Secret Health Obsessions Extra: Kara Wilkes

The amount of thought that goes into dancers’ daily habits seems nuts. But we can’t help it: The stakes are high when everything from what you snack on to how you clip your toenails affects your performance. In Pointe‘s April/May issue, we went inside the routines of six dancers to find out their secret obsessions. Paris Opèra Ballet’s Allister Madin confesses he can’t get through a day without a sugar boost from a venti Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino (with extra chips), and Pennsylvania Ballet principal Lauren Fadeley admits that to de-stress, she cuddles with her 170–pound English Mastiff! Here’s an additional web-exclusive entry from LINES Ballet’s Kara Wilkes.

Kara Wilkes

LINES Ballet

Breakfast:
Irish oatmeal with fruit, coconut flakes and cashews. “I’m a big breakfast person.”

Favorite gadget:
YogaToes. “They straighten out my crooked toes and stretch my feet before pointe work.”

Recovery sessions:
Soaking in Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath, Eucalyptus Spearmint.

Must-have snack:
Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. “These nuggets of goodness give me instant energy. I always keep a bag with me.”

Cross-training workout:
Swimming. “It gives me good cardio without any impact on my joints. It’s a form of meditation for me.”