Is there anything Martha Stewart can’t do? The self-made billionaire has written over 100 cookbooks, launched her own home and hospitality line, conquered television, and is a social media darling. At 81, she became the oldest cover model for Sports Illustrated—proving that age is simply just a number. But the culinary and entertainment icon works hard on her fit figure. Over the years, Stewart has divulged tidbits about her fitness routine, including the low-impact workout that keeps her strong and lean. Spoiler alert: it’s not for the faint of heart.
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Her favorite low-impact exercise is pilates.
While interviewing Pamela Anderson for Elle, Stewart revealed that pilates is her preferred form of exercise. The low-impact workout touts impressive mental health benefits, and studies show it can boost muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and posture. More specifically, it’s a great way to target your core and other surrounding muscles.
"With the core, besides the stomach area, you’re also talking about your sides, your mid to lower back, your buttocks and your hips," lead yoga therapist Judi Bar told Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials blog.
Pilates can also help alleviate lower back pain. "Pilates helps lower back pain because, besides tight muscles, lower back pain also comes from misalignment and lack of core strength," Bar added.
As for whether she’s a morning exerciser or night owl, Stewart said, "I do three mornings a week at 6:30 a.m."
In Jan. 2024, the cookbook author posted a video on Instagram of herself going through an arm-and-abs workout on the pilates reformer alongside her trainer. "Harder and more effective than it looks!!" she captioned it.
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She credits yoga for keeping her muscles "long, limber, and flexible."
"I love practicing yoga to keep my muscles long, limber, and flexible," Stewart wrote in a blog post titled "A Morning at My Gym."
Similar to pilates, yoga can improve your strength, balance, and flexibility. The exercise is also known for its mindful breathing and relaxation benefits.
"The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome," Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor told the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). "Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia."
Stewart’s home gym is also outfitted with a treadmill, free weights, and weight machines. For cardio, she completes a 20-minute workout on the treadmill.
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She finds ways to stay active outside of the gym, too.
Overall, Stewart lives a very active lifestyle. Whether it’s tending to her garden or running her farm, she’s always on the go.
"Just getting around from place to place on the farm and making sure the gardening is being done and the animals are taken care of [is a lot of exercise]," she told Women’s Health.
