Back and better than ever! We’re in the era of reunions in the entertainment industry, and the world has long awaited the return of the Pussycat Dolls. The iconic girl group - which features Carmit, Ashley Roberts, Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Sutta, and Kimberly Wyatt - has come back together 10 years later to bring back their catchy tunes, legendary dance moves, and inspirational energy that has always kept fans clinging for more.
Although their world tour was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fabulous five aren’t slowing down - especially not Carmit. The red headed pop star is ready to take the world by storm, and she’s using this time indoors to prepare herself mentally and physically for her bright year ahead.
Carmit spoke exclusively with GLAMOUR SA about how she’s taking advantage of the lockdown to prioritise her mental wellness, maintain her fit and toned physique, and keep up with her healthy diet. Life may be put on hold, but Carmit sees the silver lining in this unique situation. The pro dancer and singer opened up about her days at home centred in wellness, and how she switches gears when she’s touring the world.
GLAMOUR: How are you taking this time to keep yourself fit and prepared for the tour, now that you’ve pushed it back?
Carmit (C)
It was a total bummer. But we’re all in this together, we all have to stay safe. Initially, when we post-dated our first show, we were in London. We were going to rehearse for the tour, and I was anticipating being away and had prepared to be away for three months, away from my family. So then I initially got home, and I think it was just kind of a shock, and getting acclimated and really understanding what was going on, and trying to take off the whole anxiety and fear and panic about it, but understand the seriousness of it. But now, I feel like I kind of decompressed, and really surrendered to what it is. I’m embracing it. It’s like a blessing.
There’s this pressure with time, and right now, I feel like we will never get back this slower pace. It really allows us to be a homebody and there’s something really beautiful inside of that, spending quality time with your family. We get an insight to see who we are, and how we are really conscious about our health. It’s not just about fear of what’s going on externally. Coronavirus is happening, so we have to take precautions to not catch a cold, to build our immune system, but also, structure time to honor what our body needs and our own wellness. So for me, that includes meditation, music, movement, and dancing. It’s hard because I like to take classes. I like to take hot yoga, I take something called PLATEFIT, which is a vibration kind of workout. I like to do boxing, I like circuit training, I like to switch it up as well as dance. It’s great that people are teaching IG Live classes, but it’s not the same.
GLAMOUR: How are you creating a space at home to stay feeling physically motivated? What’s your regimen right now?
C:
I’m not perfect. Yesterday, I was in my sweatpants all day. It was raining, and I just wanted to be cozy. We had some margaritas. I didn’t work out yesterday. You have to just go with what you’re feeling. Most days I wake up [and do] a 20-day alignment program. So I do my little meditation, pull out my yoga mat, and do some stretching. And depending on what I feel, either I can go for a run, or I go for two walks a day with my dog. I think the most important thing is to structure your day with things that can nurture your self-care and your wellness; that looks different for everybody.
GLAMOUR: When you’re on the road, how does your fitness routine change on tour? Is it different from your normal day-to-day regimen?
C:
When we’re out on tour, most of the time I don’t work out, because the show is enough. It takes a lot out of you, and it’s important to rest. I know some people go hard. But building up to that though is quite a challenge, because you have to build more stamina and endurance. Singing and dancing takes a lot of breathwork and making sure that you’re ready for that. But once we get into rehearsals for touring, that usually is part of the prep.
But before that, I work out everyday, doing something different. I always say that the less you move your body, the less you’re able to. Just like if you train and then you take a week off, you feel like you’re back at square one. And with your muscles, if you’re not stretching, you get tight. Every person needs to have activity in life, on a daily basis, for longevity. It makes you feel good and gets your endorphins going.
GLAMOUR: Does your daughter take after your passion for dance and movement? Does she ever sing Pussycat Dolls songs for you and put on a show?
C:
Yes! She’s so cute. We have dance parties all the time. So we put on music and we just move and live it up. She’ll start singing my song, or a Pussycat Dolls song. She’s my little inspiration.I know you’re using social media right now to say fit, especially Tik Tok. Tell me about how you’re using the platform in a beneficial way.We’re just looking for ways to keep busy, active, and have fun, so my daughter and I go through and we look up the dance challenges. It’s something that we can do together. We’re learning and having fun! We are @carmitandkeala.
GLAMOUR: What’s your fitness philosophy, or a mantra that you try to live by?
C:
A body in motion stays in motion. So if you stay agile, you stay moving, you’ll be more able to move. You’ve got to get out there and move your body!
GLAMOUR:
When you do have those moments when it feels hard, what holds you accountable and keeps you going?
C:
I think being gentle and kind with yourself, and we’re never going to be perfect. It’s not going to be an everyday thing. There are times when I have a goal and have to push through. It’s like, ‘I don’t feel like working out, but I have to work out today.’ And once you get over that hump, you’ll be fine, and you crave it. It’s like, ‘Oh, I have to work out or else I’m not going to feel good.’ But be kind and gentle with yourself. Sometimes your body needs rest too.
GLAMOUR: How do you embrace holistic wellness and sustain your mental health, especially during times like these?
C
: I’m a very spiritual person, and I love breath work and tapping. There are a lot of guided tapping sessions on YouTube, and you can get really specific. It’s been known to help a lot with chronic pain, but I discovered it through a friend years ago when I started feeling bits of anxiety, and it came after I had my daughter. I think it was hormonal, because I don’t have it like I used to. I’m able to manage it now; I know what it is, and I don’t feel like it’s going to overtake me. So in the morning, I’ll either meditate or I’ll do a tapping session. There’s an app called the Tapping Solution, and they have specific sessions now for dealing with anxiety or fear over COVID-19, so there’s a lot of things you can get from that as well.
GLAMOUR: What do you eat throughout the day to keep up with a nutritious diet, and what’s your cheat day meal?
C:
Pizza’s my cheat day. I go in and out of being vegetarian, to being a reducetarian, which is the reduction of meat and dairy. They cause phlegm and mucus, which is where most infections and things reside. So the more mucus phlegm you have in your body, you’re prone to getting sicker or more susceptible to catching something. When I’m being pretty strict with my diet, I try to stay plant-based. I lost a layer around my belly when I stopped eating meat and dairy! On a regular day, I’ll wake up and I’ll do oatmeal, or sometimes my trainer has me eat eggs and either ground turkey, or a meatless breakfast item.
And then I do protein shakes after I train, or in between I’ll have a light snack. If I’m doing meat, I’ll do a small portion of chicken, or cauliflower rice. For dinner, I’ll have a small portion of fish. The key is portion control. It’ll be a small piece of fish with either regular rice or cauliflower rice, and then greens. I try to keep it clean. And then in between I’ll have fruit or nuts, or I’ll have yogurt. But when I’m being strict to get to a goal, that’s where I stay.
GLAMOUR: What else can you share about the Pussycat Dolls reunion and what you’re looking forward to this year?
C:
The reunion has been incredible. It’s been amazing to come and get back on stage with my girls after all this time, and feel like a day hasn’t passed. We’re 10 years wiser and evolved, and it was just kind of a bummer that we got pushed. It’s not canceled, just postponed, just like everybody's life is right bow. So we’ll be back, and that’s what we have to look forward to!
