When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, Eric Braeden has always been inspired by the Latin phrase “mens sana in corpore sano.”
“It means ‘a healthy mind lives in a healthy body,’ meaning work out,” he tells TODAY.com in his dressing room on the set of “The Young and the Restless,” where he recently celebrated his 45th anniversary.
The 84-year-old has certainly taken that message to heart throughout his life and once played professional soccer for the Los Angeles Maccabees in the 1970s.
“There aren’t many guys around anymore that I used to play competitive soccer with, but we used to meet twice a week after my competitive career was over,” Braeden says.
It’s a tradition the actor recalls both fondly and wistfully.
“I miss playing soccer. I really miss it a lot,” he says.
2 of Eric Braeden’s Favorite Workouts for Staying Fit in His 80s
The soap opera star may have altered his workout a bit over the years, but he still knows how to sweat it out like an athlete and has always loved boxing.
“I used to spar. Not anymore. But I still hit the heavy bag,” he says.
Boxing requires a certain amount of endurance, and Braeden has stamina to spare thanks to his frequent bouts of strength training.
“(After) a good series of lifting weights, you feel good afterwards,” he says.
Although Braeden used to run “quite a bit,” he now has a new knee and hip and focuses more on boxing and weightlifting.
The actor even occasionally shows off his boxing moves on his Instagram page. Back in April, he shared a video of himself at the gym along with the caption: “Eff cancer! 84 and going!!”
In August 2023, the actor announced that he was cancer-free after going public with his bladder cancer diagnosis a few months prior. Braeden later shared an update with TODAY.com about how he was doing, saying, “I already am (in fighting shape). I’ve already kind of forgotten about it.”
Braeden’s appreciation for physical activity was cultivated in his childhood while growing up in Germany playing sports. He’s also come to learn that staying active has positive effects on mental health.
“Sports are very important to teach how to deal with disappointment,” he says, explaining that athletes can reach “the depths of depression” after a tough loss as they compete throughout the season.
It’s a sentiment Braeden echoed to TODAY.com in 2023.
“Sports have made me who I am. … From early on you learn to overcome obstacles,” he said.
At the time, Braeden also noted that it’s never too late to start taking physical fitness seriously.
“You can make your muscles stronger to the very end of your life,” he said.
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