt added that her famous pupil is also ‘very warm and friendly’.
In her intimate Argentine Tango with partner Giovanni Pernice on Saturday, Miss McGee – the widow and former assistant to magician Paul Daniels – performed both front and standing splits as well as numerous high kicks, earning her an impressive score of 38 out of 40. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised her age-defying legs, saying ‘they were like a paintbrush in the hand of a great artist, drawing the most beautiful pictures you could imagine’. Head judge Shirley Ballas, 57, added: ‘I pride myself on my balance but I have never seen balance like that. You were outstanding.’
Comedian Susan Calman, 43, became the latest celebrity to leave the BBC1 show last night after a dance-off with Alexandra Burke.
Miss Pettitt stressed anyone wanting to try yoga poses should consult a GP first.
‘Builds strength and flexibility’