Now that the festive celebrations are over, it’s time to put those good intentions for the New Year into operation and get the body you’ve always wanted. And, says Margot Campbell in this exclusive extract from her new book, it can take from as little as five minutes a day.

If you want your body to feel toned and look even better, you’ve come to the right place! I fell in love with pilates because it is a unique form of exercise that not only conditions and tones the body, but is also wonderfully relaxing for the mind. Pilates makes you lean, strong and flexible, which is why it’s so good for problem areas such as tummies, bottoms, arms and thighs. That’s why women love it.

The beauty of pilates is that you lengthen, strengthen and tone your body without building muscle bulk, a pretty great combination. Your flexibility will also improve, as will lifestyle-related niggles, such as stiff shoulders. Once your core (your tummy area) has strengthened, you will feel more grounded and at one with your body. You’ll walk with easy grace and poise, your improved posture will take inches off your waistline and even your breathing will improve, giving you more energy and relaxing your mind.

Pilates is good for problem areas such as tummies, bottoms, arms and thighs. That's why women love it

In my new book Pilates on the Go there are a number of different exercise routines, including ten- and 20-minute work-out programmes. But over the next two weeks in YOU, I am going to show you my five-minute work-outs to tone bottoms and thighs, arms and abs. I have created these to fit into your day when you have just a few minutes to spare. So, for example, during the ad breaks on TV do a few squats and lunges from the five-minute bottom and thighs work-out, or grab your exercise band and do the five-minute arms work-out while waiting for the kettle to boil. You may just want to target one area of your body, or several, but do these on-the-go routines each day for 14 days and you will soon see a real difference. Doing the exercises in five minutes may be a challenge at first, but as your fitness improves so will your ability.

The best thing about pilates is that once you pick it up, it really gives results because you can work it into your daily life. As you walk, you will be able to draw in and tone your tummy gently. You’ll look after your back as you lift objects (and small children!) and you’ll be able to incorporate some of the exercises into your day, even while sitting at your desk. You’ll also feel in relaxed control of your body and be more resilient to the stresses of everyday life, and furthermore it will just make you feel good. So whether you’re a complete beginner, top athlete, housewife or busy executive, pilates really can make a difference in helping you to tone and reshape your body.

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