Taylor Swift's Wellness Journey: A Look Inside Her Touring Breaks
Taylor Swift shares her intense 'Eras Tour' preparation, discussing her fitness routine and her decision to abstain from alcohol Discover the secrets behind her wellness journey in this revealing article
Photographs by Inez and Vinoodh for TIME
Taylor Swift is no stranger to life on the road, but for her record-breaking Eras Tour, she prepared like never before.
Describing her past touring style as "like a frat guy," Swift revealed to TIME in her 2023 Person of the Year cover story that she found the Eras Tour to be the most challenging endeavor of her career. The tour garnered attention even before it started in March, as a Ticketmaster crash in November 2022 left millions of fans saddened. Throughout the tour, Swift delivers over three hours of performance, guiding audience members through her career with elaborate set designs and 16 costume changes.
"The fans had to put in a lot of effort to secure tickets," Swift stated. "I aimed to put on a longer show than they anticipated, as it brings me joy to leave the stadium in high spirits."
She commenced her training six months prior to the first show at Dogpound, an exclusive celebrity gym requiring a $36,000 annual membership. The gym crafted a personalized program for Swift, integrating strength, conditioning, and weights to prepare her for the Eras Tour.
"Each day, I'd hit the treadmill, belting out the complete setlist," Swift shared. "Sprinting to the beat of fast songs, and taking a jog or brisk walk for the slower ones."
Photographs by Inez and Vinoodh for TIME
In addition to her intense cardio workouts, Swift spent three months undergoing dance training with Mandy Moore, the choreographer of La La Land, whom she was introduced to by her friend Emma Stone, in order to master the choreography.
Swift admitted, "I struggle with learning choreography. I wanted to be so well-rehearsed that I could have fun with the fans without losing my focus."
Swift was extremely disciplined in her wellness routine, including making changes to her diet leading up to her tour. She emphasized the importance of avoiding alcohol for a few months prior to the tour in order to stay sharp during performances, joking that she didn't want to experience the world of performing with a hangover. However, she did admit to allowing herself to have a "fun night" at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
While her pre-tour preparation was important, Swift also highlighted the significance of her post-show rest period. She described how she stays in bed, only getting up to get food and then returning to eat in bed, which she described as a "dream scenario." After a weekend of Eras Tour shows, she explained that she can barely speak due to singing for three shows straight and the strain on her feet from dancing in heels.
Unable to secure tickets for the Eras Tour, fans still had the opportunity to participate in the excitement by watching the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film. The film quickly became the highest-grossing concert film in North America during its opening weekend. After completing her first U.S. and international legs, Swift is taking a well-deserved break from performing, but she remains committed to the motto "the show must go on."
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"I will take the stage no matter what - whether I'm feeling sick, injured, heartbroken, uncomfortable, or stressed," Swift shared with TIME. "It's just who I am. If someone buys a ticket to my show, I'll be there unless there's some kind of unforeseeable event."
The Eras Tour kicks off on February 7, 2024, with Swift headlining at the Tokyo Dome. She's scheduled to perform over 70 additional shows in 2024 worldwide.
