We love finding out about the philosophies of Aotearoa’s experts on health, nutrition, wellbeing and fitness! This week we asked Natasha Patel, a pole fitness instructor at Auckland’s Viva Latino! Latin Dance Academy, the NZ Real Health 10 Quick Questions:
1. In a nutshell, what do you do for your job?
I teach pole fitness at Viva Latino Dance Studios. It’s circus-orientated, similar to aerial silks. The more you do it, the faster you become strong, and it is very obvious when your body responds to such a solid work out.
I teach basics to begin with where every move is a base for a bigger one. From drills to dead lifts into upsidedown stuff! It’s a whole lot of fun! You pinch and bruise from time to time but it’s all part of the experience. If you feel you are not strong to begin with, this will get you there in no time!
2. How did you get into your line of work?
Dare I say it, I watched the movie Striptease, the one with Demi Moore. There was a backwards spin she did which I thought was amazing so for my birthday my girlfriends and I went to Pole Revolutionz in Pakuranga. We learnt a few twirly moves around the pole including this backward spin which I wanted to nail (it made me look like I was learning to walk again) and then my teacher Amy Richardson-Impey performed three metres high on the pole. I proceeded to scraped my jaw off the ground and started pole, training three times a week.
3. What’s the best thing about your job?
Inspiring people to be more than they think they can be. Limits, in this case physical limits, are made to be pushed. Otherwise you live not knowing your own potential!
4. What do you do to keep fit?
Mostly pole. I train with ankle weights on to make my body work harder and I skip for about 3-4 mins before classes to get the heart going. Also I have a lovely dog who I go running with almost every other day. Conditioning for flexibility is important too… (half an hour to an hour, four times a week) this way you reduce chance of injury.
5. What’s your philosophy on nutrition and diets?
Eating is important. Muscles need fuel. Three healthy meals a day minimum. I also have a protein shake twice, maybe three times a week for muscle recovery.
6. What does keeping healthy mean to you?
Train mean and eat clean! Smoking and binge drinking is a big no no. Being naughty every now and again is fine. I have a sweet tooth!
7. What motivates you to stay on track with your own nutrition and training?
I get irritated and restless if I have not had a work out. So that keeps me going. It’s become part of my life now so sitting on my arse would be abnormal to me. And I know eating right will benefit my training. So I just do! It’s as simple as that.
8. What’s your best health or fitness tip?
No pain no gain my friend. That’s how most people who take their work/hobby seriously roll.
9. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to take?
I would take:
1) A plane (duh)
2) Enough fuel to fly to an airport with a bigger plane to take me home to my pole studio! I have classes to teach!
3) And glorious food for the flight back! I have a high metabolism!
10. Any favourite inspirational quotes?
“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!” ~Anonymous~
“Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it!” ~Raymond Chandler~
For more information on Viva Latino! Latin Dance Academy, visit www.vivalatino.co.nz or www.facebook.com/vivalatinodance.
Images / Supplied