Cancer Took Her Best Friend, But Mira Sorvino Still Lives By These Optimistic Words

American actress, political activist, and humanitarian Mira Sorvino lost a friend, Champagne Joy, to metastatic breast cancer. Sorvino was deeply moved by Joy’s fight for her life. “We will get better or we will get better at it.” 

After losing another friend to the deadly disease, Sorvino has been raising awareness about metastatic breast cancer for years. “We’re not going to rest until we stop losing all these beautiful, wonderful people,” she tells Health. 

Sorvino’s mantra may be inspired by the loss of her close friends, but the optimistic words, “never give up,” are ones that we can all borrow and use daily, no matter the gravity of the situation. Whether you’re working towards a job promotion, running a marathon, or fighting for a heroic cause, those three little words are just what you need to see yourself or a loved one to that finish line.

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Iskra Lawrence’s Top 5 Moves for Strong, Toned Legs

Iskra Lawrence once found fault with her legs, but now counts them one of her biggest assets. Watch the video for her top 5 moves.

When it comes to loving the skin you’re in, we could all take a cue from body-positive advocate Iskra Lawrence. “I’m grateful for my body and I love all of its abilities— the fact that it makes me feel strong and powerful and empowered,” Lawrence says. “I am just really glad now that I see my body as so much more than just a size.”

One body part in particular that Lawrence once found fault with but now counts as one of her biggest assets: her legs. “Instead of trying to shy away from the size of my legs,” the #AerieReal model says, “[I try] encouraging it and being proud of their strength and their abilities.”

RELATED: Iskra Lawrence Refuses to Apologize for This Unedited Photo of Her Butt and Cellulite

Want to know the moves that helped Lawrence build up her confidence and keep her gams looking so great? Watch the clip above to see her demo five of her favorite super effective leg burners (you’ll need two kettlebells), or read up on how to perform the moves in the circuit below—make sure you do 3-4 rounds.

Pull Grabs

Stand tall with feet wider than hip-width apart and arms extended straight up. Without changing posture, lift right knee straight up as high as possible as you bend elbows, pulling arms down to hip height. Lower right knee down as you raise arms back up. Repeat movement on opposite side; continue alternating for one minute.

Kettlebell Squat

Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width, a kettlebell in hands at chest height, with elbows bent and tucked into chest; toes should be pointing out slightly. Maintaining kettlebell position, push hips back, bend knees, and lower down until thighs are at least parallel to ground. Drive through heels to return to standing. Do 15 reps.

Kettlebell Deadlift

Stand tall with feet hip-width apart and a kettlebell in each hand at thigh level. Hinge at hips and lower torso toward floor, keeping back flat. The weight should travel straight down in front of legs. If flexibility is lacking in the hamstrings, keep a slight bend in knees. Do 15 reps.

Kettlebell Curtsey Lunge

Stand with feet together, a kettlebell in each hand with palms facing in. Step left foot behind right leg, and at the same time, drop right knee into a lunge position as if you’re doing a curtsy. Press through both feet to return to the start, and then repeat the move on the other side, stepping your right foot behind your left. Continue alternating for 15 reps per side.

Frogger Jumps

Stand with feet about hip-width apart. Push hips back and bend knees to lower into a squat. As you squat down, immediately jump forward as far as you can. Land in a squat and then immediately jump forward again. Continue for one minute.

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This 20-Minute Hip-Hop Yoga Routine Works Your Hips, Hamstrings, and Core

Hip hop and yoga fans, rejoice. In this video, certified yoga instructor Jaimee Ratliff shows us a flow that will get you ready for the weekend or workday. With your favorite music in the background, this routine takes less than 20 minutes to complete. And while it motivates you, this practice also guides you through a stretching, relaxing movement that focuses on your hips, hamstrings, and core. If you have 16 minutes to spare, you’ll love moving through this one. You can follow the flow with a description of the moves below.

Warm up by placing your feet at the top of your yoga mat, blanket, or towel. With feet hips-width apart and palms facing forward, take a few inhales through your nose and lift your shoulders up. Exhale as you bring your shoulders down, and repeat about three times. Try keeping your eyes closed and set your intention for this workout.

Reaching your arms into the sky, exhale and go into a forward fold, letting your head hang heavy. Shake your head “yes” or “no.” On the next inhale, bend your left knee and twist your body to the right, looking up toward the sky to feel a hamstring stretch. If looking up is uncomfortable, you can adjust by moving your gaze downward. Do this same movement on the opposite side.

Watch this video: This Invigorating Yoga Flow Is the Best Way to Get Energized

Next, straighten your legs before stepping back into downward dog and letting your head hang heavy. Here, you can pedal out your legs by bending your left, then right knees. After a couple big inhales and exhales, reach your right leg in the air and bend your knee. Move your knee in a circular motion and then reverse it. Extend your right leg into the sky and as you exhale, swing your right leg in between your hands. Moving your knee forward and back, you should start to feel your hips “wake up.” Drop your left knee onto the ground, shift your butt back to stretch your right hamstring and lean over your leg. As Ratliff says, remember to keep breathing.

Plant your right foot on the mat and go into a lizard pose by bringing your right hand to the inside of your right foot. Then, move into a lunge. If it’s more comfortable, you can go onto your forearms. Take a big inhale, come back on your hands and heel-toe your right foot to the inside of your left hand. Bringing your bent right leg into a pigeon pose, bend down and forward, and lean into your hips. After a few breaths, go back on your hands, tuck your left toes, and lift your right knee up. In the same movement, swing your right leg into the sky and return to downward dog. Do this on the other side, starting with your left foot.

Are you feeling it yet? “Your hips might be screaming at you, but we’re gonna send some love back,” says Ratliff.

Once you’ve completed the flow on your left side, take a big inhale in downward dog and exhale. On your next inhale, shift your body forward into plank pose or lower to your knees. Lower down by hugging your elbows into your midline. Return to high plank and then downward dog. Do this three times.

When you’re back in downward dog, reach your right leg to the sky, exhale, and swing it in between both hands. You’ll then shift into a crescent lunge, lifting your hands to the sky while looking up. Step your right foot back into downward dog and complete the routine on your left side, making sure you keep knees stacked directly over your ankle.

From downward dog, bring your knees to the mat, shift onto your butt, and swing your legs around in a cross-legged seated position. Go into boat pose by bringing your bent knees up. Sit up tall and if you can, raise your arms into the sky. Take your pointer and middle finger and place them around your big toe before stretching out your legs. Exhale and slowly bring your feet back down onto the mat. Do the same position, and then extend your legs and lean back so you’re in a half-boat pose. Flutter-kick legs for 15 seconds and return to your seated position. Go back into the half-boat pose and scissor-kick legs for 10 seconds.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re nearing the end of the routine. Sit up tall with legs crossed, make sure the crown of your head is lifted toward the sky, and place one hand on your belly and the other on your heart. At this point, Ratliff wants you to check in with your body.

“See how you feel now,” she says. “Feel this energy that you just cultivated, come back to your intention, take a big inhale through the nose, open the mouth inside out, another inhale and let it go.”

End with your palms facing up or down and resting on your legs. Seal your practice in a savasana—or however you’d like to celebrate the end of this regenerative hip hop practice.

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