How Gavin Rossdale stays in shape while staying out of the gym at all costs
My Workout
Net Gains
By: Amy Levin-Epstein
May 9, 2007 - 11:46:59 PM
How Gavin Rossdale stays in shape while staying out of the gym at all costs
At first glance, Gavin Rossdale may not seem to have much in common with you. The former lead singer of Bush, Rossdale has opened for U2, is recording a second album with his new band, Institute, and is set to appear in his third film, How to Rob a Bank. But under the glam, Rossdale’s quest for fitness is challenged by the same issues we all face: He’s traveling constantly on business; he’s a new dad (he has a 1-year-old baby boy with his wife, Gwen Stefani); and he finds traditional exercise boring. “That whole mouse-on-a-wheel thing, day in and day out, gets monotonous,” he says. Instead, Rossdale has found a way to turn one of his passions, tennis, into a full-body workout. To compensate for all his traveling, Rossdale has a network of hitting partners around the country, and he’s never shy about calling ahead to new clubs to find an opponent. Here’s his program for staying fit.
WARM UP RIGHT
Before playing, Rossdale loosens up by jumping rope for 5 to 10 minutes. Then he stretches his shoulders, back, calves, and ankles (see “In the Stretch” below). Tennis is a short-distance explosive game, and being quick to the ball is everything. If you’re not warm, it’s these quick movements that can blow out a muscle. After stretching, Rossdale rallies from the baseline.
MIX IN EXTRA CARDIO
To boost the aerobic workout factor of tennis, between matches Rossdale mixes in hitting sessions, where rallies may go on for several minutes and breaks are much more sporadic. First, he hits stationary crosscourt forehands and backhands for 5 minutes each; then he repeats both down the line for 5 minutes. Next, he pounds out 10 minutes of ground strokes on the run, always returning to the center line before the next shot. Afterward, he moves to the net for volleys. He builds quickness by hitting a volley immediately followed by an overhead that forces him to wheel backward, followed by a short volley that brings him back to the net. In matches, this instinct to move toward the net while in no-man’s land cuts down the angles his opponent can use for a passing shot.
CHALLENGE YOUR MUSCLES
Playing with a variety of opponents, in addition to local pros on the road, forces Rossdale to adapt constantly and improve his game—and his body—to handle different styles of play. One day, he’ll be serving and sprinting to the net, working his fast-twitch muscles; another day, his workout will be more cardio-based as he endures brutal baseline rallies. Rossdale enjoys the challenge of change so much that he doesn’t even have a favorite surface to play on. “All these destabilizing factors make me a better tennis player,” says Rossdale. They also make him a fitter, less stressed-out father.
© Copyright 2007 Best Life Magazine
Net Gains
By: Amy Levin-Epstein
May 9, 2007 - 11:46:59 PM
How Gavin Rossdale stays in shape while staying out of the gym at all costs
At first glance, Gavin Rossdale may not seem to have much in common with you. The former lead singer of Bush, Rossdale has opened for U2, is recording a second album with his new band, Institute, and is set to appear in his third film, How to Rob a Bank. But under the glam, Rossdale’s quest for fitness is challenged by the same issues we all face: He’s traveling constantly on business; he’s a new dad (he has a 1-year-old baby boy with his wife, Gwen Stefani); and he finds traditional exercise boring. “That whole mouse-on-a-wheel thing, day in and day out, gets monotonous,” he says. Instead, Rossdale has found a way to turn one of his passions, tennis, into a full-body workout. To compensate for all his traveling, Rossdale has a network of hitting partners around the country, and he’s never shy about calling ahead to new clubs to find an opponent. Here’s his program for staying fit.
WARM UP RIGHT
Before playing, Rossdale loosens up by jumping rope for 5 to 10 minutes. Then he stretches his shoulders, back, calves, and ankles (see “In the Stretch” below). Tennis is a short-distance explosive game, and being quick to the ball is everything. If you’re not warm, it’s these quick movements that can blow out a muscle. After stretching, Rossdale rallies from the baseline.
MIX IN EXTRA CARDIO
To boost the aerobic workout factor of tennis, between matches Rossdale mixes in hitting sessions, where rallies may go on for several minutes and breaks are much more sporadic. First, he hits stationary crosscourt forehands and backhands for 5 minutes each; then he repeats both down the line for 5 minutes. Next, he pounds out 10 minutes of ground strokes on the run, always returning to the center line before the next shot. Afterward, he moves to the net for volleys. He builds quickness by hitting a volley immediately followed by an overhead that forces him to wheel backward, followed by a short volley that brings him back to the net. In matches, this instinct to move toward the net while in no-man’s land cuts down the angles his opponent can use for a passing shot.
CHALLENGE YOUR MUSCLES
Playing with a variety of opponents, in addition to local pros on the road, forces Rossdale to adapt constantly and improve his game—and his body—to handle different styles of play. One day, he’ll be serving and sprinting to the net, working his fast-twitch muscles; another day, his workout will be more cardio-based as he endures brutal baseline rallies. Rossdale enjoys the challenge of change so much that he doesn’t even have a favorite surface to play on. “All these destabilizing factors make me a better tennis player,” says Rossdale. They also make him a fitter, less stressed-out father.
© Copyright 2007 Best Life Magazine
