Exercise, meditation, nature: Anoushka Shankar’s tips to keep body and mind in tune

Musician Anoushka Shankar on why she skips cloggy carbs and how peace can be found when everything comes together.

Find your fit
“I discovered exercise as an adult. The first thing that I loved was yoga, which I started doing when I was 20. Fitness is a way to take care of my body and mind. I find the rest of my day goes better when I exercise. It’s an investment that really pays dividends.”

Routine ready
“I am not very militant about exercise as it depends on my kids and my work. I do yoga and pilates. I work with a trainer with whom I do resistance and weight training. I used to jog a little bit before but I am not doing cardio as much since my surgery last summer. For now, I am walking uphill on a treadmill.”


Morning mantra
“I prefer to exercise in the morning. This way, once it’s done in the morning, I can shower and get dressed for the day. But sometimes it’s really nice to do a little bit of gentle yin yoga at the end of the day.”

Focus group
“I have some special exercises that are more focussed on my arms and my back. This includes how to keep my hips more comfortable in the sitting position.”

Diet details
“My diet is balanced. I just try to get enough vegetables. When I want to feel a bit trimmer, like after Christmas, I pare down my meals. For breakfast I will have a green smoothie with greens, avocado, peanut butter, spirulina, MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides), seeds — it’s really nutritious. Then I will have a big lunch of protein and vegetables.

As a snack, I will have a rice cake with hummus and then I just do broth at dinner. I eat fish to keep my mind sharp.”

Mind matters
“I try to meditate regularly — a short session in the morning and at bedtime. I try to read a lot. Taking a walk in nature also helps me clear my mind.”

Soul searching
“I can get addicted to busyness and that kind of stressed and adrenalised living, which does not suit my soul at all. So I try to protect times that are not busy or filled with technology or screens. Connection feeds my soul. Connection with myself, other people, nature and art. It takes a lot of elements to come together and be in a good place.”