Tristan’s secrets to staying healthy on the road, part III

In this installment of Tristan’s tip for staying healthy on the run, she shares with her fans the impetus for this latest push to stay healthy. Today in part III, she illustrates the little things that add up in one’s life that can derail good health. Simply put, take the time because otherwise your body will take it in the form of an illness. Something a rock star can’t afford!

A couple weeks ago I lost my voice. It was a week long ordeal, getting sick, losing it, getting it back, losing it again…we had to cancel two shows which really sucked. I hate canceling shows, but I didn’t know what else to do.

The next day, I went to see a voice specialist, who gave me a full voice exam. I had a camera down my nose and down my throat… it was madness. Basically he said I just needed to get some good rest to sleep as much as possible and save my voice for the show. Sleep is really important and I have a tendency to Myspace ’til 2 in the morning. These days I am trying my best to shut the computer and go to bed!

Aside from the lack of sleep the doc was shocked that I traded in my exercise activates at home for hardly anything on the road. He said my body was probably in shock. Getting exercise was vital even if it was just jumping rope 20 minutes a day. He was right.

We are headlining and my record just came out so there are tons of commitments all day then and we spend four to eight hours a days driving in the van. The doctor suggested yoga, getting in touch with my breathing — which would help my singing and in general and it would be good for the mind, body and soul. So off I went to the Whole Foods and got myself a couple DVDs — a mellow yoga stretching DVD, a core workout as well as a faster-paced yoga workout DVD.

I have always enjoyed the thought of doing yoga but I always said I was too impatient for it. In the past I have always opted for a walk outside because I feel like DVDs are so hard to get motivated for.

I will say that those DVDs have saved me on this tour. Whether its 15 minutes of stretching or 40 minutes of intense Pilates, I feel good for the rest of the day and they calm me before bed. I feel stronger and more limber and in general, better all over.

Well I think that’s about it. Those are my tips as I type this I am having a soy latte and a lara bar, and I’m about to get in the van. I didn’t wake up early today. We are in New Orleans and we went out for a night on the town last night but luckily in cities like this you can walk everywhere which definitely counts as good exercise!

Well that’s all for now, see ya next time!

Love,

TP