Kevin Gates, the renowned rapper, understands the importance of maintaining peak physical condition. When he's not on stage performing or in the studio recording music (his latest album, Khaza, just dropped), you can assume that he's probably busy keeping his body in top shape with some type of fitness endeavor. For Gates, who is 36 years old, working out isn't just about physical appearance; it's a form of therapy.
The Importance of Fitness for Kevin Gates
"I work out twice a day," he told the MH crew when he stopped by our NYC HQ shortly after his album release. "I'm about to go out on tour and working out is my therapy."
Gates emphasizes the importance of listening to his body and dedicates significant attention to movements that promote well-being. He incorporates focused warm-up time for his core muscles and includes plenty of yoga-based stretches. Since starting with his yoga practice, Gates says that he's not had any injuries. "My body feels amazing, and when I don't stretch and don't do yoga, I feel like a grouch," he says.
Hiking and Jogging: Embracing the Outdoors
Gates isn't confined to gyms; he embraces outdoor activities like hiking and jogging to stay active and healthy. "I use hiking as recovery because when you're hiking over a mountain, you touch the stabilizer muscles-the muscles you usually don't touch doing a gym workout," he says. "And there's nothing like being in a natural environment."
He doesn't just walk among the hills, either-Gates loves to pick up the pace to run, too. "I like to jog because it's like when I'm jogging, I'm just free," he says, likening the act to an exercise in mindfulness. "I'm not running from anything, I'm running into my blessing, I'm running into whatever I've manifested. I just focus on what it is I want."
Read also: Maryland Muscle Machine's Diet
Kevin Gates' Gym Workout
When Gates trains, he has a go-to artist to soundtrack his efforts: "He's like my favorite artist, his name's Kevin Gates," he says with a grin. "You know in the beginning I was a little iffy, then when I got into I was like yeah, I like this guy."
Here's a gym session that Gates uses when he's out on tour:
Warmup
- Jump Rope: 4 rounds of 30 seconds
Core
- Ab Wheel Rollouts: 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps
Upper Body Tri-Set
- Incline Dumbbell Squeeze Press: 3 sets of 10 reps
- Close-Grip Pushups: 3 sets of 10 reps
- Bench Dips: 3 sets of 10 reps
Read also: Post-Heart Attack Diet
Read also: Kevin James' health journey