Daniel Dae Kim’s Workout Routine

Daniel Dae Kim is no stranger to fitness. For personal and professional reasons, he maintains an active lifestyle that started in high school.

“Because I was playing lots of sports — soccer, tennis, football, taekwondo — weight training just became a way of enhancing all of those other activities, and I’ve kept it up since then,” the actor tells TODAY.com.

Kim understandably plays fewer sports now given his packed schedule, but the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” star still makes time for a few he loves, including pickleball.

“There are benefits not only to the body, but for the mind,” says Kim. “I find that playing a sport like pickleball resets my brain and makes me more equipped to handle stress.” It also puts him in a better mood, he adds.

Here are some other ways the 55-year-old star uses exercise to lift his spirits and keep in fighting shape.

He likes to mix up his workouts

As an actor, Kim’s days rarely resemble each other. For that reason, his workouts are always unique, too.

“When I find that I have a couple of hours free, I try to get every body part involved in exercise,” she shares. “I usually start with a couple of miles of running, just to get the blood pumping.”

He follows up his run with a full-body workout at the gym.

“I hope to get to a point where I can do a quick 30-to-45 minutes and concentrate on a body part,” before switching to another body part the next day, the gym. But for now, a full-body routine, he says, is working just fine. “I can’t complain about the results.”

Making time for exercise while he’s on the road is tough

Like anyone, Kim doesn’t always want to work out. And finding motivation, he says, is hardest when he’s on the road.

“I don’t have my usual gym and a routine,” he says. “And when you’re feeling lazy, it’s easy to find any excuse not to work out. So, I find it most difficult when I’m traveling.”

When he does find the energy for a workout, it’s usually after work. “I admire those actors who get up at 3 in the morning to do a two-hour workout before set,” Kim says. “I’m not one of those actors.”

“If I happen to finish (work) early, I’ll pop into the gym or do 20-30 minutes on a treadmill,” he says.

When he’s home, however, his regimen involves much more consistency — especially if he’s preparing for a role. “When I’m home, (working out) just feels like a natural part of my routine, and it is relaxing,” Kim says.

He’ll work out every other day when he’s home. And on the days when he doesn’t hit the gym, he’ll still get movement in. “Literally every day I’m doing something active,” says Kim.

He’s begun prioritizing his metabolism, body composition, flexibility and recovery

Kim says he’s also found success regulating his metabolism with 20-30 minutes of cardio. “It’s all about getting the metabolism up and keeping it up because once it goes to that lower rate, it’s that much harder to bring it back up,” he says.

He’s also been focusing more on body composition and weight. “I don’t want to be carrying any more weight than I need to because it stresses the joints.”

In his youth, flexibility wasn’t as much of a priority to Kim as it is now. “I see a lot of older men and women who clearly do not have the flexibility that they probably did when they were younger. It’s one of those dynamics where if you don’t use it, you lose it,” says Kim.

“Recovery is also something that I’m trying to focus on more now too,” he adds. He takes the time to stretch before and after his workouts. And when his muscles and joints are especially achy, “I’ll use Advil Targeted Relief … as part of my recovery routine,” says Kim, who is partnering with Advil to launch the new topical pain reliever.

He doesn’t have a trainer

It might surprise you to learn Kim doesn’t work out with a trainer. His physique and gym routine are something he developed on his own.

“I’ve never worked out with a trainer, but I’m very interested in trying because I’m sure there are some ways that I’m not maximizing my workouts,” Kim says. “I’m sure trainers know better than I do regarding what an efficient workout would look like. I’d love to talk with one, and maybe next time I have to get in shape for a job, I’ll try working with one.”

For now, Kim says he gets his ideas from friends he describes as “fitness minded.” They inspire his workouts and offer him tips for making the most of his exercise regimen.

Looking after his health is about more than vanity

“I’ve always valued being healthy and fit,” says Kim. “People think of it as vanity, but it’s really much more than that.”

Instead, fitness is about supporting his body in the best ways he can. “It’s about longevity and state of mind because I find myself much more centered, balanced and able to concentrate when exercise is part of my daily routine,” says Kim.

“It’s hard to function normally when you’ve only had a couple hours of sleep, but if you can get a full night’s rest, the day looks really different. I think that’s true of wellness and fitness in general,” he adds.