Lenny Kravitz’s Instagram has turned into a box full of surprises — a box that can send social media into a frenzy while making the fitness community throw its hands up in dismay. Last March, the 59-year-old singer posted a shirtless image of himself, showing off his toned abs.
Seeing celebrities working out in inappropriate footwear is less surprising: famous people like Victoria Beckham and Mariah Carey have posted videos and photos of themselves walking down a treadmill in heels
But the uproar caused by this photo was nothing compared to the backlash caused by a video showing him working out, a video that is so exaggerated, it looks like it’s a prank.
What’s most striking about the video (along with the fact that everyone at the luxury Equinox gym in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards seems unimpressed by the sight) is Kravitz’s outfit as he works out: leather pants, ankle boots, a fishnet top and sunglasses.
His trainer, Dodd Romero (who has also trained former baseball players Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez), seemed happy with the workout as he proudly uploaded the video to his profile: every time he posts a picture of Kravitz , Romero reminds his followers that “there are no shortcuts” to achieving goals.
Are there proper gym clothes?
Is it really a good idea to work out in leather pants? “It’s crazy,” says Manuela Acaso, personal trainer. “You need clothes that allow you to breathe and have a range of motion, which is impossible with leather pants.” “I always recommend training in comfortable clothes, and although I’m not telling you what kind of clothes you should wear, training in leather pants is neither comfortable nor suitable for doing the technical part in the best way. It’s even a matter of safety,” says Rubén J. Jiménez Delgado, CEO of RJ Personal Trainer Fitness Boutique.
Seeing celebrities working out in inappropriate footwear is less surprising: famous people like Victoria Beckham and Mariah Carey have posted videos and photos of themselves walking down a treadmill in heels. But beyond the heels are Kravitz’s ankle boots a good idea? “Boots are not proper footwear, and as if that wasn’t enough, the ones she’s wearing have heels, which I completely forbid,” says Rubén J. Jiménez Delgado. “Shoes should be flat or low-soled.”
If celebrity workouts are getting the world’s attention, it’s because some celebrities have long been forced to be, as Pink is said to have said, athletes
Manuela Acaso says more and more people are training in Crocs, a shoe she warns is not suitable for the gym. “It’s an even worse idea to wear them on the treadmill, as they don’t hold the foot securely and don’t allow for quick foot movements. In fact, they are dangerous both for those who exercise and for others,” adds Jiménez Delgado.
A good exercise for the singer
While many people praise Lenny Kravitz’s fitness, many others agree with the trainers that his attire is inappropriate, and also point out that the exercise he does in the video is also not recommended.
Kravitz’s trainer — who clarifies in the video’s comments that the singer is lifting a 45-pound barbell with a 10-pound plate on each side — believes that while the execution of the exercise isn’t perfect, it’s fine for the singer.
“After 25 years of training together, at least three times a week, we’ve had so many fights together that I understand his body very well and know when he’s in danger and when he’s not,” Romero said in response to an Instagram comment about whether Kravitz bends his back a lot.
Athletes and singers
“Sometimes I feel more like an athlete than a singer,” said Pink, one of the pop stars who – in addition to singing at her concerts – dances, jumps up and down, hangs from the ceiling and flies.
If—as in Kravitz’s case—the performers’ workouts and sculpted bodies are drawing more and more comment, admiration and attention, it’s because singing is now one of dozens of things a pop star is expected to do.
Taylor Swift told Time magazine that she prepares for her concerts by singing her entire repertoire while running down the aisle. Madonna, 65, is about to complete a 78-concert tour in which she constantly dances and moves around a giant stage. The complicated world of celebrity training is unlike any other because it requires massive training in a limited amount of time: preparing for a tour or simply appearing on a nude stage for the whole world to scrutinize.
If celebrity workouts get the world’s attention, it’s because some celebrities have long been forced to be, as Pink is said to have said, athletes. Maybe that’s what Lenny Kravitz does in the gym in leather pants and sunglasses: he works out without letting anyone forget who he is.
*With information from: El Pais | Main Theme Photo: YouTube | Lenny Kravitz – TK421 (Official Video)
