Celia Holman Lee, stylist and managing director of The Celia Holman Lee Model Agency, tells Patricia Westonthat good posture is the key to looking better and feeling good.
Do you exercise?
No, I don't do much, but all my life I have had great posture and to me that's where it all begins. You can do a lot of stretching and strengthening by holding in your abs and having good posture.
Every day, I practise pulling my belly button in towards my back and clutch my backside.
I also take long strides when I walk, which I think is 10 times better than going to the gym.
Do you think you're fit?
I was very fit when I was on Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels and the judges kept commenting on how good my posture was. I was dancing an awful lot, but I haven't done very much since then. Irish dancing keeps you very fit and involves a lot of pounding and hopping off the ground but I really loved it.
I do walk regularly, for fresh air and my sanity, because I work very hard and my mind is very active and busy. I think I'm fit for my age, I'm 50 plus.
As a former model, are you weight conscious?
I wouldn't really be demented about my weight. I'm not a huge eater and I don't think people should be so consumed about what they eat. I eat when I'm hungry and if I feel like a burger and chips then I'll have it.
When I eat out, I don't eat a starter or a desert, I just have one big dinner.
When I modelled in the 1970s and 1980s, it was always about being thin and starving yourself and my nails and hair went bad. [ Now] I eat well; I eat all foods across the board and have a bit of everything.
Do you take supplements?
I take a multivitamin with Cod Liver Oil every day.
Patricia Weston recommends:
Maintaining good posture is important for everyone, not just models.
Good posture encourages your muscles, joints and ligaments to work properly and ensures your vital organs are in the right position to function efficiently. Good posture also helps prevent muscular problems such as backache.
Here are some tips from Celia on how to improve your posture:
She says, "Give your body a gift and stretch. Imagine you are a tree and straighten up and let the branches grow.
Stand tall, elongate your body and stretch your arms out overhead.
Stretch and exercise your back and shoulders by pulling your shoulders back and down.
Exercise your abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach and aiming to get your belly button towards your back on a daily basis."
Practise these movements daily and, according to Celia, "You'll breathe better, look better, carry yourself better and clothes will look better on you."
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
pweston@eircom.net
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.