To get in shape for leading roles in films like Creed and Black Panther, Jordan relied heavily on old-school training methods like weightlifting, boxing, and HIIT.
But to stay healthy outside of film, and to maintain his muscle and stamina, Jordan has a more extensive training routine.
In an interview with Business Insider, Jordan said: Partnership with bottled water brand Propel, Initiatives designed to promote community health in cities such as Newark (Jordan’s New Jersey hometown), Atlanta and Houston.
Over the years, he’s expanded his training from what he did on the basketball court in his youth to everything from cycling to stretching.
Jordan is also a big fan of yoga and meditation, and says the cliché that exercises like yoga and pilates are just for women is outdated: “Meditation and yoga are incredibly important. I think the idea that men can’t or shouldn’t do yoga or pilates is outdated. I think we’ve all moved past that idea,” he says.
Jordan, now 37, said that over the past few years, increasing his range of motion and cooling down after exercise have helped him stay healthy and fit.
“I think as you get older you have to train harder but at the same time you have to train smarter and I think that’s something I’ve incorporated into my routine,” he said.
He’s not alone.
More men are taking up yoga and pilates
As the fitness industry offers more options than ever before, more men are incorporating exercises outside of manly staples like the bench press.
Even top athletes in notoriously difficult sports like mixed martial arts (MMA) and American football have found yoga to be a worthwhile challenge.
UFC star Dustin Poirier previously told BI that he regularly practices yoga for core strength and flexibility, and that it’s “really hard.”
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 272 pounds and is a force to be reckoned with on the field, says Pilates and yoga are his go-to strategies for injury prevention.
Men may still be in the minority in some classes, but their numbers are growing, despite research showing persistent misconceptions that yoga is more feminine than other forms of exercise.
A recent CDC study found that women are twice as likely to practice yoga as men, but men are more likely to practice yoga for pain relief or management.
And for good reason: Yoga and other mobility exercises offer a ton of benefits to the body, including improved performance, reduced risk of injury, and even longer lifespan, fitness experts previously told BI. Staying flexible is also known to help offset the health risks of sitting all day.
Research suggests that even a little yoga or other light exercise can help.
To get started, try a doctor-recommended morning routine of deep breathing and energizing exercise. Or, practice calming “micro-meditation” for a few minutes a day to improve your health and longevity.
