Lenny Kravitz is and has always been considered one of the most attractive men in music and entertainment. From his handsome face and chiseled body to his effortless style, Lenny is no stranger to making the ladies swoon. And at 59, he hasn’t lost the sauce one bit. May will mark two significant moments for him–his first album in six years, Blue Electric Light, will drop on May 24 and May 26 marks his 60th birthday. While speaking with USA Today, the “Human” singer revealed how he stays in shape.
“I work out five or six days a week. I’m very serious about my training, about what I put in my body. I try to get as much rest as possible, but that is my weakness,” he said. He also talked about his grandfather, Albert Roker, who had a major influence on his life and his wellness routine.
“I had a grandfather who always looked 25 years younger than he was, and he did the same thing. I was not into this as a young adult and he used to wake me up to do chores, but he wanted me to work out with him. He used to get on his bike in his late 80s and ride for five hours. Five hours! When he was 9 he became the head of his household to provide for his mother, who was bedridden, and his four brothers and sisters in the Bahamas, where there was no electricity. He learned to roller-skate at 80 because he didn’t get to have his childhood. This is the kind of guy he was,” he shared.
Lenny Kravitz
Photo by Phillip Faraone/VF24/Getty Images for Vanity Fair
As Lenny continued, he opened up about dismantling how people view age and being in the best shape of his life right now. “We have this thing about age, like we have about race or religion, and these stereotypical ideas about at this point in life you should be doing this or that, and it’s not that way.
“You can be 30 and you can be destroyed and you can be 80 and you can be young and vibrant. If you asked me 'When were you in the best shape of your life?' it’s today, right now. Mentally, physically, and spiritually, I’ve never been better. That’s all I can tell you. I’ve never felt more vibrant, and youthful. I’m not saying that in an egotistical way. All of us have the possibility to have that if we have the basic blessing of health, and we should go for it.”
Throughout the years, the “American Woman” singer has dropped gems about love, life, and family. Check them out below.
Lenny on How He Was Raised
“People always accuse me of being motivational in a way, like it was a bad thing, but that's just how I was raised. My mom raised me in a positive environment, with lots of love in my heart, and that reflects in my music.”
Via MTV
Lenny on Still Loving Lisa Bonet
“The love doesn’t leave you, but it has to find a new way to funnel itself into a new life. We consciously wanted to do that. It took time, believe me, but she is a part of my life that will never leave my heart, my soul, or my spirit. I am what I am because of our experience.”
Via PEOPLE
Lenny on Co-Parenting with Lisa Bonet
"We did it with understanding and being able to handle our own business without getting others involved. That is what Let Love Rule is. It's when you remove ego and all of the other elements and do what you're supposed to do."
Via PEOPLE
Lenny and Zoë Kravitz at Lenny's Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony
Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Lenny on Having Gratitude
“I'm extremely grateful every day, just to wake up, to have life, health. It's a very beautiful and interesting game that we play on this earth, but I am just grateful to wake up and I'm glad that I'm able to have that because when you are grateful, you enjoy this ride so much more. It's so much more fun to actually be full of gratitude.”
Via BET
Lenny on Making Time To Enjoy Life
“I am taking the time to smell the flowers where I never really did. I told God years ago, when things start coming around again the way it used to be, in having these triumphs and these blessings, I am going to stop and acknowledge it and smell the flowers. Any little thing, I stop, I take it in and I digest it.”
Via BET
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
RELATED
Layover. Although it isn’t exactly “music to our ears” whenever we hear the word, it doesn’t have to be a tremendous burden if you know some tricks of the trade that will make a layover more bearable. Luckily, I’ve got 10 that could actually make this your best year for summer travel yet, y’all!
10 Layover Travel Tips You’ll Be Glad You Know
1. Research Best Layover Airports (Yes, There Is Such a Thing)
GiphyIf while planning your trip, if it looks like a layover is going to be more than 90 minutes, it never hurts to research the airports that are the most user-friendly as far as layovers are concerned. From what I can see, several studies reveal that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas) gets a lot of props, thanks to the food options and the amount of frequent flyer miles that you can stack up.
Some other airports that top the list include Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and Denver International Airport. If you want to save money on your travel by having a layover, purposely landing in these cities can make the wait much more pleasurable for you.
