When it comes to fitness, Halle Berry does not mess around.
For the last several months, the actress has been sharing photos of her workouts on Instagram for #FitnessFriday, revealing exactly what she's been doing to maintain her ripped physique. Berry's in such incredible shape, her trainer told People that she's actually as fit as a 25-year-old.
But what we love most about Berry's posts is the amazing advice she gives her fans about finding confidence, staying focused, and persevering through tough times—all while pulling off insane yoga poses and looking flawless at 52.
Here are Berry's best tips for staying healthy, youthful, and strong:
Don't forget to stretch
As we age, our bodies start to break down, so Berry uses stretching to keep her limbs strong and flexible. "Fitness is not just about running, lifting, and punching," she reminded her followers. "For me, being athletic and super fit is also about being still, stretching, and breathing. Including stretching in my fitness program helps my muscles stay long, limber, improves my mobility and range of motion, and, most importantly, helps me avoid injuries." In the photo, Berry performs a yoga pose known as the shoulder stand, which stretches her lower spine and legs.
Meditate every day
Berry said she never goes a day without meditating, which helps her relax and clear her mind. After some gentle stretching, she sits in a comfortable position for at least half an hour, focuses on her breathing, and either repeats a mantra or simply listens to her thoughts. "When I'm done, I have ultimate clarity and I feel at peace," she wrote. "Today I hope you can find at least 10 minutes to meditate. Trust me, it will start to transform your thinking, which will change your life."
Push yourself to new limits
Berry is currently filming John Wick 3, and she said the process has forced her to learn new techniques and get outside her comfort zone. She challenged her readers to learn some new moves themselves by finding a martial arts or self-defense class. "Unfortunately, in this crazy world in which we live, you might someday find yourself in a situation where you have to protect yourself, and actually knowing just some simple moves could save your life or the lives of those you love," she wrote.
When you feel like quitting, don't stop
We've all hit that point where we feel like we just can't keep going, and Berry totally relates. "Finding the energy to continue when you see little results is tough and can be very discouraging... When you want to quit because you can't do something easily or you see no real change, that is when real change is about to occur. This is the most important time to stick with it," she wrote. Whether you're skipping rope 200 to 500 times in a row like Berry, running a few miles, or doing squat after squat, push through—when you feel like you can't stand it anymore, that's when your body is changing.
Let go of negative thoughts
Nothing holds us back like anxiety, insecurity, fear, and other dark thoughts that take hold and make it hard to focus on taking care of ourselves. Berry's secret to finding her inner strength: getting into a pose that challenges her physically (such as the crow pose she's doing above), thinking directly about the unpleasant issue and forcing herself to feel those feelings, then banishing them from her mind. "I've found that resistance only makes them stronger," she explained. "I let the feelings play out, and I allow myself to imagine the worst thing that could happen if I held onto those feelings... I spend the last minute being in a space of gratitude, feeling physically healthy, mentally strong and well."
Have fun with your workout
There's nothing worse than dragging yourself to the gym to do something you hate. For example, if you despise running, try another form of cardio, like swimming or dancing. Maybe you enjoy boxing, like Berry. Either way, find a workout that makes you happy. "We all agree that we don't always love to work out. However, one thing that makes it bearable for me is my ability to laugh and play and have fun while I'm doing it," Berry told her followers. "Truth is, sometimes I have to laugh to keep from crying, especially during my John Wick training, which is no joke! If you can find ways to incorporate play into your workout, it will be something that you actually look forward to doing every day."
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Jenae is the editorial assistant for Prevention.com, where she regularly covers nutrition, beauty, celebrity workouts, and health trends. Previously, she was an intern at ELLE and CountryLiving.com and a web producer for O, the Oprah Magazine. When she’s not writing about health and wellness, Jenae is either playing video games or reading tweets about The Bachelor.
