Cheryl Burke’s Ultimate Quarantine Guide: Exclusive Fitness & Creative Secrets from the DWTS Star

Even while staying safely at home during quarantine with her husband, actor Matthew Lawrence, 40, professional dancer Cheryl Burke, 38, is ensuring her body remains in peak condition. The beloved Dancing with the Stars pro is determined to stay in optimal shape, ready to hit the dance floor the moment the call comes for the show’s return. Since its hiatus in November 2019, fans have eagerly anticipated the return of DWTS, and while hopes are high for a fall comeback, the world continues to navigate the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite the uncertainties, being home has allowed Cheryl to delve into other passions, including her engaging live Instagram series, All That Glitters, which features diamond painting and celebrity friends like Leah Remini, 49, offering a creative escape for all. While adapting to life without a dance studio presents its own set of challenges, Cheryl has ingeniously leveraged technology and her home environment to maintain her impressive long, lean, and toned physique. Speaking exclusively to HollywoodLife from her Los Angeles home on May 1, Cheryl shared an update on her quarantine journey and revealed her top tips for staying fit without the need for specialized gym equipment.

Cheryl Burke’s Effective At-Home Workout Regimen

Staying active and maintaining her dancer’s physique is a top priority for Cheryl. She reveals her systematic approach to home fitness, demonstrating that dedication and the right tools can keep anyone in shape, even during unprecedented times.

What are you doing to work out or stay fit at home? “I absolutely love incorporating workouts that utilize my mirror for visual feedback and my Fitbit app for comprehensive tracking and motivation. My Fitbit has become an invaluable tool because it inspires me to achieve specific fitness goals, constantly pushing me to reach new milestones. Beyond just workouts, it diligently tracks essential metrics like my sleep patterns, daily water intake, and the number of steps I take, providing a holistic view of my health. Each of my dedicated workout sessions typically lasts almost 60 minutes, ensuring a thorough and effective routine.”

Cheryl’s weekly schedule is a testament to her commitment to varied and balanced training, ensuring she targets different muscle groups and maintains her cardiovascular health. Her routine effectively combines strength, flexibility, and cardio without requiring extensive equipment.

Monday: “My week kicks off with a combination of treadmill work for cardiovascular health and a comprehensive yoga session, utilizing the mirror to perfect my poses and ensure proper alignment and form.”

Tuesday: “On Tuesdays, I dedicate 35 minutes to a barre class, once again using the mirror for precision and technique, followed by another session of invigorating yoga to enhance flexibility and strength.”

Wednesday: “Mid-week brings a dynamic boxing workout, which is excellent for cardio and upper body strength, again with the mirror as my guide. This is complemented by yoga and targeted body strengthening exercises, including foundational movements like squats, burpees, planks, and push-ups. I also integrate interval training on the treadmill for 35 minutes, guided by my Fitbit coach.”

Thursday: “While Thursday is designated as a day off from intense workouts, I still prioritize movement. I enjoy taking a refreshing walk in nature, often accompanied by my husband, appreciating the outdoors and getting some low-impact exercise.”

Friday: “Fridays involve a challenging treadmill session where I alternate between fast walking for 3 minutes and sprinting for 2 minutes, repeating this cycle for an effective high-intensity interval training. This is then followed by a full body strengthening routine comprising squats, burpees, planks, push-ups, and a final yoga session.”

Saturday: “Weekends maintain consistency with another barre class focused on muscle endurance and toning, capped off with a restorative yoga practice.”

Sunday: “Sundays are dedicated to yoga, providing a perfect opportunity for deep stretching, mindful movement, and active recovery, preparing my body for the week ahead.”

Keeping the Dance Spirit Alive at Home

For a professional dancer like Cheryl, the absence of a studio doesn’t mean a pause in her art. She constantly seeks ways to stay connected to her passion and evolve her craft.

How do you keep up with dancing at home? “I continuously seek inspiration by watching various dance competitions, which fuels my creativity. Currently, I am channeling this inspiration into developing a comprehensive curriculum for a new dance program. This exciting project involves me actively trying out and refining innovative new moves, pushing the boundaries of my own dancing and preparing to share new techniques.”

Achieving Toned Abs: Cheryl’s Core Philosophy

Cheryl’s incredibly toned abs are a testament to her consistent dedication to core strength, which she integrates into every aspect of her fitness routine, not just isolated exercises.

