{"id":148439,"date":"2025-11-19T14:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T14:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/148439\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T14:54:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T14:54:11","slug":"imagine-dragons-dan-reynolds-uses-this-heavy-lifting-routine-to-stay-in-serious-shape-at-38","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/148439\/","title":{"rendered":"Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds Uses This Heavy-Lifting Routine to Stay in Serious Shape at 38"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dan Reynolds takes the gym seriously. His six-day-a-week training schedule<\/a> powers his high-energy performances as frontman of Imagine Dragons, with Olympic lifts<\/a> forming the backbone of his workouts. But for the 38-year-old, training does far more than prepare him for the stage \u2013 it supports his mental health<\/a> and helps him manage two autoimmune diseases.<\/p>\n

\u2018I started working out for a lot of reasons. One for music \u2013 Imagine Dragons is a very expressive show. I\u2019m running across the stage while trying to breathe and sing at the same time. If I\u2019m out of shape, if I\u2019m not keeping up with my cardio<\/a>, I really suffer on stage,\u2019 Reynolds told Men’s Health US<\/a>. \u2018Also, just mental health. I\u2019ve dealt with depression for many years, and when I was younger, a therapist recommended exercising every day. It\u2019s been life-changing for me.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Training Like an Olympic Lifter<\/p>\n

When Reynolds goes to the gym, he says his sessions typically last around an hour. During that time he is dedicated. He pushes himself to the maximum every time, working with his trainer, Brad Freinberg, to yield the best results possible. And, after over more than a decade of training, Reynolds reveals he’s found great benefit in Olympic lifting. <\/p>\n

‘I do cleans<\/a>, I do deadlifts<\/a>, I do clean and jerks<\/a>. I work those into the week to really make me explosive on stage, which is very important for me to be light on my feet and fast twitch. So, Olympic lifting has been a really important part of my routine.’<\/p>\n

Why Stretching Is Essential<\/p>\n

During his sessions he also likes to include functional circuits that raise his heart rate and challenge his muscles. Stretching is key, too, to help manage one of his autoimmune diseases, ankylosing spondylitis (AS). AS is an inflammatory condition that affects the spine, pelvis, and digestive tract. Untreated, it can lead to vision loss, fusion of the vertebrae, and cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n

‘My bones can fuse and this happens because my body attacks my joints. I have a lot of pain in my hips and the best way to protect myself from that is to eat really clean and healthy,’ Reynolds said. ‘I do a standard anti-inflammatory diet and then also to strengthen all my hinge movements. Stretching has been probably the most important part of my life. If you see me on stage, I will stretch probably five times during the set. In-between songs, I’m touching my toes, always stretching, trying to get blood moving through my body.’<\/p>\n

Dan Reynolds’ Full-Body Workout<\/p>\n

As part of Reynolds’ workouts, he starts with one Olympic-style lift. On this occasion<\/a>, he starts by power cleaning a barbell from the floor onto his shoulders, then completing one set of heavy front squats. The weight is gradually reduced over the next three sets, while the reps are increased. <\/p>\n

After that, he jumps into the circuit. Reynolds works through each round as part of a descending ladder: so, the first round is 10 reps, the second round is 9, and so on. He then finishes with some stretching and mobility work, to keep his joints healthy. <\/p>\n

B1. Dumbbell Front Squat x 10 sets of 10-1 repsB3. Burpee<\/a> x 10 sets of 10-1 repsB4. Air Bike<\/a> x 10 sets of 300mRelated Stories\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men\u2019s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.<\/p>\n

During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.<\/p>\n

Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running \u2013 he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark\u2026<\/p>\n

You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs<\/a> or on X @ryandabbs_<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n