2. Download Your Airline’s App
Whatever airline you plan on flying on, make sure to download its app before heading to the airport. There are many reasons why this is a solid hack including the fact that:
1) you can check-in and get a mobile boarding pass; 2) you can get real-time travel updates; 3) you can utilize the entertainment options that they have (including the airline’s Wi-Fi); 4) you can see how to best navigate through various airports; 5) you can easily contact their customer service support; 6) you can oftentimes track your checked baggage, and 7) some apps (like Delta) can even help you to store where you parked your car (if you put it in long-term parking) in your smartphone, so that you can easily find it upon your return.
3. Also Download Your Entertainment Beforehand
GiphyIf you happen to be on a flight that either doesn’t have Wi-Fi or charges for it, you can still enjoy your movies ‘n stuff by downloading them before you leave. This can also come in handy at the airport when their internet access is running hella slow because so many people are accessing it.
4. Choose a (Layover) City Where You Have a Friend
Although I don’t hate to fly, I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s my favorite thing to do. And so, back when I used to fly to South Africa to see some family, it was common for me to stop over in London for a couple of days because it’s the halfway mark for me — and seven hours on a plane is a lot easier to endure than a whopping 14.
That said, if you’re planning on an international trip, you’re not the biggest fan of flying yourself or, again, you want to save a few coins by booking a flight that has a layover or two — why not use this as an opportunity to hang out with a family member or friend in another city? That way, you can get a break from air travel and get in some quality time with them as well.
5. Pack Some of Your Own Snacks
GiphyIf you’ve ever wondered why airport food is so damn expensive, one of the main reasons is how much it costs for each restaurant to rent their space is completely insane. Plus, there are things like vendors, commission costs and all kinds of other “blah, blahs” that make the mark-ups so crazy. That’s why it can never hurt to bring some snacks along — non-liquid items that you can pack in your carry-on that will get you through your layovers without you breaking the bank in the process.
6. Put an Empty Recyclable Bottle in Your Carry On
Since a lot of airports have water refills stations available, you can stay hydrated while also keeping coins in your pocket by packing an EMPTY recyclable bottle in your carry-on too. Most TSAs will totally allow it. As far as refills on actual drinks, some airports allow those as well (after you purchase one drink from them, of course); never assume, though. Ask before making the purchase.
7. Have a Portable Charger in Tow
GiphyMaybe it’s just me but, even though airports seem to be filled with charging stations all over the place, it’s like only half of them actually work (and I’m being gracious on that!). That’s why it’s also a good idea to invest in a portable charger. I don’t know what took me so freakin’ long to get myself one; however, it’s basically my BFF at this point.
The one that I will cosign on is the ANKER Zolo Power Bank, 20,000mAh 30W Max Fast Portable Charger. It charges pretty fast and I’ve been able to get about three full charges on my smartphone before needing to charge the portable one all over again. Such a lifesaver!
8. Get Some Lounge Access
If almost everything about airports gets on your very last nerve, you definitely need to get some airport lounge access. It’s quiet(er); you have lots of room to stretch out; the food and drink that they have to offer is typically free; many lounges have spaces that are designed and designated for children; there are convenient work stations, and some even feature spas and showers (I know, right?).
And just how do you get your hands on all of this? You can do so by flying first or business class, using your frequent flyer miles, presenting your military ID or purchasing a membership or even a day pass access into your airline’s lounge.
9. Cop Some Duty-Free Samples
GiphyIf you are going on an international flight, make sure to take advantage of the duty-free shops, not just because you are usually able to purchase items from there without paying local taxes but they oftentimes have free samples that you can stock up on as well; this is especially the case when it comes to beauty-related items.
10. Stay over a Night
Since a fair share of my friends are in the entertainment world, they tend to travel a lot. What is always funny to me is how most of them talk about flying to almost every city in the country while only actually visiting a handful of them. My point here? If you are headed one place and you decide to not have a direct flight, if the city where you are having your layover is one that you’ve always been interested in, stay over a night or even two.
You can find some hacks for how to find cheap hotel rooms by checking out “Hot to Get Cheap Hotel Rooms: 20 Tips and Tricks” on Travel Mums’ site.
BONUS: Get an Exit Row Seat
GiphyIf one of the things that you hate about changing planes is how uncomfortable the flights can be, space wise, ask to be put in an exit row seat. You will automatically have so much more room without having to pay what first class passengers do. Brilliant. Happy (and safe) travels!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Shutterstock