It’s hard to believe there was a time when Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t follow a strict health regimen.
“When I was in my early 20s, I didn’t really have much of a morning routine,” the 51-year-old goop founder said during a webinar about her partnership with meditation app Moments of Space, according to Business Insider.
At the time, the Oscar-winning actress was too busy starring in star-studded blockbuster movies, partying in an era before camera phones, and dating Hollywood hotties like Brad Pitt.
“I would either go out with friends and sleep in late, or wake up really early to be on set,” she added.
This is a stark contrast to the Paltrow that fans today know and love (or want to hate), who has built a powerful wellness empire and impressive longevity routine.
Paltrow’s morning routine now “includes meditation and exercise.”
Specifically, she practices “open-eyed” meditation (meditating while focusing on both her surroundings and herself during everyday activities), which she says helps her “focus on the present moment” and “feel more fulfilled.”
“I’ve tried to wake up and meditate to connect with my best self, not get caught up in reaction and keep my ego out of it,” she told The Independent, “especially when I feel like something isn’t fair or undeserved, or when I feel like someone hasn’t kept their promises.”
She also seems to envision a lofty purpose for the practice.
“I believe that meditating with your eyes open is potentially important in changing the world and deepening your connection with yourself and others,” she told The Independent. “That meditative state, that sense of oneness, I feel that very much. And I think when we connect with that oneness, it essentially heals divisions. It brings empathy to the forefront, feeling the connectedness of all human beings.”
This isn’t the first time Paltrow has been linked to unconventional health practices.
She previously faced criticism for her bone broth diet, taking part in “pretty weird” rectal ozone therapy, and promoting luxury wellness products in Goop’s gift guides aimed at those with serious cash to spend.
Paltrow also highlighted tried-and-true “consistent commonalities” such as sleep, relaxation and diet.
“Sleep is so important. I think controlling your thoughts and your mind is so important in managing your stress response. Stress can cause your immune system to function poorly, which is well known,” she explained. “I also think the quality of your relationships is important, and of course, not consuming too much alcohol or sugar or whatever.”
However, “Craft [her] The “Longevity Plan” also relies on “tests” to check overall health, but some experts question how necessary such rigorous regular checkups are.
“There are great new tests to scan for tumor markers in the blood, and all kinds of advanced imaging modalities,” she says. “I think having parents who have had cancer makes me a little more proactive than most people.”
Paltrow is just three years younger than the age her father, Bruce Paltrow, was diagnosed with throat cancer: The then-54-year-old director and producer died from complications of the disease in 2002, and her mother, 81-year-old actress Blythe Danner, was later diagnosed with the same cancer.
In some ways, her father’s diagnosis was a sobering awakening for her in her 20s, and prompted her to explore “the world of wellness and mindfulness,” she says.
“The more I learn, the more longevity medicine evolves. I want to stay open to new approaches and science to see what longevity medicine will look like in the next 10 years or so,” she said.
But unlike biohackers attempting immortality, Paltrow isn’t interested in finding the secret elixir that will grant her eternal life.
“I don’t want to live forever either. I’m just not that kind of person,” she admitted. “I want to live a long, healthy, beautiful life, but I don’t want to live to be 165 or anything like that.”
