Jennifer Aniston's new workout involves 'moving planks, push-ups and glute-bridges' looks tough- but is much kinder on the body than gruelling cardio

• Jennifer Aniston has switched her workout routine after ‘burning her body’ 
• READ MORE:  Hollywood legends can’t help but cuddle up on the red carpet

Jennifer Aniston is known for her gruelling workout routines and staying fit and healthy into her 50s.

But even the fitness-fanatic Friends star, 55, has admitted her ‘doesn’t want to work out’ sometimes.

On Monday, Jennifer took her fans through a few quick clips of her sweat session and ended the video with her collapsing at the end of her push-ups.

‘Oh god, you know those days when you just don’t wanna do it, you just gotta do it,’ she said in the clip.

Long-term followers on the star might be surprised to see the intensity of the star’s workout, as she recently said she wanted a change from ‘breaking her body’ with high-impact cardio.

The LA-based actress uses Pvolve, a low-impact, high-intensity ‘functional’ work-out programme that involves moving planks (going from a downward dog position to a plank and back again).

Jennifer Aniston has the body of a woman half her age and she shows why in a new workout video

The Friends alum – who turned 55 earlier this month – shook off her case of the Mondays with her Pvolve workout routine

There’s also push-ups, leg raises (lying on your back, legs up vertically with knees bent at 45 degrees, stretching alternate legs out horizontally) and single glute bridges , which is lying on your backs, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, raising and lowering our bottoms by pushing through one leg at a time.

She signed up to the programme,  founded by New York entrepreneur Rachel Katzman in 2017, in 2021 after ‘looking for solutions to keep exercising while facing burn-out from her shooting schedule, rigorous workouts, and a back injury’.

But, to those who aren’t gym-nuts, the routine may ring alarm bells for being described as ‘low-impact’.

And despite still putting pressure on the joints, the movements are thought of as functional and better for you, a leading personal trainer has explained.

Hollie Grant, Founder of Pilates PT, added: ‘She hasn’t really alluded a huge amount to what she was doing in the past that has apparently broken her body. It sounds like she was probably doing a lot of cardio and they mention the stair master, but I was presuming they would maybe say things like she did lots of running and things like that.

‘Usually, when we think of cardio, we do think of things like running and high-intensity training and things like that, if that is what she was doing, are high impact.

‘If you think of the impact that’s going through the floor as you land when you’re running, you’ve got the weight of your body plus gravity, which is jarring on your joints, and if you aren’t strong and functional, you might find that you struggle with things like pelvic floor issues or joint issues.

The Picture Perfect star wore a black tank top and grey leggings for her barefoot workout which saw her balancing on one leg on a slanted board

‘So, it’s not that you can’t do high-intensity training, and it’s not that every single person that does high-intensity training is going to be injured, it’s just if that’s all you ever do and you don’t support your body with muscle strengthening activities as well, then you might find that you put yourself more at risk of injuries.

‘But, with regards to what she’s doing now, everything I’ve seen about Pvolve, to me it looks a lot like Pilates, so it’s functional training, using various different forms of resistance like bodyweight, small pieces of equipment and so that is low impact, especially those exercises listed in your question above.

‘These are not where you’re landing on the floor with impact. You’re using your bodyweight, or extra resistance to strengthen your muscles which in turn strengthen your joints.

‘So, this is lower impact and it’s potentially kinder on the body, but again, we can’t presume that because something is low impact it won’t injure you.

‘But I would say that something that is lower impact probably is less likely to injure you than something that’s high impact and repetitive, but that’s not always the case.

What’s the difference between high and low impact exercise? 

Daniel Herman, NASM nutritionist, SAQ coach & founder bio-synergy.uk explains the difference between high and low impact exercise.

‘High impact and low impact exercises refer to the intensity and stress they place on your body, particularly your joints.

‘Here’s some examples of each and the benefits.

High impact exercises involve movements where both feet are off the ground simultaneously, creating forceful impact upon landing.

