Tamara Di Tella

Tangolates: High-flying exercise

Cielos Argentinos Magazine (Spanish - English) | April, 2012 Continue reading →

Tamara Di Tella talks about the benefits of her Tangolates method when flying. A few reasons why it is better to avoid staying still durithe benefits of her Tangolates method when flying. A few reasons why it is better to avoid staying still durinng a flight.

At Cielos Argentinos, your safety is our concern. It is known that prolonged immobility during long haul flights may lead to swelling, stiffness and discomfort. In some cases, it may even cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT).


To avoid risks, please follow these Tangolates™ exercises designed especially by Tamara Di Tella according to authoritative international medical recommendations. They’ll only take 10 minutes of your time.


Tangolates™ was originally introduced to the medical community for people with movement restrictions. Yet, accompanied by music and videos it has become a new wave to exercise. Enjoy these healthy in-flight exercises plus entertainment provided to you by Cielos Argentinos.

The Do’s and Don’ts:

Don´ts:

Cross your legs. – Cross your ankles. – Cross your legs twice.

Do´s:

Sit back as far as possible in your seat until you feel that the whole back is resting on the seat back (especially lower back).

When possible, place your arms on the padded armrest of the seat or let them rest on the side of your body. Keep your legs to a 90 degrees angle.

Keep your feet apart. Your heels should always be on the floor.






1) This is a typical tango movement. Extend the right leg through the gap or space there is on each this side of the seat in front of you. While your right leg remains stretched out, your left leg moves in front and back of the extended leg as if it were giving it a massage. Repeat 5 times.

2) Bend your toes down as if you were grasping like the claws of a bird on a branch. Then extend them as much as possible, fanning them out as much as you can. This makes your muscles contract and relax, which is very good. Repeat 10 times.

3) Stretch your toes upwards. Your toes should point up as much as possible. Then, strech your heels upwards. Alternate between toes and heels. Feel the tension. T o contract the muscle of your feet and ankles is important. Repeat 10 times.

4) Hold on to the left padded armrest with both hands. Rotate your torso to the left as far as you can go. Change sides. Repeat 10 times in each direction.

5) Rotate your right wrist clockwise. Then do the same rotation but this time counter-clockwise. Do the same with your right wrist. Repeat 10 times with each wrist.

6) Place palm against palm as if you were praying. Palms should be at chest level. Apply some pressure on your palms. Raise the arms all the way up to the ceiling. Feel the stretch. Then lower your palms all the way down to your chest. Make sure you keep your elbows next to your trunk. Repeat 10 times.

7) Massage your ears up and down by pressing on them and gently pulling the lobes down. Also massage them with your index finger inside, outside and behind them too, as if you were washing them. Your will find this very relaxing. Count to 30.

8 ) Stretch your right arm as far as you can, with your fingers pointing up. With your left hand, press in your fingertips. You will feel how your forearm stretches. Repeat with your left arm. Do this 10 times.

9) Place the middle fingers on your temples and your thumbs on your chin. Open and close your elbows at the height that is most comfortable for you. Make your elbows touch. Feel the tension of your pectoral muscles. Do not tense your neck. Repeat 6 times.

10) Do as a tango dancer does when he wants to invite a lady to dance. Take your hat off and then put it back again. When you take it off, do not look straight but rather at to your opposite shoulder. This exercise should stretch your neck.

For more information on the Tamara Di Tella’s method on see: tangolates.com