Jennifer Holland is wishing Mikaela Hoover a happy birthday, celebrating her in her workout gear. In a new social media post, a curated collection of photos and videos, the Guardians of the Galaxy star exercises while her pal honors her on her 40th birthday. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.
In the summer you can find Mikaela stand up paddleboarding. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) agrees that paddle boarding is great for the core and also a great form of cardio. The water sport can burn an average of 385 calories for a 140 pound male and 436 for a female the same size, per a study conducted by Arizona State University.
Mikaela enjoys walking. Here she is with friends in Central park. “A day in the park with these beautiful ladies…NYC I kinda really love you,” she captioned the post. 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.
Mikaela also loves to hike. According to the National Parks Service, the physical benefits of hiking include:
- Building stronger muscles and bones
- Improving your sense of balance
- Improving your heart health
- Decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems
Bike riding is another one of her go-to outdoor activities. 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.
In a recent post, Mikaela does a reverse tabletop leg lift, an exercise that strengthens the lower back muscles. Here’s how to do it, courtesy of the Sweat App.
“Step 1: Begin seated on a yoga mat, legs straight and resting your hands slightly wider than your shoulders. This is your starting position.
Step 2: Press your left heel into the floor, using your hamstrings and glutes to lift your hips and extend through your shoulders so that your body forms a straight line from your chest down to your knees. Ensure that your shoulders are directly over your wrists and your knees are directly over your ankles. Your right foot should be elevated off the ground and held in a position that is comfortable throughout the exercise.
Step 3: Slowly lower your hips to return to the starting position. Repeat for the specified number of repetitions or time on each side.”