HEALTH WINS:
She has a dancer's discipline

Because JENNIFER DELUCA, 30, owner of Body Tonic, a Pilates studio in Brooklyn, began studying ballet at the age of 5, she learned early on to be disciplined about exercise. She makes it a non-negotiable priority, taking at least one dance class every day–on top of teaching five demanding Pilates sessions of her own. To fit in daily workouts, Jennifer is flexible about what classes she takes; the resulting variety–from African dance to ballet to yoga-based movement–challenges her muscles in different ways. In addition, Jennifer uses idle moments to stretch and loosen various parts of her body. "I circle my shoulders on the subway or stretch my hamstrings between appointment with clients. It's a great dancer's habit," she says. Her years of training have taught her to rely on dance as an emotional and creative outlet, not just a physical one: "When other people feel bad, they go out for a drink. I take a dance class and get the same kind of buzz," she says.

For more information check out the Nov. 1999 issue of New Women Magazine