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Here, the actress talks keeping her body strong and balanced.
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“The power comes from the way you pivot your hips.
Your feet have to be well placed, your shoulders dropped, your core engaged.
And she’s not playing with some lightweight prop.
“My katana is solid steel, so it’s like swinging a 5-foot-long dumbbell,” she says.
Strength isn’t just physical for Gurira; it’s a mental asset, too.
“I’ve always been a bit of a tough chick,” she says.
“That’s what made me work for the part of Michonne.”
“I’m happiest when I feel strong,” she says.
“And I do what I need to do to get there.”
That’s why Gurira always makes time to sweateven with 14-hour filming days.
“There’s always enough time in the day to get in a 20-minute workout,” she says.
“It never stops!”
They’d definitely be on the same side!”
Cross training is the key to maintaining her form and functionality.
“It’s part of feeling like I’m balanced,” she says.
“I just listen to my body and do what I feel it wants to do.”
Her pilates practice has also played a big role in keeping everything aligned.
“My instructor can see my weaknesses.
For instance, I learned that I was favoring my left knee.
So we worked to strengthen one side until it matched the other.”
“She’s in tune with every muscle in her body.”
“I scream through it.
Or I yell, ‘C’mon, Gurira!’
It’s hard-core, but I dislike the idea of ever being a quitter,” she says.
“I like to be a finisher.
I get really pushed by that.
I don’t want to feel like I’ve half-assed anything.
At the end of the day, it’s about knowing I gave it all I could give.”
Not much is tougher than that.
Top, T by Alexander Wang, $285;AlexanderWang.com.
Pants, $100;Nike.com
Styled by Lindsey Frugier.
Photo Credit: Jason Kim
