{"id":444215,"date":"2025-12-13T09:44:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T09:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/444215\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T09:44:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T09:44:37","slug":"kate-winslet-uses-functional-exercise-to-age-proof-her-body-at-50-heres-how-to-do-it-effectively","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/444215\/","title":{"rendered":"Kate Winslet uses functional exercise to age-proof her body at 50 \u2013 here’s how to do it effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Kate Winslet, exercise isn\u2019t about looking a certain way or fitting beauty standards \u2013 it\u2019s about being healthy and functional. She made that clear in an appearance on Elizabeth Day\u2019s podcast, How To Fail<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2018Exercise for me is not actually about looking a certain way,\u2019 she said. \u2018It’s about not getting injured, so I don’t hurt myself in my life because I always want to swim in the cold water, and I always want to be able to hike for five hours.<\/p>\n

\u2018I always want to be able to give my son a piggy back even though he\u2019s 10 and it kind of hurts now. And I always want to be able to carry my own stuff \u2013 my own luggage.\u2019 <\/p>\n

She uses functional exercise<\/a> to help her stay strong and fit, meaning the types of training that prepare your body for real-life activities, incorporating strength, balance, flexibility and coordination. This can incorporate various forms of movement, including strength training<\/a> (using multiple joints and moving in multiple planes \u2013 forwards and backwards, side to side, and rotationally), and Pilates<\/a>. But power yoga<\/a> is Kate\u2019s go-to. <\/p>\n

Speaking on How To Fail<\/a>, she added: \u2018I\u2019d try and do a really great power yoga on a Sunday.\u2019 She’s been practicing for over five years, as in another interview with Mindfood<\/a> in 2020, she said her favourite forms of fitness were \u2018power yoga class a couple of times a week, some barre<\/a>, cardio<\/a>, and dog walks\u2019. <\/p>\n

\"kate<\/p>\n

Mike Marsland\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Power yoga is an effective form of functional exercise because its dynamic approach and full-body movements build strength, balance, mobility and endurance in ways that directly support everyday activities and real-life physical demands \u2013 like hiking and carrying your son, if you\u2019re Kate. <\/p>\n

Emily Outterside<\/a>, Senior Coach at F45 Oxford Circus<\/a> says functional movement like power yoga is particularly effective as, \u2018In the real world, we have no machines to support our body, so working on our balance while coordinating the body through these movements is hugely beneficial to day to day life, reducing our risk of injury.\u2019 <\/p>\n

She adds that, \u2018Absolutely everyone should be doing some form of functional training and it\u2019s suited for all ages and abilities, which is part of its beauty.’ It’s even more beneficial for older adults, she says, as by mimicking everyday movements, it addresses uneven muscle balance and strength asymmetries that are more likely to lead to injury. As Kate says, the reason she practices functional exercise is that, \u2018I don\u2019t want my body to break. I don\u2019t want it to break down. I don\u2019t want to get injured.\u2019
<\/p>\n

Emily adds that it could be beneficial for, \u2018Anyone sat working at a desk for prolonged hours of the day as most functional training works the muscles that keep your posture strong. Functional training also improves mobility through the hips and shoulders, which are the typical areas of discomfort for those sat at desks.\u2019 <\/p>\n

A big bonus is that you don\u2019t need any equipment. Bodyweight power yoga, like Kate practices, is a prime example. Bodyweight Pilates and bodyweight strength training are just as effective. Here are Emily\u2019s top 4 bodyweight functional training exercises \u2013 and why they\u2019re so effective for maintaining a fit and functional body with age.<\/p>\n

1. Walking lunge\"Image<\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong> ‘This works our body unilaterally which is great for fixing any imbalances in the body.’<\/p>\n

2. Press ups\"Image<\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong> ‘These are great for our upper body strength, as well as core stability and a great exercise for scaling up or down depending on ability.’<\/p>\n

3. Squats with overhead reach\"Image<\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong> ‘These are mainly targeting our quads, glutes and hamstrings. They are a great exercise for building strength.’<\/p>\n

4. Plank\"Image<\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong> ‘With this exercise you are strengthening your core, arms, shoulders and legs; it improves your posture and stability, and overall strength.’<\/p>\n

RELATED STORIES\"Headshot<\/p>\n

\u00a0As Women\u2019s Health UK\u2019s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism. She secured her first role at Look Magazine, where her obsession with fitness began and she launched the magazine\u2019s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!. Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner\u2019s World and Red.Now, she oversees all fitness content across womenshealthmag.com.uk<\/a> and the print magazine, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as \u2018Fit At Any Age\u2019, where we showcase the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise. She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks \u2013 all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how.Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram. \u00a0<\/p>\n