Jennifer Aniston shares rare insight into her vigorous workout routine

Here’s what the Friends actor does to keep fit

Aniston is known for her vigorous, five-times-a-week workouts (Getty Images)

Jennifer Aniston has shared a video of herself doing a workout routine on Instagram, and revealed how she stays motivated to complete them.

In the video, the 55-year-old can be seen exercising with Dani Coleman, a personal trainer for functional fitness company Pvolve, which Aniston officially joined in 2021 to help keep her active during her busy shooting schedules.

“Oh god… You know those days when you just don’t wanna do it? You just gotta do it,” said the American actor, who rose to fame as Rachel Green in the hit sitcom Friends, and plays Alex Levy on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show.

The caption also read: “If you’re having one of THOSE Mondays, I FEEL YOU Just gotta do it!!”.

Aniston is  known for her vigorous, five-times-a-week workouts. But it was a back injury that encouraged her to “retrain” her brain and attitude towards fitness – which has “absolutely evolved over the years,” she said during an interview with British Vogue.

“I’m in better shape than I was in my 20s. I feel better in mind, body, and spirit. It’s all 100%,” Aniston said.

“With Pvolve, you can really pick from so many workouts depending on how much time you have, the level of strength that you’re at, and where your body’s at, and you feel energised afterwards.”

Last year, she also posted a picture of herself in a lymphatic pantsuit, which is usually worn post-workout to prevent unpleasant pressure points forming around the body.

So what was Aniston doing in her latest workout video, and what benefits can this routine have on the body?

The exercises

According to James Barr, a personal trainer at Fitness First, it appears that Aniston is doing a mixture of bodyweight-based and compound exercises, which include press-ups, mountain climbers with sliders, and leg extensions with ankle weights.

“Bodyweight, or callisthenics, is a type of exercise that involves using your own bodyweight for resistance,” said Barr. “It’s done to help develop strength, flexibility and endurance. It is associated with bodyweight exercises, which can be, but not limited to, exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, squats, dips and a variety of abdominal exercises.”

Catie Miller, a fitness trainer and the founder of Barre Series added that Aniston is doing a side leg lift sequence.

“Side leg lifts primarily target the muscles on the side of the hip, including the gluteus medius and minimus, as well as the tensor fasciae latae. These muscles are important for hip stability and abduction (moving the leg away from the midline of the body). Strengthening these muscles can help improve hip stability, balance, and overall lower body strength,” Miller explained.

“[It also] helps improve hip mobility by working through the range of motion of abduction and adduction (moving the leg away from and towards the midline of the body). This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have tight hips or a limited range of motion in the hip joint.

However, performing side leg lifts requires engaging the core muscles to stabilise the torso and pelvis. “This helps improve core stability and control, which is important for maintaining proper posture and alignment during various activities and exercises,” said Miller.

Jennifer Aniston arrives for the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton hotel (AFP via Getty Images)

Mountain climbers also have a series of benefits, including cardiovascular endurance, due to it being a high-intensity exercise that’s also a full-body and core strengthening workout, which helps to boost your metabolism.

“Mountain climbers require coordination and agility as they involve dynamic movements that mimic running or climbing, enhancing overall athletic performance,” Miller said.

What are the benefits of wearing ankle weights?

“These weights add resistance to your lower body, intensifying movements and engaging muscles more effectively. The extra load challenges the muscles, making them work harder and promoting strength and endurance,” said Miller.

“As you move, ankle weights activate muscles in your legs, particularly targeting the stabiliser muscles that play a vital role in supporting larger muscles and joints during various movements.”