Grammy-winner Ed Sheeran has acknowledged that he led an unhealthy lifestyle during his younger years. However, he is now making a conscious effort to focus on his health, ensuring he’s prepared for the demands of live performances.
The Importance of Post-Show Recovery
In an interview with Men’s Health magazine, Sheeran discussed why he sets aside an hour for a massage after each gig. He explained, “You just want to go to bed or go for a drink with your mates or whatever, but if you don’t do it, you’re just… the next day.”
He added, “I can be a guy who can be led quite easily, and if I finish a gig and my mates are there, I could go out. So actually having to be in my hotel room … I get the massage and, as soon as the massage is done, I need to go to bed. So it’s great for maintaining my voice, maintaining energy, and keeping healthy.”
Reflections on His Past
The “Perfect” hitmaker recently revisited a ten-year-old documentary about his life on tour and noted how significantly his routines have changed. He reflected, “I played three nights in a row and each morning I’m getting interviewed and they’re like, ‘How was last night?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I was out until 6 am doing tequila shots and smoking cigarettes with this person and doing this and that.’ Then I’d play a show, and it was that seven days a week. But when you watch it and you look at me now, I look 40 in that and I look 24 now.”
Finding Balance with Pilates
Sheeran recently revealed that he has discovered reformer pilates as an excellent way to stay healthy while on tour. He mentioned, “Reformer is definitely tied into touring. After the show last night, the last thing I want to do today is bench press and deadlift. So this is a really gentle way to still have the same level of exercise and feel like I’ve burnt calories, but I’ve also stretched.”