Aly Raisman isn't letting anything get in the way of fitness.
The 28-year-old Olympic gold medalist officially retired from gymnastics in January 2020, and the pandemic hit shortly after that, but neither event has slowed her down. If anything, they have only helped her step up her fitness game.
In an interview with Shape last year, she said, "I actually feel like I've been able to work out a little bit more than I was before the pandemic." Read the details below.
Speaking about how long and often she exercises, Raisman said, "It doesn't mean I'm working out for hours every day, but sometimes I'll do a little bit of a workout in the morning, and then even do a little bit more in the afternoon. I break it up throughout the day because that's what's working for me right now."
One of her favorite exercises? Pilates is her go-to for "tightening and toning."
Hint: It's Not An Overall!
The two-time Olympian explained why this form of exercise works for her, saying, "What I love about Pilates is that you can kind of maneuver your legs a little bit to the right or left, or do one leg at a time, and it creates such a different burn."
She also told Byrdie she started at a young age because her mom was doing it and that it helped with her gymnastics training because it made every part of her body strong.
Another reason Raisman loves Pilates is "you can kind of do it anywhere, which is cool." In fact, she used to do it in her plane seat when she traveled before the pandemic.
"If you go into classes, they have the big reformers, but in general, you don't need any special equipment," she said. "You could use a chair at your house or just use your body. If I'm driving somewhere on a long road trip, and I have to pull over to use the restroom or get food, I like to just get out of my car and do some leg exercises, just to move my body."
Pilates has been great for Raisman's mental health, too.
She said it makes her "feel really good. My motivation is just knowing that I'm going to feel stronger and more [present] in my body. I don't want to leave a workout completely drained and exhausted—that's how I used to leave my workouts. Now I really just do it for peace between the ears and my mental health. That's really been the priority for me."
