Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share. It is said that you have developed routines in your life that integrate exercise into your daily activities. You work out in your hotel rooms, you take the stairs instead of the elevator, and use your luggage for squats. When at home you are active taking yoga classes, jogging, swimming and surfing. Tell us more about this concerted effort of yours to remain fit?
Ms. Natalie Mann: The old axiom “It ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings” isn’t true of opera today. Today’s digital age requires singers like me to look the part as well as sing it. I used to struggle with getting an exercise program going, because I had it stuck in my brain that I had to do “one thing” to get in shape. I am much happier now that I have found ways to vary my exercise depending on the day.
If I know I have rehearsal later in the day, I try to do power yoga videos or walk, so that I can get in a workout but not be too tired to sing. When I am staying in hotels I will always find my way to the hotel gym and use treadmill while I study my music scores, or use online resources to find a cool new routine. A strong core is important to sing with power and luckily, crunches can be done anywhere. The most important thing I tell myself is that I need to do something, wherever I am! It’s easy to get off my routines when flying to different time zones and keeping odd hours, but those are the days it is most important to workout, as my body really needs that lift from exercise.
| Natalie Mann On WomenFitness.net: The ability to log onto Womenfitness.net and find articles for motivation and tips and tricks for weight loss and exercise that apply to my unique needs is fantastic. |
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Natalie Mann: I have never been one of those lucky people who could eat anything I wanted. I have always needed to manage my weight, and have found better habits through trial and error. My weight would yoyo up and down because I would either be on or off a diet. Now I have found a long-term solution in the 5:2 Plan. In this eating plan, I enjoy normal calories for 5 days (1500-2000) and then do a modified fast (500 calories a day) for 2 days. I find this really beneficial for a number of reasons. I get to pick what I want to eat instead of eating something prescribed at a certain time.
Then I am really mindful on my fast days of calories I take into my body. It helps me make better eating choices on my non-fast days without thinking about it. And if I have a ‘splurge’ day, I don’t beat myself up for it. I also find this regimen makes me drink more water, which is great for my body and my singing voice! The biggest challenge when I am on the road is making sure I have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. I always recommend skipping restaurants and eating less processed foods from the grocery store whenever possible while traveling. I also try to find vegan restaurants (even though I’m not normally a vegan) because they give such great healthy choices when eating out.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing smooth skin and gorgeous long brown hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Natalie Mann: The great news is that the regimen I need for singing, drinking water and getting the proper amount of sleep, is the best thing for my skin. Most people don’t realize that they are dehydrated and that sodas and coffee can’t replace the healing effects of water. Living in California, I do make sure to use skin moisturizers that have sunscreen every day. I also take a daily vitamin in case I am not getting the proper nutrients from what I eat. Sometimes the simple little things become the habits that are the best!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you do and precautions you take to keep you throat in perfect condition for your singing performances?
Ms. Natalie Mann: When I stop to think about it, it’s amazing how much I expect out of my tiny little vocal chords! Staying hydrated means my water bottle is always with me and I have to refill it at least 3-4 times a day to get enough water. I plan out my performance days to include a physical warm up routine like yoga to help me get my energy and breathing going. Once I get to the performance hall, I have a specific preparation routine that includes vocal warm ups and music review. This “pre-game” preparation helps me focus and keep any negative worries at bay. As much as I love the celebrations after concerts, I must be careful to limit alcoholic drinks that dry out my vocal chords or speak above the noise in loud rooms that can strain my voice.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us more about your experience of performing as a soloist in the Beethoven 9th Symphony with the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus in December 2014?
Ms. Natalie Mann: The moment that I hear the final movement of Beethoven’s glorious music crashing around me with the orchestra and chorus at full volume, I know I have the coolest job in the world. People are familiar with Beethoven’s iconic symphony whether or not they love classical music because it is played everywhere. As a soloist, the work provides big challenges. The soprano part I sing is full of high-soaring acrobatics. The line is also very exposed – meaning if I make any mistake EVERYONE will hear it!
Perhaps the hardest part is waiting quietly for the preceding 40 minutes of the symphony before I have to fire up and sing. That’s like warming up to work out, then sitting down, then launching into a boot camp. It can be really tricky!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Natalie Mann: I have found through both success and failure that my unique motivations for fitness and healthy eating will be different from others. That’s all OK. Just because something doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean I am a failure, it just means that I need to keep looking. The ability to log onto Womenfitness.net and find articles for motivation and tips and tricks for weight loss and exercise that apply to my unique needs is fantastic. I encourage people to embrace the thought that has really changed my life and fitness level – I may be busy today, but I know I have 30 minutes for exercise. That’s all it really takes to turn things around – 30 minutes of any type of exercise will yield amazing results. Good health is a journey, not a destination, and I keep that in mind and take it one day at a time.
To know more about Natalie Mann: Check out at: http://www.nataliemann.com/
To know latest about her check out on her out at:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nataliemannsoprano
- Spotify; https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fywMidvfbdGgJF0FH40oa
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/experience/id735161901
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Mann/e/B00IGD7GKU
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NatalieSoprano
Women Fitness Team thanks Natalie Mann for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and also wish to thank Shango Los who made this interview happen.
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