Soprano Ailish Tynan tells Patricia Weston she has to watch what she eats as the days of large opera singers are long gone
Do you exercise?
Yes, I do exercise regularly. I enjoy walking and in particular hill walking which I do with my partner.
I live near Greenwich Park in London so I've no excuse to not get out and about.
Are you a gym bunny?
No, I have been in the past but not any more. I prefer walking because not only is it free but I feel it's better to be outside and in the air.
Any exercises you'd like to try?
Yoga, because I think it would help with my singing.
Do you eat healthily?
Yes, I'm a very healthy eater. In the morning I love porridge with honey or a fruit whip (which is like a smoothy but without the yoghurt). I particular love blueberries because they're supposed to be great for the vocal chords and I also like to eat a variety of different fruits. I don't deny myself the odd bit of chocolate, but when I do I'll go for dark organic chocolate to give me the fix I need. In my business, image is important, so I have to keep an eye on what I eat - gone are the days of large opera singers.
What foods do you love?
All the bad stuff like bread and chips which I have to cut down on.
Any unhealthy habits?
Yes, I love a bag of fried chips.
Do you smoke or drink?
No, I don't smoke and couldn't anyway with the work I do, and I rarely drink.
Is there anything about your body you'd like to change?
I'm 5ft tall so I'd like to be a bit taller. Maybe my nose, but I'm not sure if I could go through the pain of changing it.
Anyway it would definitely change my singing voice which is a bad idea in my career.
What's your view on exercise?
I have a very positive attitude to exercise. It keeps you limber. I really understand the importance of movement for health otherwise the body will shut down and not function very well.
The Opera Ireland spring season runs at the Gaiety Theatre from April 2nd to 10th with The Magic Flute and a double bill of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Zemlinsky's A Florentine Tragedy. See www.operaireland.com
Patricia Weston recommends:
Singers need to perform breathing exercises in order to maximise their singing potential. Improved breathing technique can also be beneficial for non-singers as it increases the oxygen supply around the body and promotes relaxation. Here's a breathing exercise that can be performed every day.
Begin by standing up straight and place your hands on your stomach area below the rib cage. Breathe as you normally would and notice whether your hands rise or your chest rises. To breathe properly, your stomach area must rise as your diaphragm expands.
Begin by slowly breathing in through your nose to the count of five while gently pushing your hands up with your stomach. Hold the breath for a count of five.
Slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of five while gently pushing down on your stomach. Repeat this exercise for five minutes.
Increase the length of time each day until you can do the exercise for at least five minutes twice a day.
pweston@eircom.net
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.