Author: Sebastien Lagree
Staying fit, focused and fabulous! Chiano Sky has been taking advantage of the lockdown to level up in all aspects of her life.
The singer-songwriter, who burst into the music scene in 2012 with her hit debut album “Hungry,” is not slowing down despite the limitations at hand. She is staying strong - mind, body, and soul - and committing to her craft like never before.
Chiano - who stays inspired by nature, cardio, and time spent in the studio - spoke exclusively to GLAMOUR South Africa about her healthy lifestyle.
What sparked your passion for fitness and living a healthy lifestyle? Was this always important to you, or did a certain instance in your life inspire it?
I have always had a healthy diet, but my passion for fitness really came to light when I moved to Cape Town. The burst of nature here really inspired me to want to do more activities outdoors like hikes, bike rides, running and accomplishing daily step count goals. Having a partner who is also dedicated to maintaining the same lifestyle has kept me motivated.
What is your current fitness regimen, and your nutrition plan you use to stay in shape?
Many forms of cardio! As I just want to build healthy muscle and tone my body. Not having alcohol in my diet anymore has helped me lose the most weight so I still eat what I like but in moderation of course.
I make sure I eat carbs or sugars at lunch time so I have the rest of the day to work it off and avoid it in the evenings as we are less active so it just sits there.
Cutting out fruit juices and fizzy drinks has helped me also from bloating and picking up unnecessary weight because of the extreme sugar levels. I also like to do intermittent fasting at least once a week to increase fat burning.
Knowing that the time factor is a major deterrent for many people, how is it that you are able to manage the demands of your music career and still make time to incorporate fitness into your lifestyle?
I think COVID-19 has given us all a little more time for recess. It's been important for myself to get daily walks in with a 10k step minimum to keep gradually toning but also for peace of mind. I have also invested in an online Barre class @raisethebarre who posts 4 classes a week which is nice because I can access them anytime that works best for my schedule like the evenings. Investing in some ankle weights has been cool to wear when I'm working in the studio for hours.
What new music have you been working on recently?
I am currently working on a new album with @SashaRighini @digitalstudios in Cape Town. I hope you are ready for an acoustic side to my artistry.
How have you been staying busy during the pandemic?
Upskilling, upskilling, upskilling...Whether it's coming up with more tasty healthy recipes, upcycling old clothes or offloading in my songwriting, music and just generally logging my thoughts.
I am also happy to announce that I will be launching my company 'Rumors and Art' soon, an online creative platform to sell my contemporary hand made collage prints and wallpaper designs.
The pandemic has given me the power and time to do things I always said I would do because it reminded me that no one can make my world happen but me.
How have you been staying positive through everything going on and has it been difficult to stay positive?
I'm not going to lie it was very challenging to adjust in the first few months with quite a few tears specially after moving away from my familiarities but in return forced me to focus my attention on myself, dealing with problems I been avoiding and trying to better the body that I was blessed with like getting into better beauty routines, doing research on why my body and skin reacts the way it does and finally going to those dentist appointments I been avoiding.
I really believe that if you feel good on the outside that you will feel good on the inside and vice versa. Practicing gratitude, soaking up the sunlight and staying away from too much cyber activity/fake news daily has also kept my spirits up.
How do you think that exercise and fitness can be therapeutic?
I really believe they go hand in hand, as you know it's been scientifically proven that exercise can help with stress and anxiety!
I don't think we realise just how much information we store and process on a daily basis so using fitness to release that tension and endorphins helps reduce pain and ups your general well being, introducing nature with my fitness routine has made it more fun for me, the prospect that I might experience or see something new out in the wilderness keeps me intrigued.
Who or what gives you the most inspiration and motivation to achieve your fitness goals?
@lisalifetrain - her energy and guidance really motivates me to want to be the best version of myself. Go follow her!
@samiclarke - her body is just goals damn! And she is constantly posting free workouts for you to do at home.
Besides actually seeing results each week through my consistency, my bf who is a model and health enthusiast constantly supports me to follow through with my agreements I have made with myself and his dedication to his own fitness goals Inspires me to want to do the same. Living with my own G.I Joe makes me wanna push my own limits!
How do you prioritize your mental health with your fitness regimen?
Sometimes it's difficult because when I'm feeling low I don't want to do my workouts so I have to remind myself that my fitness regimen is the very thing that can turn my mood around and make me feel lighter instantly.
Having subtle reminders around like a vision board also allows me to keep manifesting the lifestyle I want for myself. As I get older I'm realizing just how important it is to have like minded friends who have similar goals around you then you naturally want to keep going because you're not doing it alone.
How would you define wellness?
Wellness is practicing healthy habits every day to maintain a balanced mental and physical form. Working on yourself everyday with small tasks and routine in order to live a more fulfilling life. It's different for everyone of course but change and growth is the commonality.
What tips would you give to someone wanting to live a more healthy and mindful lifestyle?
Submerge yourself frequently in nature and the rest will follow. You will see yourself drinking more water, your skin will soak up more vitamins and look brighter, you will naturally drop some weight and the overall positive change in your moods will remind you why you will want to do it all again tomorrow ;)
What are three beauty products you swear by - and the best beauty advice you could give?
Best beauty advice is the cliche! to drink lots of water! And when I'm not busy doing that I am using these products to put moisture and hydration back in my skin and hair!
-Matise eyes and lip treatment mask extreme comfort. (you won't regret how refreshed this makes your face look)
-kms moist repair revival creme for hair (this product adds tons of moisture in my hair when I need it specially cause I colour a lot)
-Vaseline (duh! This product can be used in many ways to keep your skin, lips, cuticles hydrated)
What is something people may not know about you?
I don't think people really know how much of a creative entrepreneur I really am. I paint, draw, design jewellery, sing, song write, and can customize almost anything. Seeing things for what they can be rather than always for what they are has been a major advantage.
