He’s captain of an e-bike crew
After seven decades as an actor, spoken-word recording artist and author, after earning two Emmys, a star on Hollywood Boulevard and a truly Kirk-ian cultural icon status, what’s left for the ageless William Shatner? So far this year he’s released a country music album, a new Christmas album and the new book, “Live Long And . . .: What I Learned Along the Way.” Here, he discusses a key element in his long, joyful ride: Daily fitness activities.
You’re 87 — and still doing TV, movies, making more music, a new book. How do you do it?
Lots of work — and lots of exercise. I always made fitness activities a part of my everyday life.
I got my motivation to work out from acting. As an actor, you have to be able to run and jump and do a fake fight, which can be a lot of exercise in itself... Since my 20s, I’d be in a swimming pool and working out four, five times a week — swimming, running, doing resistance exercises with my lower and upper body.
Then about 40 years ago, I started doing an activity that I credit for helping to keep me fit deep into old age: riding horses.
Horseback riding? How does that keep you fit?
I’ll ride two, three hours every morning that I’m not working — two or three days a week. People don’t realize it, but you’re not just
passively sitting there on a horse. Riding is a stretching and strengthening exercise. It requires balance, expertise, finesse and strength.
And it’s a serious fitness activity if you ride the way I ride: Competitively — in events, not just going for a stroll in the park.
Also, the competition motivates you to stay fit off the horse. To keep up with my 18-year-old competitors, I’m forced to do other exercise when I can’t ride due to work. I do a little weights, but that’s boring. So I’ve always used the pool for exercise. Then, in the last two years, I’ve done something new that has added immensely to my fitness and quality of life: bikes.
Road bike or mountain bike?
Electric. An electric bike. It is magic.
I’ve had lots of bikes over the years — my kids too. But two years
ago, after reading a story about electric bikes, I went down to the Pedego store on Lankershim Boulevard and bought one...The e-bike got me outside and got me fitter. Going up the hills is not a problem. I’ve got an arthritic back from all the horseback riding, my muscles are tender, yet I go back to my car when the bike ride’s over and I feel perfect.
Is that the “magic” you referred to — that the e-bike levels out the hills?
It’s more than that. The magic is in your mind. The electric bike restores your youth. You’re pedaling along with your 13-year-old grandson and he’s racing around — and you are right with him!
Right away, I liked riding the electric bike so much that I told my wife [Elizabeth], “Jeez — this could work for the entire family!” So I got bikes for everyone. We’ll do big family rides with 15 people. I’ll say to everybody at a family dinner: Let’s go bike riding tomorrow. So we started meeting in Irvine, in Santa Barbara, along the beach in Santa Monica. Suddenly, what used to be a meal becomes an enormously entertaining afternoon, everybody really joyful.
You haven’t touched on diet. Veggie or paleo?
Neither. Living a long, healthy life doesn’t have to mean giving up the things you love. I don’t skimp on food that I enjoy. Being active on a daily basis is more important to staying young and vibrant and creative. Remember that the blood that goes to your legs is also circulating in your brain. I feel like I’m at the height of my creative powers — the new book, the country album ... going on tour, making a movie, and another Christmas album ...
It sounds like you’re picking up the pace.
I’m pedaling my ... off !
health@latimes.com