Buffy Sainte-Marie has been a leading light on the Canadian music scene since playing alongside Neil and Joni and Leonard in the Yorkville coffee houses of the 1960s. Activist, icon, health advocate, hipster — Sainte-Marie has been covered by Janis Joplin and Elvis, and always fought for what she believes in, both onstage and off. “Part of my longevity stems from my workouts, and I don’t use alcohol at all,” says Sainte-Marie, flanked by her crackerjack band, Leroy Constant on bass, Jesse Green, guitars, and Mike Bruyere on drums. “While other girls were out shmoozing at the bar, I was concentrating on staying in shape.” After Sainte-Marie and the gang helped us show off some of the best new winter running gear, the Post sat down with the artist to hear some of her secrets for “staying cool.”
Q: I imagine when you started, people like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen weren’t that worried about completing the marathon.
A: On the contrary, those were the days of the YWCA and Jack LaLanne; I was using my juicer even back then.
Q: What’s your secret for staying in such great shape?
A: I do lat pull-downs and leg presses and use the Gravitron and do upper-body weights, but that’s not my secret.
Q: OK, we’ll bite. What is?
A: I dance flamenco. It helps me build my core.
Q: What do you think about running?
A: I hate running! I find it so boring. I get on a treadmill, and it’s like, Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! All these ideas take over my head.
Q: And yet ...
A: And yet I know that it’s important and helps me as a performer. Even way back, in the days when I didn’t have any money, I liked the way that it made me feel.
Q: It seems like today, rock stars such as Sting, Bono and Chris Martin from Coldplay are all more concerned with taking care of themselves than artists used to be back in the day.
A: Like Elvis. Poor thing. Besides lifting a sandwich, I don’t think he lifted anything.
Q: What advice do you have for people who want to start running?
A: People think you need fancy sneakers or a gym to get going, but you don’t need anything! You just need to get outside and take that first step. That’s really the hardest bit.
Q: Why do you think running’s important?
A: For a long time, my generation didn’t really think it was hip. We lost a lot of people. But I’ve always thought being healthy helps keep you connected to your body: It keeps you spiritual, keeps you grounded. It can help keep you going for a really long time.
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3 comments:
you are definitely an inspiration Buffy!
Great stuff!
Buffy's always loved people and life. That's another MAJOR part of staying fit and healthy.
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