Dancing Away - Rakhi article

Dance for me, is an extension of my five senses. Just as I taste, see, smell, hear and feel — I dance. It's a gift bestowed on me, which I cherish. Unlike the big names in the world of art and culture I've never had the benefit of professional training in dance, only an enormous bank of untapped talent.

From an early age I noticed that I had a sense of rythm and could match the beat with some amazing footwork. Initially my only "training" was my re-production of filmy numbers. Later I realised that even great talent requires proper guidance and I needed something more to excel at this art — viz. fitness. Weight training has made my arms, legs, back and shoulders stronger. Balance is something that comes after years of practice — it's essentially hand-eye-leg coordination. I've reached a stage where I can do 360-degree turns for 15 minutes, nonstop.

I do a lot of Power Yoga which has definitely made me more flexible, improved my balance. It has also toned my core and back muscles, which is where a dancer draws her energy from. In Power Yoga, you move from one asana to another quickly, and that has also improved my concentration. But finally, all the limb movements in a dance would be empty without the face and eyes joining in to express the feelings that the performer wants to convey. It's from the head that energy travels down to the dancer's limbs and puts language, style and emotion into their movements.

When I perform I devote all my energies and concentration to the song until it — and the dance —becomes my own — a cherished thing.

Beyond rehearsals, there's the one hour of Power Yoga and meditation in the mornings, an hour of weight training and Spinning in the evenings. Initially when I took up weight training seriously, I made the mistake of lifting too heavy. It was more a case of blindly following the instructor rather than listening to my body. The result was a disaster — I piled on pounds which is not a good thing at all for a dancer. When I realized my mistake I committed another mistake to rectify the previous one: I took to starving myself, for all practical purposes. I survived only on juices, which made me feel weak and I ended up eating more. My whole approach was wrong. Later I learned that you need to exercise and also eat right in order to be fit. Yoga is something I never miss.

I never make excuses to avoid a workout or take a break from my rehearsals. I am very strict about this. Some things are sacrosanct. What I understand is this: I have achieved success at a very early age only because of my dedication.

I'm the one who decides what's good and what's not for me. No matter how hectic things get on the work front, I'd rather give time to my workouts than have a blast with friends at Cafe Coffee Day or Barista, to unwind.

My day starts with a glass of aloe vera juice before I set off for yoga class. I have small meals at regular intervals during the day, but breakfast is heavy — usually kanda poha, idli or dosa. I never miss a morning meal, or I get dizzy, and experience bouts of acidity. Lunch and dinner are simple: two chapatis with a vegetable side dish. Throughout the day I snack on boiled carrot and beetroot. Being a Maharashtrian I was an avid rice eater. Now a spicy fish curry-and-rice meal is a Sundays-only treat. And the sweets I used to love as a kid — motichur laddoos, boondi and jalebi — are rare indulgences, maybe on Ganpati puja.

I raid health food stores for low cal butter, cheese, diet snacks; drink only skim milk; use sugar substitutes in tea and cook with olive oil. I don't crave junk food but I don't ignore the inner urges either — like hot bhajias during the rains, or popcorn, on which I binge. It's human nature to crave for the comfort of hot food when it's cold and wet. If you recognize the yearning for what it is, it becomes easier to say no, because then you'll find healthier alternatives to satisfy that need.

I'm blessed with good skin and hair, all I do is play up these assets, with a good face wash and once-a -week visits to a Hair Spa. I did take a little help from cosmetic surgery: My lips were on the thinner side so I had silicon injections to enhance them. I feel you shouldn't meddle too much with what God has given you. Beauty is a useful tool only if it is clubbed with the potential each one of us has within us. You may be the greatest looker in the world but without talent, it's meaningless.

Truthfully, I really don't care how I look. At home you'll see me in pajamas and Tees. And if it's a candid shot for TV, you may even see me without make up. I only doll up for a photoshoot or when the occasion calls for it.

There are more rewards than risks, to being candid when you're ready to take its consequences. Others are a little daunted by this attitude, and they think twice about messing with you. Nobody takes me for a ride or for granted. I see being cowardly as actually cheating yourself. You see, what we call 'beauty' is not just a cardboard cutout thing that rests solely on good looks. It's dynamic — it's the energy, attitude and positiveness that you radiate from within, which becomes your particular charm. Candour is my calling card, the very essence of Rakhi Sawant.