Need some tips for working on that beach bod? We can get a few pointers from actress Dakota Johnson, who recently had to prepare her body to play Ana once again in Fifty Shades Freed.
Dakota Johnson’s trainer, Ramona Braganza, whose celebrity clientele include Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale and Anne Hathaway, shares to Harper’s Bazaar the ways in which she achieved her toned body:
1. Dakota worked on different moves every training session
“When you do the same exercises all the time, you begin to build muscle bulk,” shares Ramona, adding that they trained in different ways since their goal was to tone her muscles. Workouts for Dakota would include anything: dance-inspired moves, Pilates, kickboxing and yoga.
2. Her workouts weren’t as intense as you think
Since Dakota wasn’t too far from her body goals, the main goal was to keep Dakota moving for at least 30 minutes a day. “During the first few months of filming, we went more aggressive, but later on we cut back to just 30 minutes,” Ramona says.
3. An important training accessory for Dakota? Ankle weights
“During most workouts, we did lots of moves lying down wearing the ankle weights to raise the intensity,” Ramona says. The two also used other equipment such as light dumbbells (no heavier than eight pounds) a Pilates ring, and body weight.
4. She did most of her workouts in a trailer
Believe it or not, most of her workouts were done in a trailer so she could train on location. More than 50 feet long, the trailer had plenty of room for the exercises Dakota would do.
5. Food played a very important role
One’s diet shouldn’t be neglected, of course. Dakota worked with a chef for special meal-prep service for the duration of the project.”She arranged it with a chef in Vancouver, who made meals that included lean meats, quinoa, and vegetables. She was also big on juices. Once she found the way she liked to eat, she ate that way for months,” Ramona shares.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to her trainer Ramona Braganza, Dakota Johnson varied her workouts every session, drawing on dance-inspired moves, Pilates, kickboxing and yoga. The aim was to tone her muscles, and Braganza says repeating the same exercises can build muscle bulk. Braganza shared the details with Harper’s Bazaar.
Braganza says the goal was to keep Dakota moving for at least 30 minutes a day. Because she was already close to her goals, workouts were less intense than many might expect. During the first few months of filming training was more aggressive, then cut back to 30 minutes.
Braganza says ankle weights were an important accessory, worn during lying-down moves to raise the intensity. The two also used light dumbbells no heavier than eight pounds, a Pilates ring and body weight. Most sessions took place in a trailer on location.
Dakota Johnson, who played Ana again in the film, did most of her workouts in a trailer so she could train on location. The trailer, described as more than 50 feet long, had plenty of room for the exercises she did.
According to Braganza, Dakota worked with a Vancouver chef on a meal-prep service for the duration of the project. Meals included lean meats, quinoa and vegetables, and she was also big on juices. Once she found the way she liked to eat, she ate that way for months.