Examples:

• Plyometrics (jump squats, box jumps)
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involving jumping or intense cardio bursts

Benefits:

• Effective for improving cardiovascular fitness.
• Can help with weight loss and building bone density.

Potential drawbacks:

• Greater risk of injury, particularly to joints like knees, hips, and ankles.
• May not be suitable for individuals with joint issues, arthritis, or other musculoskeletal problems.

Low Impact Exercises exercises are gentler on the joints because one foot remains in contact with the ground at all times.

Examples

• Walking
• Swimming
• Elliptical training
• Yoga
• Pilates or this case Pvolve.

Benefits

• Reduced risk of injury, making them suitable for individuals with joint pain or injuries.
• Can still provide effective cardiovascular and strength benefits.
• Good for beginners or those easing back into exercise after injury.

Drawbacks

• May not be as effective for building bone density as high impact exercises (which are even more important for post-menopausal women as higher risk of osteoporosis).
• Might require longer durations to achieve the same cardiovascular benefits as high impact exercises.
• Some individuals may find them less engaging or intense compared to high impact exercises.
• Choosing between high impact and low impact exercises depends on various factors including your fitness level, any existing injuries or health conditions, personal preferences, and fitness goals. Ideally mixing both types of exercises in a balanced workout routine can also provide comprehensive fitness benefits while minimising the risk of injury.

So is Jen’s workout low intensity?

PT Aimee Victoria Long added: ‘I’d most definitely say that Jennifer Aniston’s routine can be classed as low impact. ‘

‘Whilst people think her routine may be intense her exercises are that of much lower impact.

‘She is focusing on movements that put a lot less stress and strain through the lower body joints and the movements focus a lot more on the muscles engaging rather than repetitive movements again and again.

‘Her movements won’t cause large spikes in her heart rate and breathing rate like high intensity movements would.

‘As she gets older her joints will of likely taken a battering over the years of higher intensity movements.

‘So having the chance to focus on more controlled muscles that work the more small intricate muscles that help stabilise the joints is far more beneficial for her. A lot of her movements are focused or incorporate the core so this is clearly a focus for her and her trainer.

‘Having a strong core is essential for making everyday tasks easier and it’s also super important in helping prevent injury especially to the back. Something we all know to well is easier to injure as we age.’

Juila Stewart is PT from premium strength training brand PRIMAL added: ‘Moving planks, push-ups, leg raises, are generally considered low-impact exercises.

‘Low-impact exercises are those that involve minimal stress on the joints, making them suitable for individuals with joint issues, beginners, or those looking for a workout that is gentle on the joints.

‘These exercises focus on bodyweight movements and do not involve high-impact forces like jumping or running, which helps reduce stress on the joints.

‘But you should always be aware that individual experiences may vary, and people with specific health concerns or conditions should consult with a healthcare professional or fitness expert before starting any new exercise routine.

‘High-impact workouts can take a toll on the body over time due to the repetitive stress and impact forces they generated if not done correctly and there’s no warm-up or cool down. The potential risks associated with high-impact exercises include joint stress, increased risk of injury (especially in the knees, hips, and ankles), and a higher likelihood of wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system.

‘On the other hand, low-impact workouts can offer numerous benefits without subjecting the body to excessive stress.

‘Low-impact exercises are gentler on the joints, making them suitable for individuals with joint issues or those who want to minimise the risk of impact-related injuries.

‘Because low-impact workouts are less likely to cause wear and tear on the body, they can be more sustainable in the long term, allowing individuals to maintain an active lifestyle over the years. ‘Low-impact exercises, such as using an elliptical machine are often more accessible for people of various fitness levels too, including beginners or those recovering from injuries.

‘These workouts can still effectively target various muscle groups, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance overall fitness. They offer a diverse range of exercises suitable for different fitness goals.’

Lewis Paris PT and founder of Lewis Paris Fitness explained that, despite looking intense and putting pressure on the joints, moving planks, push ups, leg raises and single leg glute bridges are considered low impact.

