Congrats on all of your new roles, 2019 is looking pretty exciting for you
100%! Playing Roxie Hart [in Chicago] is an absolute dream come true. I'm also a big believer in supplements, I have such a crazy, hectic schedule – and as much as I love to eat really healthy and look after myself, sometimes I don't have that luxury. So being an ambassador for Bioglan, an Australian owned brand, is something that really resonates with me.
Do you have a stand out health supplement?
I've been exercising so much get myself ready for Chicago and I actually have arthritis in my toe. It was sore, so I was a little bit nervous especially starting a dance show and I've found that Bioglan Curcumin and Red Krill Oil have been exceptional in helping with the inflammation.
You’re in phenomenal shape. I had a look at your Instagram, and I mean, wow…
Aw, thanks! I'm doing personal training four times a week, it's pretty intense but I love it. And then I balance that with doing yoga and Pilates, I'm also doing a dance class every week and playing tennis.
How have your health priorities changed from your Neighbours and Rogue Traders days?
It takes a lot longer at this age to be the shape that you want to be and feel as fit as you want to feel. Once upon a time I could have either not exercised at all or if I'd had a big Christmas I could probably do a week and then feel good. But now I'm doing, eight or nine classes a week. Having overall balance now is really important, it’s not just about how I look, but being able to feel strong and healthy and have focus, and clarity. It's a very holistic way of looking at life. You have to look after your body even more as you get older. How can I have arthritis in a toe? Like, what do you mean!
I’m the same age as you, I totally understand…
I also meditate every day now
Do you really?
I have to. It’s changed my life We're so busy these days constantly on our phones, and emails and so I really need that quiet time to just shut down my mind. If I'm anxious I just go and do a ten minute meditation and I come out of it calmer, I'm more focused. It’s changed the way I handle situations, so I don't really get overwhelmed about anything anymore. I started with an app called 1 Giant Mind which helps you learn how to meditate. There's an amazing woman called Sarah Blondin who does a podcast/meditation and she's changed my life, it’s phenomenal.
Natalie’s top 3 health rules for her family:
- I let my kids see us exercise and eat well
I want them to have a great relationship with food. I don't want to be starving myself and have my kids watch me do that. So it’s very important to me how I behave in their lives. - We have screen time rules
In the mornings we have no TV and no iPad. We put music on and they get ready for school and that's been a major change for us. We've done that for a couple of years now, and then at night time again they can watch a little bit. Because they kind of get psychotic if they're on it too long and you tell them to get off and then they lose their minds. I monitor what they watch and the time they spend on their devices. - We meditate together at bed time
I started meditating with my kids last year, so at bedtime we'll read some stories and then we'll put a meditation on and that's been quite a beautiful thing to do together. I think it’s a great habit to get into and if they are losing their mind over something I'm like "take a deep breath " and I try and just calm and centre them so they've got the tools when they're older to be able to know what to do themselves when they need a breather.