THE SECRETS OF J-ROD’S ROMANCE
Insiders reveal Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez work out like crazy, get down to the oldies
THE couple that sashays together stays together?
A source close to 2017’s hottest romance — the genetically blessed pairing of retired Yankee Alex Rodriguez and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez — told The Post that the two have bonded over, among other things, a mutual love of the 1983 Shannon hit “Let the Music Play.”
“One of their favorite things to do together is veg out and listen to ’ 80s dance music,” the insider said.
Chalk it up as just one more piece of evidence that this pair should’ve gotten together long ago.
“Our kids get along really well, we’re both from New York, we’re both Latin, we’re both in our 40s, we’re really enjoying life,” Rodriguez, 42, told Extra.
Ever since Page Six exclusively confirmed in March that J.Lo and A-Rod had quietly begun dating, the world has been watching their relationship with fascination.
What started as coy nods to one another — Rodriguez calling her an “amazing, amazing girl” during a visit to “The View” in March, and Lopez, 48, returning the compliment in April by telling Ellen DeGeneres he’s a “great guy” — blossomed into a fullfledged public romance with the couple’s red-carpet debut at the Met Gala in May.
They celebrated their summer lovin’ with a trip to Rodriguez’s onetime home, the Dominican Republic, where they made a pit stop at local schools to deliver backpacks to children, and a romantic vacation through France, stopping at all of Lopez’s favorite sights.
In July, the Leos celebrated their birthdays, which are just three days apart, with a blowout in Miami, where they shared a Swarovski-crystal-encrusted cake and sang along to “Sweet Caroline.”
One of the biggest supporters of the romantic pairing is Lopez’s mother, Guadalupe, who raised her brood of three daughters in the Castle Hill section of The Bronx. A family source said that “Mama Lo” is a “huge Yankees fan. She loves [A-Rod].”
Lopez plans to join Rodriguez when the former shortstop steps into his latest World Series role, as a game analyst for Fox Sports. “She’ll be right there, cheering him on,” the fam-family source said.
IT was while traveling for Lopez’s work — specifically, the singer’s “Jennifer Lopez: All I Have” residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas — that the couat ple the discoveredLas Vegas their fitness latest studio obsession,TruFud, sion. The gym embraces a whirlwind mix of yoga, cycling, pilates, kettlebells, barre and boxing.
Rodriguez, who recently confessed to E! News that Lopez is “a much better athlete than me,” was so impressed by the classes that he became an investor in the outfit.
The active couple also enjoys more meditative workouts, frequently popping in to one of Hot 8 Yoga’s LA locationtions.
“TThey are both very focused on thetheir practice during class,” an ob- server said.
Lopez, known forr her dancing, is quick to pick up on the bendy posi-positions, while Rodriguezez is still trying to keep up with her.
“He’s an athlete, so he knows his body well, but you canan tell he’s really working on his flexibility,”bility,” the ob-observer added.
When they visitedd Sirens & Titans Fitness in LA’s West-Westwood neighborhood,od, gym owner Jacques Devorevore was struck by how in syncync the couple was as they did ev-everything together, fromfrom picking out the musicsic — Pandora’s ’90s hip--hop station — to followingwing the exact same hourlonglong workout and cheeringering each other on.
“They were very sup-upportive of each other,”er,” Devore said. “Whenen they were pushing or lifting, they were help-ping each other.”
As Lopez told Hola!a! USA, “We comple-ement each other, and there’s really pure, true love. Just want-ing to support thee other person andd make them happy.y. So there’s a differentt selflessness in the love that’s beautiful and different. And healthy!”
AFTER retiring from the Yankees in 2016, Ro-driguez immerseded
Jennifer is definitely feeling confident in her relationship . . . she’s feeling empowered. — Source close to Jennifer Lopez
himself in the business world with his A-Rod Corp, which invests in industries including real estate, sports and wellness, media and entertainment.
And it’s not like he’s leaving work at the office.
“They really help each other,” a Lopez confidante said. “She’s learning more about business [from himhim] and he’s learning more about entertainment [from her].” Rodriguez has also been spotted visiting Lopez on the Queens set of her NBC television series, “Shades of Blue.” Since his 2008 divorce from Cynthia Scurtis, mother of his daughters Natasha, now 12, and Ella ,99, Rodriguez ash ada n interesting an and surprising love life. You might expect a major-league athlete playing the field would go the Derek Jeter route and choose a much younger modmodel. But with the exception of actress Kate Hudson, who is four years younger and with whom Rodriguez reportedly had a fling in 2009, he has been romantic ally man tic ally linked tool women— including Cameron Diaz anand Madonna, who is 17 years his senior. Before Lopez, he was most recently linked to Anne Wojcicki, the CEO of Silicon Valley DNA-testing cocompany 23andMe and the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin. As for Lopez, “It’s important for Jennifer tobe in a relation sh relationship. She just likes being with someone, a friend explained. The singer, throughout the years, has been a bit all over the dating map: engaged to Ben Affleck,A dating her backup dancer Casper Smart and rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. She’s been married three timtimes: to waiter Ojani Noa; aanother backup dancer, CriCris Judd; and singer Marc Anthony, with whom she has 9-year-old twins Max andand Emme. Although the family source laughed and noted that Lopez “doesn't really have a type,” there is one thing ththey all have in common. “[They’re] strong family men,” the insider said. “Pretty much every guy she’s dated has had a good relationship with his parents and his family.”
The family source added that J. Lo insiders are pleased that the relationship with Rodriguez is “a very equal, mature pairing.”
Family is a big focus for Lopez and Rodriguez, who Page Six reported have been apartment-hunting in Manhattan — including looking at a fourbedroom unit at 432 Park Ave., the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere.
The couple got their kids together for an Easter egg hunt in April, People reported, with one golden egg containing a $100 prize.
WHEN Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Texas, Lopez and Rodriguez donated $50,000 to relief efforts. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged the Caribbean, leaving Lopez unable to make contact with her family in Puerto Rico for six days, the singer pledged to donate $1 million to the island.
“They’ve gotten even closer through all of the charitable work they’ve been doing,” the confidante said. “It was such an important issue to them, and they wanted to go out of their way to make sure they did as much as possible.”
Ultimately, the couple decided their own money wasn’t enough. They teamed up with Lopez’s ex-husband Anthony to put together the “One Voice: Somos Live!” telethon and concert. Lopez and Rodriguez raised $26 million through corporate donations and another $9 million during the telecast. To celebrate, they headed to Lopez’s Bel-Air mansion for a postshow pizza party and watched the benefit’s West Coast broadcast.
Another thing Lopez likes about Rodriguez: his optimism.
“She pivots away from negativity and surrounds herself with positivity,” the insider said.
It must be working. While she’s always been self-assured, another source noticed, “Jennifer is definitely feeling confident in her new relationship. She’s feeling happy and empowered, like the boss lady she is.”
So is there a multi-carat ring coming soon?. “They’re not engaged yet,” the family source said. “But they are excited to be moving forward together.”