Madonna, Shakira and Gwyneth's Personal Trainer

I have an enviable job. I get to wine and dine a lot as part of my work. I am also a foodie and I love to eat. However, to have an enviable figure, or at least to prevent myself from ending up as a contestant on "The Biggest Loser", I have to exercise. Unfortunately, I am not one of those skinny girls who can eat all they want in the world without getting pudgy. I am proud to say I am one who exercises so I can eat. I recently started practicising yoga at PURE Yoga, and even upgraded my membership to include PURE Fitness. However, the latest fat-burning workout I am fascinated with is "The Tracy Anderson Method".

Meet Tracy Anderson. This petite powerhouse is trainer to Madonna, Shakira and Gwyneth Paltrow. Hell, if I can look like this girl, I will buy all her workout DVDs. Well, I did purchase two of her DVDs from www.amazon.co.uk and they have just arrived in the mail this week.

Tracy Anderson is one hot mama. Lean and toned, but not bulky.

So, who is Tracy Anderson? To cut the long story short, she was a wannabe dancer in her teens and twenties. However, she piled on the weight despite her dance practices. Then she got married and had a baby. She then "researched" and worked out her body to what it looks like today.

Tracy (right) with her sister, looking "normal" before her "Tracy Anderson Method" days.

Today, Tracy is one lean machine with her defined abs and "teeny tiny" arms (she likes to say that a lot, as much as she loves to pout).

Gywneth loves The Tracy Anderson Method so much that she endorses it. Wrote about it on her blog, as well as in a promotional video.

Tracy and BFF Gywneth.

I just tried the Mat Workout DVD and now I can hardly type. My arms are "burning" and I felt I was in boot camp. No pain, no gain. So it must be working! I want teeny tiny arms. A good thing it was on DVD and I can pause it anytime (I paused it a few times as my arms just couldn't take the ache).


This is the Dance Cardio Workout that I am supposed to do in conjunction with the Mat Workout. I think I will try it tomorrow. For now, my arms are "dead" and not "alive".


Official Sites : tracyandersonmethod.com and www.amazon.co.uk

Equestrian Pursuit

I have always been fascinated with horses, as they are creatures with strength and grace. My very first encounter with these magnificent beings was a pony ride at the Singapore Zoological Garden when I was about six years old. When I moved to London, I decided to take proper riding lessons, since I was living a stone's throw away from Hyde Park. However, a misadventure in the South of France when I got thrown off a horse with one foot stuck in the stirrup (and dragged for a few seconds) put me off equestrian for a couple of years.

It took me five years after the traumatic accident to overcome my fear. I finally decided to try again when I was in Australia in 2006. It was a leisure stroll with no stress, just lots of flies during a hot summer!

Lately, with a new outlook in life, I have devoted my free time to doing activities that I have always wanted to do. Horseback riding has always something I want to get back to doing. After doing some research, I finally found Horse City, a place in Singapore that do not require me to pay a hefty membership fee to join. The best part about this place is that it even offer a one-time trial lesson, so you can try out before committing to a course of 5 or 10 lessons.

Located at Bukit Timah on Turf Club Road (where Picotin restaurant is located), it is situated on the former grounds of the Turf Club. The horses here are all ex-racehorses. There are also ponies for young riders. I signed up for the private one-on-one lessons so I could learn faster. My instructor is an ex-jockey who has lots to teach me about handling horses and riding skills. My last lesson was a breakthrough as I managed to get the horse that I am riding for the very first time to do a series of basic obstacle course. It was a boost to my confidence and gave me an immense joy (one that exceeds the acquisition of any material good).

The best thing about horseback riding is you have to be focused when you are doing it, kinda like when one is doing yoga. There is no competition, you just need to build the rapport with the horse, and let it know you are in control. Animals can sense fear, so staying calm is a virtue.

Should you wish to have a retreat of a different kind, you can check in to Rider's Lodge instead of a hotel in town or Sentosa. The rooms are basic and not fancy, but you get to be in nature and walk over for your riding lessons. There's a dog hotel next door, so it won't be a good idea if you want to sleep in. The lodge is perfect for those who want to ride horses and play golf down the road. There are also other facilities at Horse City... a spa, yoga studio, child care centre, golf school for kids, and many more.



Official Site: www.horsecity.com.sg

Stellar Stella... Style With Substance!

Thanks to Stella McCartney, I can now look chic even when I am exercising. Adidas by Stella McCartney debuted in 2004 and was an instant hit with active fashionistas everywhere. When it comes to sportswear, looks and functions are of equal importance. The Brit designer teamed up with Adidas to create performance collections that look pretty darn good even when worn out of the sporting arena.

Here's what Stella said:

"I really wanted to change what I saw out there. Sports clothing for women was such an ill addressed subject. The colours were very basic and hardly any variation in design, it was so bad. I saw that as a real opportunity to put that right, by offering women something they could work out in and still feel good about the way they look. There is a real validity to making good-looking sportswear clothes for women. In this day and age, we should not have to compromise style for performance."

My first encounter with Adidas by Stella McCartney was two years ago, when I needed some nice ski gear for my virgin attempt at skiing... at Megeve (major stress as it's the hip spot for skiing). My motto is "If I can't ski, at least I look good on the slopes". Hence the search begun for the perfect ski jacket months before the ski trip. I found a off-white ski jacket while I was in Seoul two months prior. Fitted at all the right areas to give me a slim silhouette, it also kept me warm and dry (I fell a lot while learning) with its innovative technology. The well thought-out pockets at the right places are also worth a mention.

Then I found these fabulous snow boots for my recent trip to Niseko. They kept my feet warm and dry.... and chic, but they are still a tad slippery. Perhaps the next generation of snow boots by Stella will be better. You will be surprised that I found these boots at the small Adidas corner on the fourth floor of Takashimaya Department Store. *Tip: If you need some chic ski gear in a hurry, do check out Taka.

Up next is the yoga gear! I recently started practising yoga and needed some encouragement on the fashion front. I may be a yoga rookie, but my gear still has to look fab. Who do I turn to? Stella of course.

For a start, I didn't go all out crazy when stocking my yoga gear. I bought the regular gym stuff from Adidas... but I bought a lovely cotton biker jacket and a yoga mat (both are now on sale at Net-a-porter if you are interested). The jacket adds a sporty-luxe off-duty look to my workout gear.

Since Net-a-porter is having its end of season sale, I couldn't resist picking up this hooded cotton fleece top.

However, I am eyeing these looks from the yoga range. Perhaps, I shall reward myself with new gear when I get better at yoga.

Running, golf, gym, yoga, tennis, dance and wintersports; Adidas by Stella McCartney is the chicest sportswear around. I am hoping she will design something for equestrian soon, since I have started my horseback riding lessons....

Official Sites: www.adidas.com and www.net-a-porter.com