Dwayne Johnson, 50, says exercise helps manage depression: ‘It doesn’t solve the problem, but it helps’

Dwayne Johnson says getting older is about finding a balance.

When speaking to men health for his December cover story, the Black Adam star, 50, shared how working out was his salvation – both physically and mentally – during some of the toughest years of his life. It even helped him learn the power of vulnerability.

“During those times of depression and being challenged by it, the gym became my best friend — and I know a lot of people feel that way,” he explained. “You can go to the gym to sweat off toxins and get a little bit more clarity when you walk out the door. It doesn’t solve the problem, but it helps.”

For the megastar, finding balance is an exercise he’s perfected as he’s gotten older, and he hopes other men can learn it too.

“As men, we tend not to ask for help,” he said. “The ego gets in the way and we start stuffing things deep down in our guts, which is not good. I have become an advocate for asking for help.”

The actor added that he’s found a balance by “making sure I’m still in touch with the simple core things that matter to me.” Finally, “Life can get crazy and fun for all of us, but especially when you get a little fame things tend to go sideways.”

Indeed, while it’s a “blessing” to have nearly 347 million followers on Instagram, Johnson acknowledges that with great power comes great responsibility. Finding ways to balance fitness and mental health for his male fans is something he takes very seriously.

“I’ve trained long enough to know that there are some good takeaways I could share that could help my audience on their fitness and wellness journey,” he said of regularly posting his workouts to social media . “But one of the responsibilities is to make sure the things I post are smart in terms of training – not stupid shit that might hurt you.

Johnson’s fitness program is no joke. When filming Black AdamStreaming December 22 on HBO Max, he wanted to get in the “best shape” he’s ever been – which wasn’t easy at this stage of his life.

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“As guys, you’ve hit your 30s, you like to think you’ve got your s*** together. They generally don’t have a damn clue. You’re trying to train your s***. And you try to fake it until you make it, something like that,” he said. “At 40 I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to spend the next ten years training as smart as I can, training, family and work to reconcile to be an open sponge to study every day but also not to bother with ego training I don’t worry about the weight I put on the bar so hopefully push me until When I hit level five my joints feel great and I’m still able to not only maintain but build real muscle and build some really dense muscle.'”

Though his routine may seem extreme, he insists there is a spiritual method to his madness.

“There’s a Polynesian word called mana”, Johnson, who says he is half black and half Samoan, notes. “What it really means is like an energy, a force, a power that we all have and that always exists in our world. when i talk about it mana, It’s a feeling I have that’s just deep in the DNA here, and you can get it by going to the gym. You can feel that mana It can be quite tangible.”

“I’ve always been connected to my cultures, my family and my ancestors, but as you go down the path of life you start to connect more to your spirituality in a way that you start to see what mana actually means, you know?” he continued. “To me mana becomes my daily anchor and it is a reminder of my cultures. It’s a reminder of who I am; and it is a reminder to work hard, to be humble, to show gratitude; and it’s a reminder to always connect with people, as if we could be connected through them mana It’s very powerful.”

Without question, Johnson also shares this knowledge with his family: daughters Tia, 4, Jasmine, 6, whom he shares with wife Lauren Hashian, as well as his other daughter Simone, 21, whom he shares with ex-wife and business partner Dany Garcia .

When he’s not in the gym or filming the next big blockbuster, Johnson enjoys posting sweet moments with his family on social media.

For example, in August, the action star released an adorable video honoring Tiana.

“Lil’ Tia ‘Cindy Lulu’ here has no idea. Absolutely no idea how much her love and kindness means to her daddy,” he wrote of his daughter, whose hair was on top of her head to mimic Cindy Lou Who’s character from Dr . seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

“One day, years from now, hanging out in dad’s office and sitting on my lap will be the LAST PLACE she wants to be,” she said jumanji Added star. “So I’ll be greedy and take it while I can get it. Thanks for being so nice to your T-Rex daddy. One day you will understand.”

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