At the most basic level, fitness isn't fancy. A body needs to move, lifting heavy things can be helpful, and getting out of breath is a good thing. Do we need all the extras? We probably don't need the cute leggings, the banging playlist, or the trainers and fitness gurus who are constantly inventing new ways to break a sweat, but all of that can sure make the process a whole lot more fun. The truth is that when it comes to fitness, we like variety — and so do celebrities.
Celebrities are often on the cutting edge of fitness trends (let's all remember that Jane Fonda basically invented aerobics back in the day!) because they have that powerful combination of lots of money and a heavy incentive to try to stay in their best-possible, camera-ready shape. There are so many ways for celebrities to get fit, and some of our favorites have tried some truly wacky, intense, and almost brutal trends along the way.
We've got everything from goat yoga and Peloton to grueling Navy SEAL-style training sessions. While we always recommend talking to a medical provider before jumping in to any intense new fitness journey, maybe there is some celebrity fitness trend inspiration below to inspire you for the new year!
Julianne Hough — KINRGY
Some celebrities follow fitness trends, while others try to create them. Dance pro Julianne Hough recently started KINRGY, which she describes as a "a judgement-free dance workout designed to help you release stuck emotions and unlock your freedom of expression." It evidently includes meditation and breathwork as part of the practice.
Busy Philipps — Lekfit
LEK Fit is a fitness style that features low-impact, high-intensity cardio sessions, sometimes incorporating a small trampoline. Fans of actress Busy Philipps have seen her sweating it out to these workouts for the last few years, including during the pandemic when LEK Fit digital workouts became a lot more popular.
Paul McCartney — Eye Yoga
One of the newest fitness trends of 2021 was the mainstream introduction of eye yoga. Eye yoga, which is a combination of eye movements and facial massage, is designed to strengthen eyes and eyesight, especially for those who are on screens all day. Musician Paul McCartney credits eye yoga for keeping his eyesight strong enough to avoid glasses, even at the age of 78.
Elizabeth Banks — CrossFit
Hunger Games actress Elizabeth Banks has volunteered as tribute, CrossFit-style. She reportedly likes the full-body challenge of the intense workouts and even competed in the 2015 CrossFit World Games and led a WOD (workout of the day, in CrossFit speak) for members in 2017.
Ciara — Peloton
Singer Ciara is one of a select group of people who just might hear themselves singing during a Peloton ride while they are doing the Peloton ride! She is a big fan of the spin workouts and has said that they were a major factor in helping her lose baby weight.
Miley Cyrus — Treadmill Singing
Regular people run on treadmills. Celebs who are trying to level up before a vocal performance, like Miley Cyrus, evidently sing while running. This trend — also spotted on Lizzo's Instagram — is said to be a way to increase stamina for singing and dancing performances.
Rebel Wilson — HIIT Workouts
HIIT (high-intensity interval training) sessions are effective in that "OMG, I think I might die" kind of way. These workouts are for people who want to go hard and keep their heart rate high while also building strength. Rebel Wilson is said to be a big fan of these workouts and the role they played in her recent body transformation.
David Boreanaz — SEAL Workouts
David Boreanaz stars on the show SEAL Team so it makes sense that he gets physically and mentally ready by doing a trainer-led version of the infamous workouts done by real Navy SEALS. These workouts are an intense mixture of cardio, heavy weights, and explosive movements and are definitely not for the fitness novice.
Venus Williams — App Workouts
Celebrities and even pro athletes, like many of the rest of us, had to deal with gym closures and social distancing, especially during the early phases of the pandemic. Tennis pro Venus Williams was one of many stars who turned to fitness apps to help boost home workouts. She's another Peloton fan, using the One Peloton app for strength-based workouts.
Simone Biles — Goat Yoga
Simone Biles is the GOAT of gymnastics, so it's kind of fun to see that she occasionally takes a break from her hard-core training to do some goat yoga. Obviously, this isn't her regular workout, but it's a good reminder that fitness should be fun, too!
Jason Momoa — Nature's Gym
Thanks to the lockdowns, lots of people have taken a break from the gym and headed outside to workout instead. Jason Momoa (swoon!) is one of those folks, regularly rock climbing, surfing, swimming, and cycling to keep those superhero muscles.
Will Smith — Wearable Tech
One of the biggest fitness trends in recent years is the popularity of wearable tech. From Fitbits to Garmins to the Apple Watch, regular folks and celebrities alike are obsessed with counting steps, tracking miles, and more. Will Smith is a Fitbit fan — he even recently revealed that he's given his team Fitbits for Christmas.
Sue Bird — Tonal Gym
Olympian and WNBA great Sue Bird (and partner of one of our favorite soccer players of all time, Megan Rapinoe) is one of several high-profile athletes who've invested in or served as a spokesperson for Tonal Gyms, which is an at-home digital weight system designed to replicate the experience of working out with a personal trainer.
Kevin Hart — Hydrow Rowing
Often dubbed "the Peloton of rowing," the Hydrow rowing machine has some pretty major celebrity fans, including Lizzo and Justin Timberlake. Comedian Kevin Hart is such a fan that he recently signed on to be the company's creative director.
Reese Witherspoon — Workout Buddies
One fitness trend that is always popular with busy celebrity moms is to combine workout time and friend time. Having a workout buddy, like Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon, is good for mental and physical health, especially when social distancing.
Eva Longoria — Trampoline Workouts
If you follow Eva Longoria on social media, you'll know the Grand Hotel star is a huge fan of trampoline workouts. And she proves that they can be done literally anywhere — including on the deck of a yacht with the ocean as a backdrop. Why workout in a climate-controlled gym when you can sweat it out in the sunshine surrounded by such gorgeous scenery?
