DIANA SANTOS Fitness Instructor, JW Marriott Maldives Resort Spa


Personality of the Month
Diana Santos, Fitness Instructor, JW Marriott Maldives Resort Spa
PUBLISHED June 01, 2020

How are you finding Maldives? 

Maldives is a little piece of heaven. I remember a couple of years ago I wished to stay in a calm and beautiful place with a room by the beach and the ocean as my backyard garden. I’m excited that finally, I can fulfil my dream of living in such a beautiful country. Maldives is not only about the mesmerizing landscape; it’s also about the warm and friendly people, especially the people that I’m working with at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. They’re more than colleagues to me; they’re my family away from home. Maldives has completely exceeded my expectations. 

What's your favourite spot at the resort and why?

My favourite spot here at the resort is our Yoga Pavilion. Every morning, after I complete my morning assignments and before the sunrise, I like to spend a few minutes in our Yoga Pavilion. These few minutes which I call “my meditative time” involve listening to the sound of the waves, feeling the wind and the first sunbeams touching my face and searching for my dolphin friends which most of the time can be seen in the outside reef of our overwater villas. It’s such a revitalizing moment, and a perfect way to start the day with positive vibes! 

What do you most like, and dislike, about your field of work?

I’m lucky enough to declare that my job is my life. I love everything related to fitness and wellness. What I like the most is the connection with people, which I find in our daily complimentary classes as well as personal training sessions that we offer here at the resort. In these classes, I am able to provide our guests with guidelines to do the exercises by themselves when they return home. I love to see the expressions of happiness and satisfaction in their eyes after the sessions. It fulfils my heart and reminds me why I chose this field. 

Another remarkable thing in my field of work at this moment is the chance to grow professionally. JW Marriott Maldives offered me the opportunity to take the Holistic Nutritional Certification Course. I’m completely amazed and grateful for this opportunity, as I had been wanting to be certified in Holistic Nutrition to enhance my career in fitness & wellness. I want to be able to provide our guests with the most complete, personalised and professional service. I want to coach them to accomplish their goals in a healthier way. Provide them with exceptional life quality! 

There is nothing that I dislike, I may find some things challenging at times but I love challenges. After all, challenges take you out of your comfort zone and help you grow as a person. 

Fuelling your body through workouts and living lean takes work. What’s your typical meal plan?

As I’m very active, I try to be mindful about what I eat in order to get the right balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that I need. I like to start my day with oatmeal so I start my day full of energy. For my main meals, I fill my plate with vegetables (full of minerals and vitamins), and then complete it with a portion of whole grains (fibre for a healthy bowel), a portion of protein which is most of the time plant protein or fish (amino acids for muscle support) and some good fat (olive oil, coconut oil). I like to follow a plant-based diet, in which most of my food comes from plants and less from animal sources. 

If you could change just ONE thing in your life, what would it be?

I would not change anything! Everything that I’ve been through made me the person that I am today. All the moments and experiences - whether they were good or bad, they all made me grow stronger and have shaped me as a person. If I could change one small thing it would be for my family in Portugal to be here in the Maldives with me and for them to see the beauty of the Maldives up close. 

What's your favourite "healthy" treat? 

Without a doubt it has to be dark chocolate. Not only is it tasty, but also it has many health benefits. Dark chocolate is rich in fibre and minerals, a powerful source of antioxidants, helps boost endorphins and mood, and contains healthy fat. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I like all types of music; it just depends on my mood and the time of day. For instance, I like to start my day with energetic music like Maroon 5 to get my body moving. While I’m at the gym, I go for electronic and motivational style music to get some extra power. At the beach, I like to listen to more “easy going” music such as Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray, Nina Simone. 

My mantra: Eat healthy, exercise daily, work hard, share love, be simple! These are my beliefs. 

 

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