Angelique Kerber is picking up a new type of racquet – in her workout gear. In a new social piece the tennis star tries a new sport – padel – while showing off her amazing body in a two-piece exercise set. “Found a new passion @adidaspadel… smaller court, more team play, just as much action 💪🏼🎾😜 Have you tried?” she captioned the series of Instagram snaps. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.
1. Cycling
Angelique is obsessed with cycling. “The Peloton Bike has become my constant companion. I even set it up in my hotel room during the Australian Open,” she said in an interview with the brand. The Cleveland Clinic explains that biking, a low-impact aerobic exercise, is great for building muscle, improving strength and flexibility, and improving balance. It can also boost mental health and help other health conditions, including arthritis.
2. Training Hard
Angelique gives it her all when it comes to training. "I need to have long term goals in order to push my limits when exercising. That's my motivation, my drive, to continuously improve and get better," she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. In addition to the Peloton bike, she also uses the brand’s treadmill.
3. Yoga and Meditation
Angelique takes regular yoga and meditation classes to maintain her mental health, especially ahead of a big tournament like the Australian Open. She explains that she is "willing to invest whatever it takes” to reach her goals. "For me it is extremely important to find a way to balance my body and mind, and remain passionate about what I’m doing," she says. “When you meditate, you may clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress,” says the Mayo Clinic. Benefits include:
- Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
- Building skills to manage your stress
- Increasing self-awareness
- Focusing on the present
- Reducing negative emotions
- Increasing imagination and creativity
- Increasing patience and tolerance
- Lowering resting heart rate
- Lowering resting blood pressure
- Improving sleep quality
4. Recovery
Angelique understands the importance of recovery, otherwise there is "no improvement and a much higher risk of injury,” she says. "I’ve been on the professional tour long enough to understand when my body needs a break," she told Yahoo. "It takes time to understand that when you’re a young athlete that is restless and eager to make it to the top. But eventually I learned to listen to my body and it's been the key ever since to having a long career with very little interruptions due to injuries. Taking a rest day when I need it, also helps me give my mind a break. I absolutely need time to relax and reset in order to play my best tennis."
5. Tennis
Tennis is Angelique’s main form of fitness. 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.