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SINGAPORE - Here is a little-known factoid about actress Felicia Chin: She made the national softball team at just 15 years of age.
She left the team three years later to focus on her studies, but as long as she can remember, she has always been sporty. She played softball at Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Victoria Junior College.
She would also run 5km a week and exercise in the gym.
She made her debut as an actress in 2003 after she won MediaCorp Channel 8's Star Search Singapore contest.
She had a place at the National University of Singapore (NUS) but decided to put her studies on hold.
As a TV actress, she kept on working out to keep in shape. She also picked up swimming when she had to learn it for a Mandarin serial.
Her work as the newly appointed face of Whisper's Cosmo line of sanitary pads introduced her to aerial yoga (left), a type of yoga done in the air on hammocks. She likes it so much that she wants to continue doing it regularly.
"Exercise is part of my lifestyle," said Chin, who is single.
Even when she was kept busy doing an internship in Shanghai last year, she reckons she spent more than 30 minutes a day walking to school and the train station.
That is still exercise, the 28-year-old said.
The internship was part of a business administration degree at NUS. She went back to school in 2010 but halted her studies again in June this year to return to showbiz full-time.
Her philosophy is to not be stressed by a strict and intense fitness regimen.
"I feel that exercise doesn't have to be super intense. It has to be done at a comfortable pace," she said. The numerous Channel 8 TV serials she has appeared in include The Little Nyonya and Baby Bonus.
She stands 1.68m tall and weighs 51kg.
What do you do to keep fit?
I swim or run three times a week, after I finish work in the evening. I often start work at 6am. I either jog for about 30 minutes or swim 20 laps.
I learnt to swim in 2005 and I like it. I feel it is less taxing on my knees. I recently tried aerial yoga as well.
I think it's important to maintain a happy and healthy heart and mind.
What is your secret to looking so fabulous?
Thanks for the compliment. I think it is very important for one to be passionate about something in his life and to wake up every morning feeling happy.
To look good, it's important to feed your inner self besides taking care of your physical self.
Has there ever been a time when you were not fit and fab?
Yes, that was when I started my degree studies in 2010.
I was busy studying then and clocked more late nights than when I was working. I was constantly tired.
I got back into my fitness regimen after a few months and quickly felt better.
Tell us about your first aerial-yoga experience
I was a bit apprehensive at first when I saw photos of people doing aerial yoga. It looked difficult, like it could be done only by professionals.
But after trying it out, I found that it wasn't that bad, as long as you (engage) your core muscles.
It's a very good workout that really stretches out your muscles.
It's a beautiful (sport) for girls to try out. In fact, it's been so fun that I told the instructors that I'd probably like to come back for more sessions.
What aspect stood out during the session?
I like that it calms your mind.
You have to get into the moves slowly, and you cannot jerk suddenly because that will result in muscle injuries.
I have some pains in my back, knee and ankles from doing sports when I was younger. I didn't really take care of the injuries at the time, so they act up every now and then. When I was trying out aerial yoga, I felt my muscles being stretched, without too much tension (in my back and joints). It helped relieve the stress I had in those problem areas.
I like activities that can increase in difficulty. Aerial yoga is one of those. Once you get the basics right, you can try more challenging poses. You get to improve and see some variation, instead of doing the same thing all the time.
How do you keep fit on top of your busy schedule?
I try to squeeze in time to swim at least twice a week. I've also been cycling a lot recently - real cycling, not the leisurely kind. Constant exercise is very important.
Last year, while on an internship in Shanghai, I didn't really work out because I was caught in a pressure-cooker (state) keeping up with my work and grades. (The internship was an attachment programme linked to the National University of Singapore's Bachelor of Business Administration degree.)
So, when I came back and took up a hosting job for the variety show Are You Up For It? I really suffered a lot at first. We had to try different activities all the time - ballet one week, lion dance another - and without stamina, it was really (tough).
Any tips on keeping fit?
Know the strengths and weaknesses of your body, and don't push yourself too hard. For the variety show, we had to learn hip-hop dance. I had to do a high kick - literally, a split in the air - which I did, and ended up pulling a muscle.
It was stupid (of me), because I didn't see it coming and I didn't do warm-up exercises beforehand.
Are you strict about your fitness regimen?
There would be times when I get too caught up with work and forget to exercise. After a while, I would feel lethargic and that would be a warning sign for me to resume my exercise.
But I don't think one should get too discouraged when there are lapses in one's fitness routine.
One just has to be aware of it. Enjoy your daily life and treat your routine as part of it.
What is your diet like?
I eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, and I try to avoid oily and deep-fried food.
Breakfast is very important. I try to eat well. My breakfast menu could consist of wholemeal toast, scrambled eggs and milk, and fruit such as kiwi or strawberries.
I must admit that I'm a coffee lover and need my daily fix. It's a good thing I like it black without sugar and I try to keep it to no more than two cups a day.
What are your indulgences?
It's definitely sugary stuff such as icecream and sweets. I try to limit it to just once a week and only when I am happy. Eating sweets when I am having a bad day would be a real waste as I wouldn't be able to truly savour them. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I make it a point to keep in contact with close friends and family and to meet up with them whenever possible.
Having some "me" time is essential to me as well. I like to have a bit of alone time to do what I like and enjoy my own life. These times give me the personal space to ponder on and keep track of my own life.
I feel rejuvenated and can focus better after such self-reflection. It helps to give meaning to what I am doing. What are the three most important things in your life?
My family, close friends and my passion, which is acting.
Would you go for plastic surgery and why?
I don't feel a need to. I'm happy with the way I am now.
Do you think you're sexy?
Ha ha, yes! I feel confident.
Sexy is more than just a physical term for me. I feel good about myself inside out.
joyceteo@sph.com.sg
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