This Intense Total-Body Workout Gets David Boreanaz Out of ‘SEAL Team’

David Boreanaz signed up for the CBS military drama ‘SEAL Team’ knowing he would be spending some serious time in the gym. Below is his daily intense workout routine.
David Boreanaz knew that when he signed on to lead the CBS military drama SEAL Team, he also signed up to spend some serious time in the gym. The show follows Team Bravo, an elite unit of SEAL Team 6, as they train and carry out dangerous missions around the world. That’s not the kind of team you can lead by skipping assignments.

“The type of person who becomes a Tier 1 executive is highly motivated,” Boreanaz told Men’s Journal.
He played squad leader Jason Hayes for three seasons. On the surface, this character is a highly decorated soldier, but the real story is much more complicated. He also struggled with the mental and physical toll of his service — this season more than ever.
The biggest asset Boreanaz has is the series’ creative team, which includes former special forces members. They provide a wealth of insight into the mental and physical aspects of the job, from overcoming BUD/S, to deployment and dealing with the aftermath.
“I can’t explain how important they are to the character,” Boreanaz said. “During these operations, they cannot go below 100%, they are always active and burning. I get a lot out of being around those people and it motivates me to work harder.”

One person who can attest to that is Boreanaz trainer Roy Paras, founder of EPX Training, who has spent the past year getting the actor ready and fit for duty.

“These Navy SEAL guys are real cool guys and there are no shortcuts to looking like a cool guy,” Paras said. “You have to train that way.”

So he designed a program to keep Boreanaz healthy and chopped it up.
Boreanaz reports to Paras six days a week. Since the movie plays multiple days a year, there’s a trailer filled with exercise equipment so the entire SEAL Team cast can work out. On non-filming days, Boreanaz drives to EPX, but no matter where they go, the show remains the same.
Their workouts are complete and varied, starting with a little cardio to get the heart pumping and the limbs warmed up. Before they go deeper into the exercise, Paras asks Boreanaz to perform soft tissue work on the table to identify any potential problem areas.

“Doing that prep work is just as important as any other part of the session,” says Paras. “It’s all about the long game, and whether you’re off the field or on the field. You can’t work if you’re injured.”

Boreanaz is no stranger to injuries. He endured a number of injuries throughout previous seasons and even had to undergo platelet-rich plasma therapy — injections that stimulate the body’s natural healing function — to recover from a serious knee injury. The film’s intense action scenes also took a significant toll on his lower back, legs and joints. He admits he was less disciplined in his training in the past, but now with Paras, they have found a way to step it up without causing long-term consequences.
Which is good, because the rest of the SEAL Team are all younger guys and all want to go for it. Boreanaz not only serves as the commander of their team, but also serves as the show’s executive producer and director. For him, it’s not just about keeping up, it’s about staying ahead. For example, he directed an episode that featured the group hustling up a hill while unloading their backpacks.

“The scene starts with the helicopter exiting by rope and then we go up this hillside,” Boreanaz said. “Maybe I could cut a few minutes off, but I don’t want to. I just kept us going, harder and harder up the hill, with rocks falling all around us. When we’re done, we’re sucking in air. People don’t like it but it looks amazing.”

This season, the cast traveled to Serbia, where they could be seen jumping out of cars and chasing bad guys down alleys in full gear.

“I really enjoy participating in such elements,” Boreanaz said. “Running around Belgrade in a physical space and not on a sound stage. Everything we do is to serve these people’s stories better. That’s why we started the work.”