Evina Westbrook is a professional basketball player who played for UCONN and Tennessee in college. She has also played for the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, and Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. In April, Westbrook shared the workouts she was doing to recover from an injury on Instagram. She captioned the post, “The journey.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Evina Westbrook stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.
Basketball is the main way Westbrook stays in shape. Fitness Advisory reports, “Basketball requires you to jump while playing, as well as running back and forth multiple times. In a basketball game, you rely on your body positioning and the ability to maintain that position when an opponent is pushing against you. This is why playing basketball can strengthen all parts of your body, especially your core muscles, neck, lower back, and arms.”
The wall-sits Westbrook is seen doing in her Instagram video have a lot of benefits. NASM reports, “Wall sits increase muscular endurance and joint stabilization in a squat position. They work the quads (no question there), the glutes, the calves, and the core (especially as you focus on good posture in this position!). Better muscular endurance in squats translates over into less quad fatigue when performing activities that require extended use of the quads like skiing, sports requiring an athletic stance, or even hiking and biking.”
Westbrook is seen doing squats, and these have a lot of health benefits. Piedmont states, “Squats are a compound, multi-joint movement, which means they exercise several muscle groups. When you perform a squat, you work your calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes, core and part of your back. A squat has more overall benefits than, say, a bicep curl, which strengthens an isolated area.”
In her Instagram video, Westbrook is seen using a stationary bike. Penn State PRO Wellness states that this is a great way to stay fit. “Riding a stationary exercise bike is an efficient and effective way to burn calories and body fat while strengthening your heart, lungs, and muscles. Compared to some other types of cardio equipment, a stationary bicycle puts less stress on your joints, but it still provides an excellent aerobic workout.”
Westbrook likes to strength train. The Mayo Clinic states that this has a lot of health benefits. “Strength training may enhance your quality of life and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Strength training can also protect your joints from injury. Building muscle also can contribute to better balance and may reduce your risk of falls. This can help you maintain independence as you age.“