It’s 10 a.m. on a Friday, and I’m watching Ciara’s new music video, “Low,” (for the third time) in amazement. I’m scheduled to talk to her in about an hour, so I’m prepping my talking points. But I can’t seem to get one thing off my mind: her knees.
The multihyphenate singer, actor, and entrepreneur, known for her infectious vocals and musical finesse, is also notorious for her impressive choreography. Often marked by back bending, intricate footwork, and a whine or two down to the floor, Ciara’s music videos tend to leave viewers speechless. From her iconic 2000s era matrix to the way she hits the ground in “Low,” her choreo is as impressive at 39 years old as it was at 19.
So naturally, I took this chance to ask the burning question we’ve all had since “Goodies”: what’s the secret to “Ciara knees”? Before I even finish the question, she’s cracking up, almost doing a spit take on camera. “Oh my gosh, you gotta keep your knees oiled up,” she jokes before telling me the real secret.
“My core, I’m still building. Because after you have four babies, there’s a lot of restructuring that happens to your body. It’s inevitable.”
“It’s not just in the knees,” she says. It’s a commitment to your core and entire lower body. “My core, I’m still building. Because after you have four babies, there’s a lot of restructuring that happens to your body. It’s inevitable.” Still, over the years, Ciara always comes back to core work, even after dealing with diastastis recti during her pregnancies. Over the years, she prioritized workouts like boxing, treadmill runs, weightlifting, and cardio. She also can’t stress enough the importance of squats, which give you the strength you need in your core and legs to get low (and, more importantly, get back up).
It also helps when you have a built-in workout buddy and pro-athlete cheering you on in NFL quarterback Russell Wilson. “I think there’s something so cool about when you have your own personal drive, but it’s a super bonus when you and the love of your life have that same drive together to be the best you can be, individually and collectively,” Ciara says. While she calls husband Wilson the ultimate athlete, she proudly refers to herself as one, too. So it makes sense that she trains like one, telling PS another one of her fitness secrets: creatine.
“I first heard about it back in the day, which was like, it’s for muscle building and specifically for that and if you want to get jacked, that’s what you do,” Ciara says. But over time, she’s become obsessed with Thorne’s line of products, including their creatine, and is now partnering with the brand as an ambassador. She takes the creatine regularly, dissolving it in her apple juice twice a day to improve her energy and cognitive function. “Those are two things that I need the most help with in my world,” she tells PS – especially in creating her eighth studio album “CiCi,” released at the end of August.
A project in the works since the pandemic, the album is a labor of love aimed to show gratitude for the journey 20-plus years in the making, Ciara says. And it shows. As you make your way through the 14 tracks (18 on the deluxe album), you’ll hear range – from breathy soprano slow jams to club hits. There’s something for every fan of every era, and that’s the point.
“My ultimate goal is, I want you to feel good when you finish listening to the project,” Ciara says, adding that she hopes that everyone can find what they’re looking for in the album – hope, love, ambition, gratitude, connection.
The latter is her favorite part of making music. “Music sees no color, it doesn’t divide. It’s one of the greatest connecting factors and one of the most powerful factors in this world,” she says. “I feel so blessed that that’s a gift that I have been given.”
Alexis Jones (she/her) is the section lead of the health and fitness verticals at Popsugar, overseeing coverage across the website, social media, and newsletters. In her seven-plus years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions for and expertise in mental health, women’s health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women’s Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.
