Measha Brueggergosman sings her way to the top of healthy living.
by nikki yeh • photograph by paul elledge
With a voluptuous, vibrant voice, this Juno Award-winning opera singer isn’t afraid to express passion for her craft. Nevertheless, it’s clear to Measha Brueggergosman that fame comes with obstacles, such as staying healthy when she’s out and about.
“Performing is a generous act. What I’m always looking to do is refuel. My body is my instrument — the healthier it is, the better it produces sound,” reveals the Fredericton, New Brunswick-born soprano vocalist. So what does the 31-year-old do to refuel? She strives for a balanced lifestyle, which she defines as “being a mixture of renewable energy and giving away in order to get something back. In all things, I’m pretty driven.”
What drives Measha is bikram yoga, which she practices five to six times a week. Commonly referred to as hot yoga, it involves practising movements in a high-temperature room. “I started it three years ago and now it’s my only form of exercise and releasing stress,” Measha fervently claims. “It’s wonderful because it’s done in heat for detoxing and deeper stretching. You work your entire body from the top to the bottom and there’s so many positions and movements you’re body is just longing to do.” However, with a schedule that consists of travelling around the world, sometimes Measha needs to adjust her fitness regime. “If there isn’t bikram yoga available, then I have a tape and I do the class myself in my hotel room.”
Moreover, this star’s priorities involve choosing the right foods. “Through bikram yoga and knowing what it means to be full of energy, I try not to eat things that’ll slow me down,” she describes. So what won’t you find in Measha’s kitchen? “I don’t like sugar. I can’t drink straight juice so I drink one-part water and one-part juice. I think this is the case for a lot of people, but through a process of elimination, I’ve found what works for me.”
With nutritional staples such as carrots and chicken breasts, Measha makes sure she only eats when she’s hungry; though she does allow herself to occasionally give into her food vices. “I’m lactose intolerant, but I love ice cream. I will down four lactaids just to eat a little bit of ice cream. If I know I have a day off in my hotel, I’ll order pancakes.”
Aside from her parents, husband and agent, as well as keeping up with reality TV shows — “my dream is to be on Dancing with the Stars,” laughs the bubbly personality — what keeps Measha grounded is being a Canadian good-will ambassador for three international organizations: African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Learning Through the Arts (LTTA).
Living life in the fast lane has been a learning curve for Measha. This radiant star advises that you, “pinpoint what you love and do more of it. There’s no joy when all you’re holding is a paycheck. People need to stop giving a vast majority of themselves — you’re going to waste away and then what?”
