Anabel Pantoja seems to spend her life in swimsuits (when in Spain, right?) The TV star posted a video of herself on a boat in Formentera, Spain, wearing a black bathing suit as she enjoys the waves. “Vive✌🏼,” she captioned the Instagram post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Pantoja 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!
Pantoja enjoys paddleboarding, which is both fun and a great exercise for her core. “The ability to turn the shoulders and really dig in to create torso rotation creates more power in the paddle stroke and better recruitment of the external obliques,” says John Porcari, PhD.
Pantoja loves to incorporate horseback riding into her exercise routine. “We all know riding horses is good exercise,” says Dr. Dennis Sigler, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horse specialist and professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University. “Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories. If you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period.”
Pantoja enjoys regular swimming sessions in the ocean. “Many people say that by simply being in the water they feel more relaxed and less stressed,” says swimming instructor Emily Morrissey. “Regular exercise helps reduce anxiety and depression, as it releases “feel good” hormones and keeps our brains working in a healthy way.”
Pantoja frequently scuba dives (this girl really does love the ocean!). “Blue space therapy is a woefully underused method of lifestyle prescription for our physical and mental health,” says mental health expert Dr Ruth Micallef. “Still, the research proves that taking a dip can boost our wellbeing ten-fold. Wild swimming has a host of research-proven benefits, including improved self-esteem, social confidence, and resilience—to name just a few.”
Pantoja is a big fan of windsurfing, a sport that has both physical and mental health benefits. “In life and windsurfing, great changes are preceded by storms. If we can consider the storms as a source for growth, we benefit as individuals and as windsurfers,” says Henrik Beyer, health promoter and author of Health & Fitness for Windsurfing. “Being depressed is easier on a wave than sitting in the office. Physicians could, in fact, prescribe windsurfing for our mental fitness. Make no mistake, windsurfing should not replace professional help in case of depression, but physical activity can be a tool towards increased mental health.”
Pantoja does work out inside every once in while—the star loves doing resistance training at the gym under the guidance of a personal trainer. “With resistance training, you can change your body composition (i.e. your ratio of lean muscle mass to body fat), improve your cardio fitness level, boost your mental health, and just have fun,” says certified strength and conditioning specialist Sohee Lee.