At 83, Paul McCartney Swears by Yoga and Cardio to Outlast Performers Half His Age on Stage
At 83, Paul McCartney continues to prove that slowing down doesn't have to be an inevitable side effect of aging. After touring North America last year, his documentary, Man on the Run, will be released this week on Amazon Prime Video. And for a guy whose concerts often run around three hours (without intermissions), it makes you wonder: where does he get the energy? The former Beatle attributes his health and fitness to being a key piece of the puzzle, practicing yoga for many years.
"I like yoga, and I practice when I can," McCartney said in a past interview. "I think I first got into it when we were with the Maharishi in Rishikesh, in India. There was a bit of it there, and there were people—some of his colleagues—who were very good at it, and I got a bit interested. Through the years, I’ve just learned a couple of tricks, like a headstand!"
McCartney refers to the headstand as his show-off move in the gym, especially around the big guys lifting heavy weights. He might not be able to match their bench press numbers, so at the end of his workouts, he finishes with a headstand. Often, the muscle heads come over to praise him.
"I was once told by a yoga teacher that it [headstands] keeps you young," he said. "You turn all your body organs upside down, and seeing as for the rest of the day they’re either lying flat in bed or standing upright and have gravity pulling them down, apparently the inversion is supposed to be good. But it’s fun to do too!"
A dedicated yogi for years, he hits the mat with friends such as Alec Baldwin. Meditation is also part of the routine, giving him a grounding reset when everything starts to feel like too much.
Alongside yoga, he sticks to a simple workout that keeps him energized, no personal trainer required. His sessions typically include stretching, mobility, and foam rolling, followed by time on the elliptical or treadmill for a dose of cardio.
"I have a very definite routine,” McCartney shared on the SmartLess podcast. "I get on the mat, and I do a bunch of stuff there,” McCartney said. “Then, I move over to a cross-trainer...It’s not a huge workout, but it’s good. I like it."
And clearly, it's working. You can stream Man on the Run on Amazon Prime Video starting February 27, 2026.
Related: 'Man on the Run': Where To Watch Paul McCartney's New Documentary