If you are one of the millions who religiously watches the AMC hit series, The Walking Dead, then you know that Danai Gurira has unmatchable skills playing her role as Michonne. She takes the term “bad-ass” to a new level. Originally from Zimbabwe, Gurira grew up constantly active, giving her the fundamentals needed to succeed in The Walking Dead. Michonne is a mentally and physically strong character who regularly uses a samurai sword called a katana. In order for Danai Gurira to be strong and agile enough to make those scenes a reality, she is constantly working out.
1. Gurira maintains a body balance through her Pilates practice. Gurira’s Pilates instructor is a master at picking out weaknesses her body must improve on to ensure a proper balance, like weak knees. If her strength is not balanced throughout her body, Gurira will often favor one side over the other, hindering her athletic abilities. This helps her fine tune every large and small muscle in her body to ensure they are working together symbiotically. Gurira is able to translate this muscle familiarity to her role as Michonne with her strong and agile moves using the katana.
2. She listens to her body. According to Self, “Gurira listens to her body and does what she feels it wants her to do.” To explain, Gurira regularly performs a variety of different workouts, so she changes up her regiment depending on her schedule, time and what she feels her body needs. She combines a variety of workouts like swimming, cardio, squats and pilates. She also keeps workout DVDs on-set in case she has any down-time. Danai makes time to sweat for at least 20 minutes per day doing what she feels her body needs the most.
3. Gurira has a can-do, no-quitting attitude. Having been active since childhood, swimming or running track, Danai has always been up for any physical challenge. She enjoys learning new skills and does not quit when the going gets tough. Sometimes, she even yells during cardio workouts to keep herself motivated.
Featured image found on amctv.com.
