Gossip Queen: Peter Hitchener turns fitness upside down with headstands, swings and aerial yoga

THIS is Channel 9 news anchor Peter Hitchener as you have never seen him — the 71-year-old is turning his fitness regime upside down.

Peter Hitchener working out at the Burn Lab in South Yarra with Donna Aston. Picture: Nicki Connolly

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THIS is Channel 9 news anchor Peter Hitchener as you have never seen him.

Hitchener, 71, been mastering the art of headstands, Tarzan swings and aerial yoga under the tutelage of celebrity fitness trainer Donna Aston.

“I discovered that I liked doing upside down things, so I like being upside down on the Roman rings, and doing headstands, but I have not done handstands for a while as I have been having a bit of shoulder trouble,’’ he said.

“It gives you enormous energy and clarity of mind; you feel better and think clearer.’’

Hitchener is an ambassador for Premier’s Active April, which encourages Victorians of any age to do 30 minutes of activity a day.

While he is the elder statesman of news in Melbourne, Hitchener is arguably the most switched on to new technology.

He is active on Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as doing Periscope and Facebook Live updates every day.

“I can’t imagine Eric (Pearce) or Brian (Naylor), my predecessors in this role, doing the sort of stuff I am doing now, but I think it is important to keep up with technology and it is really good for us all to engage with that.’’

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