Boasting a truly decorated career that encompasses everything from film and television accolades, to as many as 14 brand deals, there is no doubt that Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is one of the most eligible leading men in Asia to keep an eye out for. That’s no surprise of course, when considering his good looks and incredible physique, the latter which is achieved through a truly intensive workout routine.
While celebrities often morph their bodies depending on the role they’re playing, Queen of Tears star Kim Soo-hyun has stuck by some workout routines to keep himself fit throughout the years. With abs that resemble the now-viral pan de sals, it’s no surprise that he’s amassed a legion of loyal fans. Here’s what you can do to get a toned physique like the K-drama star.
Here’s what Kim Soo-hyun’s workout routine looks like
According to Phil Star, Kim Soo-hyun has previously mentioned that he loves working out and regular physical exertion. He also doesn’t mind venturing outdoors and engaging in adrenaline-pumping activities like badminton, and skiing. Did you know that Kim loves bowling? So much so that he wanted to be a professional bowler and even applied to the Korea Professional Bowling Association. Fate, however, had other plans.
While Kim Soo-hyun hasn’t revealed the exact details of his workout, Health Yogi has curated a fitness plan that’ll help you achieve a body like him. It includes a mix of weight training, some stretching, and a few cardio and core workouts.
Stretching
30 minutes of stretching workouts will kickstart your morning on the right note. Try engaging in a Yoga routine, which will effectively stretch your whole body, relax and tone your muscles as well as help burn calories. Regardless of your level of yoga expertise, if you practice some stretching poses every day, it’ll soothe your mind, body and soul.
From better flexibility, improved mood and great sleep patterns to increased strength, more blood circulation, better stress management and more: yoga has endless benefits.
Some of the best yoga poses for flexibility include Intense Side Stretch (Parsvottanasana), Head to Knee (Janu Sirsasana), Cat-Cow (Bitilasana Marjaryasana), Bow Pose (Dhanurasana), Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana) and Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana).
Weight training and core workout
If you think core training is only beneficial for those involved in sports or recreation, you’re mistaken. Building a strong core works wonders for everyone from athletes and people working desk jobs to older adults and children. Before diving into core workouts, let’s familiarise you with what constitutes the core. It is made up of abdominal muscles (abs), obliques, back, pelvic floor, spine, glutes and diaphragm.
While well-defined abs are the primary motivation for many of us to indulge in core workouts, they hold more importance than just aesthetics. They help prevent injury, improve posture, boost athletic performance, allow you to perform everyday tasks efficiently and help build a good posture. Health Yogi has outlined a 10 to 15-minute core workout routine that you can do every time after weight training. Check it out:
Sets: 3
Reps: 15
Monday
- Push-ups
- Flat bench press
- Incline bench press
- Dumbbell flyes
- Lat pulldowns
- Cable rows
- Shoulder press
- Lateral raises
- Shrugs
Tuesday
- Squats
- Jump squats
- Weighted squats
- Barbell front squats
- Leg press
- Lunges
- Leg extension
- Stiff-leg deadlift
Thursday
- Wide grip push-ups
- Diamond push-ups
- Biceps dumbbell curls
- Barbell curls
- Hammer curls
- Triceps pushdowns
- Triceps bench press
Friday
- Smith machine squats
- Hack squats
- Crusty lunges
- Skater lunges
- Hip thrusters
- Hip abduction
- Calf raises
- Hyperextension
You can also practice a circuit routine that focuses on your core muscles. Include exercises like crunches, resistance hanging leg raises, side-to-side hanging resistance leg raises, Russian twist, plank ball in and out and plank twister.
Cardio
Regardless of your age, weight or level of fitness, cardio exercises are worth sweating for. Cardio (short for cardiovascular) exercises include anything that gets your heart pumping whether it’s running, swimming, dancing or just running day-to-day errands. As your body adapts to a regular cardio session, you’ll become fitter and stronger.
Let’s explain the logic. During aerobic or cardio exercises, there’s an increase in your heart rate for a significant period of time. Your muscles require more blood and oxygen during such times as opposed to when you’re resting. To fulfil the blood and oxygen needs, your heart and lungs have to work faster, which over time may make them stronger, thereby boosting overall health.
Some of the best cardio exercises we recommend are running and jogging, cycling, jumping rope, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), swimming, aerobic dance classes, stair climbing, brisk walking, elliptical training and rowing.
A diet plan that’ll help you stay in shape like Kim Soo-hyun
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Apart from maintaining a healthy diet, one thing that boosted Kim Soo-hyun’s fitness journey is his decision to quit drinking. To get a body like the One Ordinary Day star, you have to eat three proper meals complemented by one or two healthy snacks in a day.
- For breakfast, you can either opt for egg whites, toast and chicken sausage or devour oatmeal, fruits, and walnuts.
- Coming to lunch, energise your body with chicken, veggies, soup and a small bowl of rice.
- Dinner can comprise chicken breast or salmon, salad, sweet potato or veggies. Kim Soo-hyun also loves steak occasionally.
- Snacks can include a protein smoothie, almonds or fruits.
(Hero and feature image credit: @soohyun_k216/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What does Kim Soo-hyun’s fitness routine look like?
Kim Soo-hyun’s workout is a mix of weight training, some stretching, and a few cardio and core workouts.
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Written by
Kriti Nayyar
Senior Digital Writer, Wellness, Culture, Astrology, Tech
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama, whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature & journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
