WELLTH OF KNOWLEDGE
The founder of Paola’s Bodybarre on her hybrid workout, her beauty staples and looking on the bright side
The feel-good secrets of Paola Di Lanzo
MY FITNESS
I’m one of those high-energy people who need to exercise every day. I’ve always trained hard, but before discovering Pilates in 2002, I mainly lifted heavy and did a lot of aerobics. After my first session on the mat, I knew I loved elements of traditional Pilates, but it wasn’t intense enough for me, so I developed my own method, which combines high-intensity cardiovascular training with Pilates, ballet barre conditioning, functional training and even elements of yoga. These days, I combine my signature classes with reformer and bootcamp Pilates, and it’s transformed my body shape from a muscular size 12 to a lean size eight. I’d like to do more yoga, though. I’m fairly flexible but high-intensity training leaves my muscles tight and in need of a good stretch. There are few better feelings than settling into a restorative pose in a gentle yin yoga class and feeling my body let go. MY FOOD Growing up, my parents owned Italian restaurants, so I was raised on fresh Mediterranean produce – always cooked from scratch. I eat a similar diet now: breakfast is a veggie-packed omelette or scrambled eggs with avocado, although if I’m on the run, I’ll blend a scoop of Neat Nutrition protein powder (£34, neatnutrition.com) with greens and berries into a smoothie. Lunch is a brightly coloured salad with tofu, then a handful of dried nuts and fruit as an afternoon snack. I eat dinner with my husband and three children every evening – something like harissa chicken with roasted butternut squash or spaghetti marinara.
MY FACE
I know what I like when it comes to skincare. I use Bamford Cleansing Balm (£55, bamford.co.uk), Elemis Pro Collagen Eye Renewal Serum (£43, Debenhams) and Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream (£82, elemis.co.uk) daily. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to my make-up, too. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 (£34, House of Fraser), Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector (£22, cultbeauty. com) and Frog Prince Cream Blush by Lipstick Queen (£22, Space NK) are my daily go-tos. I never wear mascara when I’m working out – instead I rely on Swiss Clinic Eyelash Enhancer Serum (£79, swissclinic.co.uk) – it doubled the length of my lashes in six weeks.
MY FOCUS
When I developed arthritis in my feet four years ago, I feared my career was over. But it hasn’t stopped me, thanks largely to the go-getting work ethic I’ve inherited from my 80-year-old father. I’m so lucky to do what I love, but managing a fitness company and being a mum of three means life gets stressful. Working out helps me stay balanced, as does leaving my phone in a different room between 5.30pm and 9pm until my kids are in bed. Work emails can wait. I didn’t used to be this strict about work/life balance, but I re-evaluated after my mum died. She’d suffered with depression for years before falling ill, and losing her made me realise life’s too short to sweat the small stuff.