Olive Braiden, chairwoman of the Arts Council, tells Patricia Weston she has yet to find a yoga class to match her old one
Do you exercise? No, but I used to do a lot of yoga when I lived in southeast Asia. Since I came back to live in Ireland I've done very little and I still haven't found a yoga class to suit me.
Have you any intention of exercising in the future? I do intend to walk more. I have a house in Co Clare and I love taking walks around the Burren, it's beautiful.
Have you ever joined a gym? I did join but it was a total waste of membership for me. I'm not into aerobics or anything like that, in fact I'm not exercise orientated at all.
Are you a foodie? Yes I'm a big foodie. I'm not overweight; I think I'm fine for my time of life. I love cooking because I find it very relaxing. I only eat good food; I'd never eat fast food.
Have you tried any alternative remedies? I'm a big believer in herbal teas. I think camomile is great tea if you're feeling low. I also like using rose water. It's very good for your skin if you put some in the bath. I also use lavender because I find it very relaxing and it helps you sleep. Try ironing it into your sheets.
Would you ever have plastic surgery? Oh God no. I don't believe in it and I couldn't imagine it would make me feel better about myself. I like to get my hair and nails done regularly but I have absolutely no tolerance for pain.
What did you gain from yoga when you practised it regularly? I used to practise it twice a week and I had a very good Japanese teacher. I found I had more energy. It aligned the body and mind. The whole thing was about balance; if you feel tired you just need to listen to your body and rest. You should never over-burden your body. Yoga helps you examine your posture.
If you are tired or stressed this would show in your body alignment. I still do the yoga breathing and find it very beneficial because I developed asthma.
Patricia Weston recommends:
Try this yoga-based routine for a relaxing, stretching workout.
Begin by kneeling on a mat on the floor. Sit back on your knees, keep your back straight, relax your shoulders, and keep your head straight with your chin off your chest. Close your eyes and rest your hands on your knees.
Inhale deeply through your nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth.
Repeat this slow, deep breathing up to six times.
Place your arms over your head and stretch towards the sky.
Then allow your arms to fall forward resting your head on the floor.
Kneel on all fours and perform a cat stretch, breathing in deeply as you arch your back and breathing out as you tilt and stretch your stomach. Repeat four times.
Come up on your toes and hands as you straighten your legs, keeping your head between your shoulders. Gently breathe in as you push your heels into the floor. Hold this for 5-10 seconds.
Finish off by sitting back down on your heels and bend forward stretching out your arms and shoulders, keeping your head tucked in and relax by breathing deeply.
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.