The Superhero Workout X-Men: Apocalypse Actress Sophie Turner Used To Get In Fighting Form

Raf Stahelin

This article originally appeared in the June 2016 issue of SELF.

Sophie Turner is starring in this summer’s X-Men: Apocalypse movie as Jean Grey, as a teenage mutant with telekinetic powers. (She also plays Sansa Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones). To prep for her superhero role, Turner worked with trainer James Farmer. Here, Farmer shares how the star got in fighting form:

1. Kettlebells

 ”You can use these to target your glutes, legs, and stomach,” Farmer says. He had Turner do circuits with weights ranging from 22 to 35 pounds, focusing on swings, plank rows, and overhead presses. She’d complete four circuits total, resting just 30 seconds between each. Here’s a quick video on how to perfect your kettlebell swing form.

2. Boxing

 ”It’s good for fat loss and coordination,” says Farmer, who would spar with Turner for up to 30 minutes. Along with offensive shots, he drilled defensive blocks and rolls. Every time she missed, “Sophie had to do 20 hard shots to the body protector I was wearing,” he says. “It helped her focus.” Get started by giving this total-body boxing routine at try.

3. Resistance Sprints

“These are very intense,” Farmer says. He would hold a resistance band around Turner’s upper body while she sprinted for 20 seconds, then rested for 40 seconds, for 10 minutes total. “She complained about it at the time,” Farmer says, “but I know she loved it, really.” If you don’t have a workout buddy (or a resistance band), you can kick up your fat burn by trying these treadmill running intervals.

Top, $140; AsteriaActive.com. Pants, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, $1,385; Boutique1.com. Shoes, $47; Vans.com. Earrings, $160; DoubleDisco.com.

Styled by Jessica dos Remedios. Makeup, Maxine Leonard; manicure, Shreen Gayle at Premier Hair and Makeup.

For more, pick up the June issue of SELF on newsstands, subscribe, or download the digital edition.

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