The Edmonton Sun H0N0AY, SEPTEHBEP ?8, ?

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If Scott Bishop worked out only
once in a blue moon, chances are
he'd be left feeling, um, blue.
The 4-year-old Nova Scotia
native certainly wouldn't be mak-
ing a living as a member of the
eccentric Blue Man Group.
If I wasn't as diligent with my
workout routine, I wouldn't be
in my 40s doing this," he tells Sun
Media in a phone interview from
his hotel room in Taipei.
We're onstage and we're doing
a lot of running and jumping
around. You really have to make
sure that your body can stand up
to what you're doing to it."
Blue Man Group, which sweeps
across Canada next month as part
of its 2000 Megastar World Tour, is
unlike any other show.
Te tour's publicists describe the
energetic spectacle as a uniquely
clever interactive show that deliv-
ers hypnotic entertainment for all
ages."
It combines music, comedy and
multimedia theatrics featuring a
rotating cast of three Blue Men.
And while they don't have hair
or ears, the boys in blue are in
amazing shape.
|a4arzace
You've got to be strong and
have good endurance," Bishop
explains.
When you set the bar at the
beginning of the show as far as
energy goes, you have to keep
that going until the end. Other-
wise, people will feel or see a dip
in the energy."
Bishop, who lives just outside
of Toronto when he's not on tour,
is a t 180 pounds at an even six-
feet.
But not too long ago, his body
was starting to break down.
In my late 80s, I got to a point
where my back got really bad and
I spent a lot of time, a lot of physio
and a lot of money, trying to gure
out ways to get my back to come
back," he recalls.
The former Symphony Nova
Scotia percussionist credits the
Dynamic Conditioning Centre in
Toronto with helping him finally
get back on track.
Those guys showed me more
proper ways to work out, ways to
stretch, ways to get my back mov-
ing again.
Now my back is actually really
good, knock on wood," he says.
Most people, once they get to
their late 80s and their back goes,
they kinda give up.
And I went, 'No, I'm not giv-
ing up. I've just got to gure a way
around this.' Tere's always going
to be hurdles and there's always
ways over and around those hur-
dles."
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The biggest improvement in
Bishop's workout regimen has
been his focus on form.
When I was younger, I'd power
through things and maybe not
have the best technique. Now, any
exercise I do, I really focus on tech-
nique," he says.
It's not about how many I can
do or how much weight I can do.
That's all ridiculous. That's for
young guys who are trying to show
o."
For the most part, Bishop injects
plenty of variety into his workouts,
which he aims to do most days of
the week for about an hour each
day.
When pumping iron, he espe-
cially enjoys trisets - performing
three exercises back-to-back.
Like today, I did shoulder
presses, side shoulder lifts and
dips," he explains.
I'll do them consecutively,
about 10 reps each, then take
a short break and go through it
again."
He also concentrates on keeping
his core strong, does cardio and
practises karate.
Although he burns plenty of cal-
ories, Bishop says a healthy diet
is vital. He opts for mostly good-
quality fish, veggies and fruit. A
Blue Man for the past four years,
Bishop is hopeful that his fitness
routine will ensure he keeps his
blue-collar job for as long as pos-
sible.
It's a fantastic gig," he says. I
really feel lucky to have it."
Blue Man Group invades Rexall
Place on Oct. 0.
Visit www.blueman.com for
more information.
Cary Castagna is a ccrtificd
pcrsnnal traincr thrnugh Can-
Fit-Prn.
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I) 0o a varieLy of exercises.
?) Be consisLenL wiLh your
workouLs.
8) lf you're on Lhe road and
you can'L fnd a good gym, Lhen
you have Lo imrovise. Find
Lhings LhaL you can do in your
hoLel room, such as ushus,
yoga or marLial arLs.
4) The key is Lo make do wiLh
whaL you have.
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