AsiaSpa

96 asiaSpa India March-April 2016

GEETA CHANDRAN
Bharatanatyam Dancer

Only a lucky few can achieve
 tness & wellness
Wellness belongs to the realm of the
spirit. A fully fit person may experience
a deficit of wellness; just as others, who
may not be that fit, can experience a
surfeit of wellness. The lucky ones can
manage to attain both – fitness and
wellness. That is what I try to achieve!

Fitness is a professional requirement
Even though I dance for a couple
of hours every day, it is not enough
for me to stay fit – I have to stay fit
to dance. So my routine is complex

and could include different kinds of

exercises – walking, stretching, yoga,

meditation, aerobics and gymming. The

key to fitness is never to fall into a rut;

the muscles need to be challenged in

different ways every single day. Fitness

is a professional requirement. Just like

managers need software to enable their

work, I have to master fitness to dance

well. So the excuse of not finding time

does not fly.

Dance is an incredibly harsh mistress

My guru once told me that if a dancer

does not rehearse for a day, her body

will know; if she skips riyaaz for two

days, her accompanying musicians

will know, and if she has skipped

rehearsals for three days, her audience

will know! Dance is an incredibly

harsh mistress, and requires the

fullest commitment. The only mantra

I have ever followed to stick to my

fitness and wellness routine is the

inner smile that I experience when

I confidently introduce myself as

a dancer.

My work is my life, & vice versa

I make sure I follow my fitness

routine, no matter where I am. It is

true that finding space is a challenge

sometimes. In that case, I alter my

routine and do stretches that require

lesser space. But exercise is a daily

must. I don’t see my work and life

as different silos. My work is my life,

just as my life is my work. Dance is

my identity! So, there’s no conflict of

interest there.

It is very important to listen to

your body

An efficient diet plan is to eat

small plates – smaller portions

more frequently and never banish

a certain kind of food. If you ban

something, you crave for it more,

and end up violating all the rules! It

is most important to listen to your

body – if it tells you to give it more

carbohydrates, then you must. Boiled

vegetables and yogurt are fast friends

for a dancer.

If you do positive things, stress will

not affect you

Humour is the best way to destress.

So, I surround myself with happy

people, stay in an environment that

I love and listen to music. If you do

positive things, stress will never be

able to get to you.

• PARVATI M. KRISHNAN