The invisible workout to make you leaner

For those who have searched high and low for a fitness regime that delivers on its promises of a longer, leaner you, from across the pond comes the grace somatomorphic technique (GST) — a method devised by American dancer and fitness instructor Anna Rahe.

The method maps the body’s proportions in a similar way to Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous drawing of Vitruvian man.

Sidestepping the usual concentration on major muscles, GST focuses on working the invisible connective tissue that determines our body shape.

“Connective tissue is the body’s supportive webbing,” says Lisa Campbell, founder of “intelligent movement” classes at London’s Yotopia yoga and Pilates studio (yotopia.co.uk). “By engaging this unseen tissue we strengthen and tone from the inside out. It can reduce the risk of injury, and create true, slender strength.” Here are four moves to get you started.

THE CORKSCREW

Sit upright on a chair and raise your arms in front of you, parallel to the floor. Twist the upper body and arms to the right, tightening the core muscles to keep your lower half still. Exhale while pulsing 10 times. Repeat three times on each side.

THE SUPERMAN SPIN

On all fours, raise your opposite arm and leg until parallel to the floor as in the Pilates “Superman” exercise. In a flowing movement, come back to all fours and spin into a side plank, pulse for 10 seconds and return to the start. Repeat as many times as you can on each side for two minutes.

THE ROUNDABOUT

Bring your hands in a prayer position above your head. Keeping your lower body still, bend backwards then move in a circular motion into a side bend with your arms above your head and parallel to the floor. Pulse for 10 seconds and return to the start. Repeat three times each side.

THE FLUNGE

Take a light weight in each hand. As you reach the bottom of the lunge, move your arms in a backward circle. Bring the arms back down as you rise out of the lunge. Repeat for 12-15 repetitions on each side, engaging your core throughout.