My Health & Fitness Rules: Nathalie Errandonea

The body thrives on routine. Countless studies show routines help you take control of your day and ultimately make better decisions, especially in regard to health and wellbeing. A repetitive routine can also be calming and put you in a more positive frame of mind. With two small children and a business, having a regimented routine is a no-brainer. Routine has always been ingrained in me – I started dancing professionally when I was eight, and routine and consistency were the pillars of my training.

My alarm goes off at 6am. After a quick gratitude check (I make a mental list of three things I am grateful for that day), I get up and throw on leggings and a jumper, and have a glass of water with the juice of half a lemon. Lemons are high in vitamin C and potassium, which supports skin health and immunity, and they aid digestion. Warm lemon water is also great for hydrating your lymphatic system. I then make my children breakfast and have a cup of coffee before a quick five-minute meditation followed by the school run.

Ballet keeps you healthy and mobile. I started dancing when I was three and enrolled in the Conservatoire Rosella Hightower, one of France’s leading ballet and dance schools, when I was eight. Unfortunately, I had to stop dancing professionally for health reasons, but my love for ballet has never gone away. After the birth of my second child, I started doing Pilates then trained as a barre instructor. There’s a real synergy between ballet, barre and Pilates – all three build a strong, lean body and improve flexibility, posture and mental strength.

It’s all about building a strong body. I exercise six to ten times a week, depending on my schedule. I teach live streaming and private classes daily, all of which are a mix of barre, Pilates and garuda, a movement method rooted in yoga, Pilates and dance. Garuda has all the benefits of a cardio workout while stretching the mind and body at the same time. It encompasses the scientific principles of Pilates with the breathwork of yoga as well as the grace and athleticism of dance.

It’s okay to mix things up. I recently started running, which I love. We just moved to the sunny Côte d'Azur, which has inspired me to do more activity outside. I try to run 2-5km every day and we also go for a family bike ride every Sunday. However, if I only have 30 minutes to fit in a workout, I’ll always go for a signature NRG barre class. It’s the whole package in a short amount of time – it raises your heart rate and within just 30 minutes you’ll feel the burn in your legs, glutes, core and arms.

Mobility and recovery also matter. With a background in classical and modern dance, I spent the initial years of NRG Barrebody prioritising strength and sculpting. While this is still very much a personal goal, I am now more aware of the importance of recovery, ideally in the form of mobility work. Mobility is often the most overlooked and undervalued part of a workout, but it’s essential. It can help ease tightness, prevent injury and support muscle recovery.