You also have super toned abs. What’s your workout for those and how often? “My approach to core strength is holistic. When I work out, I always make a conscious effort to activate my core muscles. This means that I am engaging my abdominal muscles at all times, regardless of whether I am practicing yoga, which intrinsically strengthens the core, or even during my treadmill sessions. This constant engagement ensures that my core is always working, contributing to its strength and definition throughout my entire workout.”

This philosophy of continuous core engagement is key to developing and maintaining strong, defined abs, as it turns almost any exercise into a core-strengthening activity. It emphasizes body awareness and proper form, maximizing the benefits of every movement.

Cheryl’s Quarantine Essentials and Healthy Habits

Beyond her rigorous fitness schedule, Cheryl prioritizes nutrition and comfort, stocking up on essentials that support both her health and her daily life at home.

What are your at-home quarantine essentials/what did you stock up on? “I’ve developed a serious addiction to Hippeas snacks – they’re delicious and a healthier alternative. Hydration is also paramount, so water and green tea are always on hand. And for a treat, I love dark chocolate with Açaí and blueberries for their antioxidant benefits. When we manage to find paper towels, pasta, and marinara sauce, it truly feels like a good day during these times! And, of course, plenty of greens are essential, not just for me, but also for Matt’s reptiles, who are also vegan and happily share their fresh produce with me!”

What’s on your Quarantine playlist? “I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting playlists on Spotify to keep my workouts fresh and motivating. My current go-to workout playlist can be found here! It’s perfect for getting me moving.”

Cheryl Burke’s Creative Escape: Diamond Painting

Cheryl isn’t just focused on physical fitness; she also nurtures her creative side, finding joy and relaxation in an unexpected artistic hobby.

Tell us what diamond painting is? “For those unfamiliar, diamond painting is a captivating mosaic art form where you bring a picture to life by adhering small, sparkling resin ‘diamonds’ onto a pre-printed canvas. The canvas features a corresponding numbered chart, much like a paint-by-number, guiding you to place each color of diamond in its designated spot. The result is a stunning, shimmering piece of art.”

How did you get into it? “My journey into diamond painting began last year. I was on set with Matt in New York and found myself with some downtime, feeling a bit bored. I decided to Google ‘hobbies for adults’ because, frankly, ballroom dancing is my profession now, not just a hobby! Diamond painting immediately caught my eye as one of the first options. It instantly resonated with me, bringing back fond memories of rhinestoning my dance costumes when I used to compete before my DWTS days. From that moment, it was love at first sight, and I’ve been hooked ever since!”

“All That Glitters”: Cheryl’s Engaging Instagram Live Series

Cheryl has transformed her love for diamond painting into an interactive experience for her fans, inviting celebrity friends and mentors to join her in her creative sessions.

What can we expect to see with All That Glitters? “On All That Glitters, I’m thrilled to be reuniting with many familiar faces you’ve seen alongside me on your television screens. For instance, my very first episode featured the wonderful Christi and Chloe Lukasiak from Dance Moms, and my second episode was a delight with my good friend and fellow DWTS OG pro dancer, Kym Herjavec. But it’s not just about famous friends; you’ll also meet new faces – incredible diamond painting professionals whom I initially connected with through my DMs and who have now become my cherished diamond painting mentors! I’m even considering inviting our amazing and incredibly talented wedding planner, the one and only, Mindy Weiss! She’s expressed her desire to diamond paint with me multiple times, but as you can imagine, her schedule is usually packed. Now that we’re all in quarantine, I’m sure her schedule has opened up quite a bit, making it the perfect opportunity! I’m also playfully contemplating asking my husband, Matthew, to join as a guest co-host, though I still need to formally propose the idea to him. During All That Glitters, we’ll all be diamond painting together, catching up on life, sharing stories, and eagerly answering any questions our fantastic fans might have for us! It’s been an absolute blast so far, so make sure to tune in and join us every Friday at 5 PM PST on my Instagram Live! And if you happen to miss an episode or two, or if you’re keen to learn the art of diamond painting yourself, be sure to visit my new YouTube channel. There, I talk all things diamond painting and provide a clear, step-by-step tutorial on how to get started.”

Cheryl Burke’s quarantine experience is a powerful example of resilience, creativity, and self-care. Through her disciplined fitness routine, nourishing diet, and engaging artistic pursuits like diamond painting, she demonstrates how to thrive even in challenging circumstances. Her commitment to staying healthy and connected with her fans through “All That Glitters” offers both inspiration and practical advice for anyone looking to make the most of their time at home.