Abs of steel, insane core strength and those effortless dance moves – we’re convinced that Shakira’s hips don’t lie even at the age of 46. Despite weathering major life changes including her split with footballer Gerard Piqué, prepping for back-to-back shoots, performances, Super Bowls, and FIFA openings as well as being a mum to two, Shakira looks stronger than ever and we’re really keen to know how.
How does the Waka Waka hitmaker keep her body fuelled when many of us millennials and Gen Z struggle to hit the gym even once a month? As Shakira rides the waves of her latest megahits, let’s take a look at the Grammy winner’s workout routine and diet plan and get motivated to lace up our trainers.
Shakira’s trainer and good friend Anna Kaiser, who has been working with the star for over 13 years now, split beans about her intensive workout routine which spans five to six days a week. Kaiser tailors her workouts depending on the physical demands of the workday ahead, switching from sports and dance sessions to HIIT or circuit classes. The idea is to make sure that the singer gets a bit of everything to sail through a two-hour show or a five-month tour. Here’s every single thing we know about how Shakira stays in shapev
Shakira’s trainer spills beans on her six-day workout routine
Ahead of Shakira’s iconic Super Bowl performance with Jennifer Lopez in 2020, Anna Kaiser shared the star’s strict fitness routine with multiple media outlets.
“Every day is different because I want to make sure I’m preparing her not just for the Super Bowl, but for each day as it comes,” Kaiser mentioned. Mentioning how her workout is modified depending on her schedule for that day, Kaiser added, “She had a really long dance rehearsal in the afternoon one day, so we just focused on an hour of pure strength in the morning. (Some days) she has even longer days of physical dance rehearsals, so she just started with something very short: 20 minutes.”
The trainer stressed the importance of consistently switching up your workouts for nourishing your mind and body. By engaging in a variety of workouts, you can “keep your head in the game, you don’t get bored, and you have a workout that’s going to work for you that day for what you need to accomplish that day,” Kaiser stressed. Shakira works out six days a week with a rest day on Sunday.
Most importantly, Shakira’s trainer shared that the singer is committed to fitness and wellness not only to be in shape for a specific occasion, but also because she can “perform injury-free into her 40s and stay healthy.”
So, queue up your Hips Don’t Lie playlist, set your exercise mat and workout gear in place as we give you a breakdown of the exercises she does:
Alternating between strength and cardio intervals
Shakira’s workouts are a perfect blend of strength and cardio sessions. While some days it starts with cardio and goes to strength training, on other days it’s the opposite. “We like to mix it up,” Kaiser told E! News in an earlier interview. The star’s trainer focuses on ‘low intensity sustained cardio sessions’. This could be walking on a treadmill, going for a run, cycling, swimming laps and more. Her training sessions vary from day to day, but mostly combine lifting weights and short bursts of cardio. The workouts are spruced by dumbbells, resistance bands and other bodyweight moves.
While cardio exercises improve your endurance, strength workouts like Pilates and weightlifting enhance your strength and balance. When combined, the two work wonders for your overall fitness.
Kaiser focuses on compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups at times. For example, a squat is a compound exercise that combines the quadriceps, glutes, and calves. The biggest benefit of compound movements is the efficient use of your time. Additionally, they also help burn more calories, elevate heart rate, improve flexibility and strength as well as help maintain more muscle mass.
Cardio-focused dance workouts
From her hip-shaking Hips Don’t Lie to her iconic Waka Waka – Shakira has given us some amazing signature moves over the years. With dance workouts, you can ace your fitness, flexibility, and coordination while jamming to your own tunes. Whether you’re sweating it out in a hip-hop studio or grooving to your beats in the comfort of your living room, dance hastens your heart rate and gets you going.
Kaiser alternates her strength training sessions with heart-pumping dance sessions. Did you know that you can burn 90 to 252 calories in 30 minutes of dancing, according to a Harvard Medical School report? Apart from weight loss, dancing results in boosted brainpower, a stronger, fitter heart as well as improved bone density.
