Kerry Washington isn’t just inspiring viewers on screen—she’s motivating fans to move with her dedication to fitness.
In a recent Instagram post, the 46-year-old actress shared her go-to Pilates reformer routine, proving age is just a number when it comes to strength and vitality.
Her workout showcased seriously toned abs, sculpted arms, and powerful legs—all while grooving to hip-hop beats.
And the best part? She’s been doing this exact training for over a decade.
Jump to:
- A Decade-Long Partnership That Delivers Results
- Compound Movements Create Full-Body Transformation
- Hip-Hop Makes Hard Work Feel Like Play
- Morning Workouts Set Her Day’s Foundation
- Yoga Helped Her Reconnect With Her Body
- Fitness Became Part of Self-Love Journey
- Key Takeaways From Washington’s Fitness Philosophy
- Slow, Controlled Movements Build Serious Strength
- Accessible Training Through Digital Options
A Decade-Long Partnership That Delivers Results
Washington credits trainer Erika Bloom for transforming her fitness journey.
In her Instagram caption, she enthusiastically shared her experience working with Bloom.
Turning pilates moves into hip-hop grooves with @erikabloomwellness for over a decade! She is the BEST. And good news!! You can work with her too!!! Check out her digital membership options! 💪🏾🙌🏾
Consistency clearly pays off—Washington’s physique speaks volumes about commitment paired with expert guidance.
Compound Movements Create Full-Body Transformation
Washington’s workout focused heavily on compound exercises that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
Her routine included weighted twisting lunges, cable pulls, and sliding lunges with arm raises—moves that challenge balance, coordination, and strength all at once.
What made her workout particularly effective was her tempo.
Washington moved slowly through each exercise, keeping muscles under constant tension—a technique that maximizes muscle engagement and builds both strength and endurance.
Hip-Hop Makes Hard Work Feel Like Play
Washington has made music an integral part of her fitness routine.
She pairs each exercise with hip-hop tracks, turning what could be grueling work into something genuinely enjoyable.
This isn’t her first time sharing these musical workouts. Back in October 2022, she posted an Instagram video doing mat Pilates set to hip-hop jams.
In April 2023, she took creativity up another notch with a Wes Anderson film-inspired Pilates session on TikTok.
Morning Workouts Set Her Day’s Foundation
For Washington, fitness happens before most people hit snooze.
In a 2022 interview with The Cut, she revealed her early-bird approach to exercise.
It depends on what I’m working on at the moment, but generally I start my day between 5 and 6 a.m. with a workout. I do a combination of Pilates, weight training, and cardio.
She doesn’t limit herself to studio workouts either.
I also love to be outdoors, whether it is swimming or hiking.
This variety keeps her body challenged and prevents workout boredom—two critical factors for long-term fitness success.
Yoga Helped Her Reconnect With Her Body
While Pilates remains central to Washington’s routine, yoga played a transformative role earlier in her life.
During an interview with Jay Shetty, she opened up about discovering yoga as a teenager.
One of the first tools that helped to bring me back to myself was yoga. It was one of the first times that I remember being still in my body in Savasana at the end of that first yoga class I took in high school and weeping because I felt really present in my body.
That emotional connection to movement has clearly stayed with her throughout decades of fitness evolution.
In May 2020, she shared video of her yoga practice with instructor Rebecca Benenati, showing fans yet another dimension of her wellness approach.
Fitness Became Part of Self-Love Journey
Washington’s relationship with exercise extends beyond physical results—it’s deeply connected to self-acceptance.
In an October 2020 interview with Essence, she spoke candidly about her evolving body image.
Learning how to love myself and my body is a lifelong process. But I definitely don’t struggle the way I used to. Therapy helped me realize that maybe it’s okay for me to communicate my feelings. Instead of literally stuffing them down with food, maybe it’s okay for me to express myself.
This holistic approach—combining physical movement with mental wellness—creates sustainable, healthy change.
Key Takeaways From Washington’s Fitness Philosophy
Washington’s approach offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their fitness:
- Consistency beats intensity: Over a decade with the same trainer proves that showing up regularly matters more than sporadic extreme efforts
- Find movement you enjoy: Pairing exercises with music transforms workouts from chores into celebrations
- Variety prevents plateaus: Mixing Pilates, weight training, cardio, yoga, swimming, and hiking keeps both body and mind engaged
- Start your day with movement: Morning workouts set a positive tone and ensure fitness doesn’t get pushed aside
- Connect mind and body: Physical exercise becomes more meaningful when tied to emotional wellness
Slow, Controlled Movements Build Serious Strength
One technique Washington demonstrated deserves special attention: time under tension.
Rather than rushing through repetitions, she moved deliberately through each phase of every exercise.
This approach keeps muscles working throughout entire movements instead of relying on momentum. Research consistently shows this method builds both muscle size and endurance more effectively than fast, jerky movements.
For anyone trying to replicate Washington’s results, slowing down might feel counterintuitive—but it’s precisely what makes her workouts so effective.
Accessible Training Through Digital Options
Washington made sure to highlight that Bloom offers digital membership options, making her training approach accessible beyond exclusive in-person sessions.
This democratization of expert fitness guidance means anyone can try Washington’s exact training philosophy from home.
With just a reformer (or modifications using resistance bands and sliders), her compound movement approach becomes achievable for various fitness levels and budgets.
At 46, Washington continues proving that strength, flexibility, and confidence grow with age when supported by consistent effort and expert guidance. Her openness about both physical training and emotional wellness creates a blueprint others can actually follow—not just admire from afar.
