Mýa on Squats, Boxing, and Dancing in Heels: "I want to be strong"
The 46-year-old breaks down her fitness routine and how it has helped her remain a high-octane performer at almost 30 years in music.
Screenshot from "Mýa Shows Off Her Strength-Training Workout | Strong Like | Women's Health," YouTube.
Mýa has just released her new album, Retrospect, and fans marvel at how the ageless beauty can still put on a high-energy performance after years of dancing in concert. In a new interview with Women’s Health, the 46-year-old shares how her fitness regimen is integral to both her longevity as an artist, and her wellness overall.
But it all started when she was younger.
“The year 2000 is when I got very serious about training,” Mýa says. “I definitely saw a difference, but also felt a difference regarding my stamina and endurance for tour, which can be very brutal and demanding on the body.”
Mýa says that boxing has become one of her go-to exercises; as such, the speed rope has become an invaluable asset in her fitness routine.
“I always start with cardio to warm up the body before I get into any stretches to prevent injury,” she says. But she also works very hard on strength and her core. It all works in tandem.
“I would say squats have an everlasting effect when I am walking,” shares Mýa. “There's something about my posture that also changes when the glutes are fired, as well as activated. There are less knee injuries that occur for me as a dancer, so I'd start with glutes to be, I'd say, the most impactful exercise that benefits myself, my lifestyle and my profession.”
Retrospect is her tenth studio album and Mýa’s first album in eight years. She’s eager to perform her latest material and says this album is about embracing being “outside” and enjoying life. The R&B superstar has almost 30 years of performance and recording under her belt, and she’s never been afraid of evolution.
“I’ve given you all the baby-making music I can,” she joked to The Associated Press back in May. “This is performance music; it's personality music, so people get to see another part of my personality — very laid back, but I’m not there anymore,” she adds. “I’m outside and I’m having fun and really enjoying my life.”
When it comes to working out, Mýa embraces variety. She utilizes various drills on the treadmill–even going beyond running to dancing in heels. It all helps her stay prepared for the demands of performance.
“I want to be strong,” she explains. “Injury prevention–that's a key of mine.”
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