Irina Shayk is setting up a social media thirst trap in her swimsuit. The supermodel turned up the heat over the weekend, sharing a few super sexy bathing suit selfies with her followers. “Thirst day on a Sunday….” she captioned the series of Instagram snaps. How does the mother-of-one keep herself so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Irina Shayk stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
Irina is the first to admit that she is genetically blessed, which is one of the main reasons she has such an amazing figure. “I’ve got great genes to thank for my fast metabolism, but I still have to find a balance between food and working out because when I eat, I really eat!” she told Women’s Health.
Irina loves to exercise. “I work out a lot. I do boxing, Shayk told People. “I hate traditional cardio. Running is my worst nightmare, so I’ve had to find something I enjoy that gets me all the calorie-burning benefits of cardio without boring me to death,” she added to Women’s Health.
Irina also does jiu-jitsu with her personal trainer. “It’s a Japanese self-defense discipline, but because there’s so many possible move combinations, it’s brilliant for constantly challenging my body and pushing it to exhaustion every time. I do it four times a week when I’m at home in New York,” she said, adding that “it’s great.”
Irina also loves barre workouts. “I try to work out in my hotel room or at work during breaks, focusing on simple barre moves that don’t need any equipment and really work my arms and bum,” she told Women’s Health. “These lengthening exercises also help to stretch me out and help clear any water retention, which I tend to get after long-haul flights. Grabbing workout time whenever I can means constantly carrying my kit around with me, so I’ve totally embraced athleisure – if I can turn up to a shoot in the same chic clothes I can wear to exercise, it saves me so much time and effort!”
Irina is also an experienced scuba diver. “I love the open water. I may not be able to drive a car, but I’m a trained Open Water Diver and it’s an unforgettable experience every single time,” she told Women’s Health. “Every time I travel, I try to get to the sea and explore that part of the world underwater. They say divers have more life experience than those who don’t because it teaches you to appreciate the world we live in from a completely different perspective.”
Irina isn’t all or nothing when it comes to her diet. “Give me a burger and I’ll follow it up with a piece of cake. In fact, two days ago I had a huge burger with cheese, French fries, lots of ketchup and mayo and a large Sprite,” she told Women’s Health. When she does indulge, she will follow it up with lots of exercise and clean eating. “But in the name of balance, I got up the next morning, did 30 minutes of barre in my room and ate steamed fish and grilled vegetables for dinner. I’m from Russia, so I’ve been brought up on hearty food like meat and dumplings and potato stews in big warming portions, but if I’m preparing for a shoot or show, I’ll eat particularly clean – salads and soups – to ensure a flat stomach. Then jump on a burger straight after!”