‘Doing these types of exercises will further increase the level of control to perform the movement thus increasing the likelihood of isolating the muscle for better mind to muscle connection and strength.

‘This will further aid in developing a more aesthetic body, improved range of motion and aid in preventing injury alongside managing and/or strengthening any preexisting injuries,’ he added.

‘High impact exercises and low impact exercises have their uses for building a strong and well rounded body; being mindful of your goals and what would typically work for you will determine which style of training to focus more on.

‘High impact exercises are great for building muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, endurance and athletic performance whereas low impact exercises can decrease the risk of injury to joints and tendons, improve balance and mobility, maintain fitness levels post injury, increase strength and can be performed by anyone no matter their fitness level.’

She has seen a friend get great results with the programme,  and after signing up as an ambassador said it ‘completely changed her relationship to fitness’.

‘When you’re in a mindset of, ‘I need to do 45 minutes of cardio or I won’t get a good workout,’ it’s daunting,’ she told InStyle earlier this year.

‘I believed it for so long. I just burnt out and broke my body.’

High vs Low intensity, which should you pick? 

Hollie Grant, Founder of Pilates PT, added: ‘My overall answer is that it really shouldn’t be all or nothing, it should be a bit of both.

‘Our bodies are designed to be able to withstand high impact, they’re really clever, and some of that stuff is really good for us. And, lower impact, functional training using various types of resistance is also really good for us.

‘So I think we have to be really mindful of not being too binary about what we choose to do.

‘Jen’s workout is less high impact if you’re talking about impact rather than intensity, so it might still be intense, but the impact on the body is lessened because you’re not pounding pavements or jumping around. It’s less impact, but not necessarily less intensity.’

‘My physical therapist gave me a Barbie doll that’s covered in Kinesio tape,’ she shared.

‘It’s a silly mental image until you realise the purpose of all that tape is ‘to show every injury I’ve had in the last 15 years.’

The Hollywood it girl started working with the program after hurting her back two years ago.

And she claims Pvolve helps ‘strengthen and restore’ her body through its on-demand classes.

‘As we get into our lovely older periods, we have to keep it exciting. And we have to be kinder to our bodies,’ the Friends vet told People this week.

‘If I had known about it 20 years ago when I was breaking my body to begin with, we would’ve saved so much pain.’

Aniston went to Pvolve founder Rachel Katzman to talk about working together to promote the program.

‘I just want more people to know about it because I think it’s so good,’ the actress added.

‘Our minds used to think, we have to hurt; no pain, no gain. It has to be an hour of a workout. You have to work out three times a day.

‘With this, you can start gentle,’ she explained.

‘My girlfriend transformed her entire body, and it just had such a beautiful snowball effect in so many positive areas of her life.’

The Picture Perfect star wore a black tank top and grey leggings for her barefoot workout which saw her balancing on one leg on a slanted board.

If you’re having one of THOSE Mondays, I FEEL YOU! Just gotta do it!! ❤️ @pvolve,’ she captioned the video

Jennifer took her fans through a few quick clips of her sweat session and ended the video with her collapsing at the end of her pushups

Antony Chris, London-based personal trainer and director of Complex Training, told FEMAIL: It’s no surprise Jennifer opted for a shift from high-intensity cardio to her current training regimen.

‘While high-intensity cardio can undoubtedly elevate our endorphins, the relentless pursuit of it can also leave us drained and susceptible to injuries from continuous high-impact movements.

‘In her recent video clips, Jennifer demonstrates a dynamic fusion of total-body movements in her workout routine. This includes engaging in mountain climbers with sliders, performing standing leg abductions on a slant board with ankle weights for added intensity, and pushing herself through push-ups to failure.

‘These exercises effectively challenge the body through its entire range of motion, fostering strength, balance, and flexibility while keeping impact levels minimal and intensity high.

‘Despite the apparent intensity of her routine, Jennifer ensures that impact remains low by steering clear of high-force movements like jumping, running, or landing, thus prioritising joint health and safety’.

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