NFL Network host MJ Acosta-Ruiz is all about promoting fitness and wellness, and recently she showed off her toned physique in workout clothes while discussing her Fuse TV series Like a Girl. Known for her dedication to staying in shape and prioritizing self-care, MJ combines different forms of exercise, from Pilates to tennis, with a balanced approach to mental and physical well-being. She’s a strong advocate for self-care routines and encourages others to check in on their mental health as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. With her past experience as an NFL cheerleader and her passion for trying new sports, MJ stays active and constantly looks for new ways to maintain a healthy and happy life.
1. Pilates
MJ does Pilates at Studio MDR. Why is pilates a good workout? According to the Mayo Clinic there are lots of benefits to the workout, as it “strengthens the body's inner core while increasing its flexibility resulting in improved overall health.” It can also promote longer, leaner muscles, injury prevention, relief from stress and back pain, enhanced athletic performance, and heightened mind-body awareness.
2. Walking
MJ Acosta-Ruiz/Instagram
MJ enjoys taking walks by her house in California. “May Gray ☁️ 🌊And we will continue to complain when it’s like this every year in LA. #IWantMyMoneyBack,” she joked in a caption of a photo of herself out on a pier. Going for a daily walk can be a game changer in terms of exercise, especially at a brisk speed. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that walking at a brisk pace for about 30 minutes a day led to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death, compared with walking a similar number of steps but at a slower pace.
3. Self-Care
MJ Acosta-Ruiz/Instagram
MJ advocates for self-care. “How’s your heart doing today? Take a mental health break with me for a minute,” she captioned an Instagram video. In it, she does a “little self-care routine,” she explains. “This is the point of the day where I spend the most time with myself and by myself. So directly staring in the mirror, really checking in on how my heart is doing,” she says. “What I really try and press on myself is, perfection is not the goal of life.”
4. Tennis
MJ Acosta-Ruiz/Instagram
MJ recently started playing tennis. “I think I’m a tennis girlie now 🎾,” she captioned a post from the courts. According to ACE Fitness it blends together cardio and aerobic exercise, as there is a lot of running around, and hand-eye coordination. "While tennis provides numerous health benefits—improved aerobic fitness and anaerobic endurance, muscular fitness (grip strength and endurance), flexibility, multiple skill parameters (balance, speed, agility and quickness), reactivity, and power—it also is psychologically demanding," they say.
5. Cheerleading
MJ Acosta-Ruiz/Instagram
MJ was an NFL cheerleader. "I tried out for the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders many, many times," Acosta-Ruiz told the New YorkHER podcast. "I'm so glad that I bet on myself and that I gave it one more shot because I will never forget that experience.
