Dancer Elena Giannotti tells Patricia Westonshe does not see the point of cosmetic surgery and would rather spend the money on travel
Are you very fit?
I think I am fit for the job I do. I am a dancer so I spend most of the day training and moving.
What would your typical training session involve?
Usually I start at around 8.30am with yoga or t'ai chi, followed by a class which could be ballet or release technique. I then have rehearsals with the company. If I am not too tired, I go swimming in the evening.
Have you ever been injured?
I broke my right foot years ago, three toes and a finger, and I twisted my tibia once.
Do you worry about your appearance?
No, I mean not my girly appearance. As a dancer I have my standards about body fitness and muscle condition that I try to maintain in order to be able to perform.
Is there anything about your body you'd like to change?
I practise martial arts and men are definitely stronger than I could ever possibly be. I'd like to change that.
Would you ever have cosmetic surgery?
No, I don't see the point of it. You die anyway. I would rather spend the money travelling and see the world before I die.
Do you eat a balanced diet?
I am Italian so I eat pasta but I also make sure I get proteins and vegetables into my diet.
Do you use alternative remedies?
Yes, I use devil claw for my joints. I find it very useful.
Is exercise a very important part of your life?
Yes, I exercise for most of my day, mainly dancing, martial arts, yoga and swimming. Discipline is something that suits my character and my needs, but it is not everything.
Elena will be dancing in Daghdha Dance Co's latest production, Sediments of An Ordinary Mind, at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, January 11th-13th. To book, contact 01-8819613/4, www.project.ie or www.daghdha.ie
Patricia Weston's exercise prescription:
If, like Elena, you exercise for most of your day you must make sure you do not over-train.
Over-training syndrome can occur in many athletes; it's an imbalance between training and rest and can result in fatigue, injury and underperformance.
Sufficient rest should always be included in any fitness regime, too much hard training can weaken the body, whereas rest makes the body stronger, allowing time to recover and repair.
Elena includes t'ai chi as part of her regime, which provides valuable time to relax and re-energise her body and her mind.
She also practises yoga, which stretches out the muscles and improves flexibility, thus helping to prevent injury.
Adequate nutrition intake is also very important for the prevention of over-training. Small but frequent meals and lots of fluids such as water and re-hydration drinks should be included. Lean protein is also very important to help repair muscles.
Elena uses devil claw for her joints. Many athletes use a joint supplement to lubricate their joints such as cod liver oil or gluosamine.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.