Lladro CEO Ana Rodriguez Nogueiras takes Pilates-breaks at work

Ana Rodriguez Nogueiras, global CEO, Lladro, on dancing her way to fitness and how she treks to disconnect with corporate life.

Soul
“Prayer connects me to my soul. When I retire to my bed, I converse with God loudly as though he is sitting in front of me. Hearing your own voice calms the soul.

Being a compulsive reader is a blessing too. The 'Commissario Brunetti' mystery series by American author Donna Leon has been a literary influencer. The protagonist is a Spanish police officer. The story, however, does not revolve around his investigations as much as it does about his value system. It was nice to see how he would maintain work-life balance and respect relationships. Eating dinner with family as a mandatory ritual or enjoying a glass of wine often with the spouse were some of my takeaways. The book taught me the value of returning to your ‘island’ to reconnect with one’s soul.”


Mind
“Mental wellness is about keeping the heart happy. Going back to nature restores my mental peace. Treks help me disconnect from the chaos of corporate life.

On weekends, I go to the mountains or the beaches. I take a walk, sometimes alone. The rhythm of my legs during a wellness walk works like magic. I practised yoga in the past for mindfulness but it couldn’t produce the result that a simple walk in the woods did for me.”

Body
“To keep my body healthy, I practice Pilates three times a week. I take a break between work hours, attend my Pilates class and return to the offi ce. This has been my ritual for the last ten years. On weekends, I take a Latino dance class.

Work stress tends to make the body rigid. Dancing gets good energy flowing and restores flexibility in the body. On a recent work trip to Chennai, I went to a popular restaurant which was playing great music. I started dancing while my team cheered on. Dancing is an instant mood-lifter. It keeps me happy and positive.”