Actress Michelle Yeoh’s Secrets to Staying Healthy, Beautiful

On March 12, 2023, Michelle Yeoh won the Best Actress Award at the 95th Academy Awards, becoming the first Asian-American actress to win the Oscar. Angela Weiss/AFP

Michelle Yeoh, a Chinese Malaysian actress, won Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12 for her lead role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” becoming the first Asian actress to win that award.

“For all the boys and girls who are watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibility. This is proof that dreams dream big and dreams do come true,” Yeoh said when she took the stage to receive the award. The actress, who has been in the film industry for more than 40 years, also offered some encouragement for women.

“Ladies, don’t let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up.”

Although in her 60s, Yeoh still has a fit body and glowing skin.

“For me, exercising is the most important, and when I’m here in New York, I love walking around Central Park—I mean literally the whole circle around the park, which is what I did yesterday and what I did this morning,” she told Vogue, when asked to share her beauty secrets.

Yeoh loves outdoor sports and often shares photos of hiking, walking, and swimming on social media.

Yeoh does squats every morning to stay fit. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she shared her morning routine, which consists of brushing her teeth while squatting and then doing exercises such as kicking.

Numerous studies have shown that exercise provides many health benefits. The University of Oxford and other UK research institutions published a paper in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, in which researchers conducted five surveys involving 1,417 participants between the ages of 36 and 69.

The results showed that exercising to improve brain function is beneficial at any age and it’s important to maintain exercise throughout life.

Squatting has several health benefits, including revitalizing brain cells, improving muscle endurance, promoting blood circulation, accelerating metabolism, and improving autonomic dysfunction.

Dr. Hiroyuki Kobayashi, professor of medicine at Juntendo University in Japan, advocates for the benefits of squatting in his book “Walk ‘Til the End With a Smile: Deep Breath Squat.”

Kobayashi says squatting is a straightforward and efficient method for maintaining good health. It not only exercises the legs but also helps to prevent physical and mental aging, leading to an extended lifespan. He claims that if done regularly, squatting can make a person feel up to 10 years younger.

Michelle Yeoh at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, 2022. Shutterstock

Kobayashi listed the benefits of squats:

1. Revitalizes brain cells and prevents dementia
2. Enhances muscle endurance and promotes flexibility
3. Accelerates metabolism and promotes blood circulation
4. Improves autonomic dysfunction, relieves stress, improves sleep quality, and combats depression
5. Helps burn body fat and promote weight loss
6. Reduces constipation and prevents incontinence
7. Strengthens bones, relieves pain, and prevents osteoporosis

Kobayashi emphasized the importance of maintaining lower body muscle strength as we age. This is because muscle strength tends to decline with age, and a lack of strength can lead to physical frailty and even being bedridden.

Squats are an excellent way to train lower body muscles.

Not only does squatting provide physical benefits, but it can also be mentally beneficial. It’s a simple exercise that can be easily learned and performed anywhere, making it accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.

Squatting can also promote intestinal motility, aid in digestion, and prevent constipation.

Kobayashi advocates for two movements in the “deep breathing squat” method.

The Method

1. Soften Stiff Joints

1. Stand with your hands on the back of the chair, feet shoulder-width apart or slightly wider, and back straight.
2. Exhale and squat at the hips until the knees are bent at 90 degrees.
3. Inhale while slowly resuming the standing position.

Repeat the above movements five times in the morning and five times in the evening.

Reminder: If you can’t bend your knees to 90 degrees at the beginning of the exercise, as long as you keep your back straight and your eyes forward, you can exercise to your level.

2. Stimulate the Intestinal Tract With a Deep Lunge

1. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Face forward and take a deep step with your right foot, lift your left heel, and drop your hips until your left knee gets close to the floor.
3. Lift your hips upward and return your body to position 1.
4. Take a deep step with your left foot. Lift your right heel as you drop your hips until your right knee approaches the floor. Repeat movements 1 through 4 six times.

Michelle Yeoh attends the Opening Gala during the 70th Cannes Film Festival in France on May 17, 2017. Andrea Raffin/Shutterstock