{"id":895208,"date":"2026-09-17T10:36:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/895208\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T10:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:36:17","slug":"at-44-michelle-dockery-uses-this-simple-exercise-to-build-full-body-strength-why-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/895208\/","title":{"rendered":"At 44, Michelle Dockery uses this simple exercise to build full-body strength \u2013 why it works"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michelle Dockery may be best known for her role as Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey, but at 44, we\u2019re seeing a different side to the actor with her approach to fitness.<\/p>\n

She previously revealed she used dance<\/a> for exercise, telling The Times<\/a>: \u2018I do dance fitness classes in Shoreditch. It\u2019s 15 minutes of cardio<\/a> \u2013 sit-ups<\/a> and muscle work \u2013 then you learn a routine. It\u2019s very varied and I love it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Now, though, she\u2019s embracing resistance training<\/a>. Her coach, Jules Feldman Batchelor<\/a>, shared a glimpse of Dockery\u2019s training on Instagram<\/a>, with a video of the Bloodsport star demonstrating the TRX<\/a> single-leg hip hinge: a challenging move that combines strength<\/a>, stability and balance in one. <\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Instagram @rippedbyjules<\/p>\n

Posting the clip shortly after Dockery announced her pregnancy in September 2025 (she welcomed her son in early 2026), Batchelor trainer captioned it: \u2018Celebrating the anniversary of my months spent with the gorgeous, classy, kind, hilarious, fun, down to earth, deep, and very lovely Michelle Dockery @theladydockers<\/a>. We laughed, we cried, we danced, we SWEAT. Congratulations on your pregnancy and I\u2019m ever grateful for my opportunity with you!\u2019<\/p>\n

\"michelle<\/p>\n

@rippedbyjules\/\/Instagram<\/p>\n

Dockery shared a photo of herself and Batchelor with the caption: \u2018Gonna miss this woman. You won\u2019t find a better trainer in Massachusetts. Love you @rippedbyjules. Thank you for knocking me into shape!\u2019<\/p>\n

\"michelle@rippedbyjules\/\/InstagramWhy the single-leg hip hinge is so effective<\/p>\n

The TRX single-leg hip hinge is particularly efficient because it works so many muscles at once: as you support your body while hinging forwards and backwards on one leg, your glutes, hamstrings, back, shoulders, arms and core all have to contribute. The instability of the TRX straps also means your core has to work extra hard to resist rotation and keep your pelvis and spine aligned. Put simply, it\u2019s so time-efficient because it trains strength, stability and balance simultaneously, rather than needing separate exercises for each.<\/p>\n

How to do the TRX single-leg hip hingeStand facing the anchor, holding the TRX handles. Shift your weight onto one leg and extend the other behind you. Hinge at the hips, keeping your back flat and your standing knee softly bent, then drive through your standing foot to return to standing.\"Headshot<\/p>\n

As Women\u2019s Health UK\u2019s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism.<\/p>\n

After earning a first-class degree in journalism and NCTJ accreditation, she secured her first role at Look Magazine, where she launched the magazine\u2019s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!<\/p>\n

Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner\u2019s World and Red. Today, she oversees all fitness content across Women’s Health online and in <\/a>print, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as \u2018Fit At Any Age\u2019, which showcases the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise.<\/p>\n

She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks \u2013 all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how. Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n