Dame Helen Mirren has revealed that a 12-minute daily routine she’s been following for the past six decades has helped her maintain her enviable figure. The esteemed actress, known for her roles in some of the most iconic films over the years, enjoys keeping fit with an exercise routine once used by the military.
In a recent chat with Woman’s Weekly, Helen shared: “[Exercise] doesn’t mean joining expensive gyms. I’m a big believer in the Canadian Air Force women’s exercise regime which is 12 minutes.
“It is an exercise regime that starts from very low and easy, then if you follow it through it can become quite difficult. I’ve never gotten past the second level but it’s a nice little exercise programme,” reports Surrey Live.
Helen Mirren
(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
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This workout, which became popular in the 1950s, is known as XBX (ten basic exercises) and was developed by Dr Bill Orban to improve the fitness levels of new female recruits in the Canadian Air Force. The 10-step routine includes 30 seconds of toe touching, knee raises, lateral bending, arm circling, two minutes of sit-ups, one minute of chest and leg raises, one minute of side leg-raises, two minutes of push-ups from a kneeling position, one minute of leg lifts and three minutes running and hopping.
The 79 year old veteran actress, who sticks to a disciplined military routine, admitted she has a weakness for a particular indulgence. “I’m the first one at the fish and chips,” she confessed in 2021.
Emphasising the importance of inner health for mental wellbeing, she advised: “but what you’re putting inside your body does influence how you feel about yourself, so start there.”
Having graced screens for over six decades and with numerous roles under her belt, it was her 2006 portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II which won her an Academy Award, marking a high point in her illustrious career.