In Italiano

Francesca U

We could blindfold ourselves and follow one of her classes and we would be able to finish without a problem. Punctual and precise in her explanation of classes in which she favours work on posture and deep, controlled muscle activation. Every now and then she asks us for strange tools, such as the stick, to help us with the alignment of our back and body.

What do you have for breakfast in the morning?

I love breakfast, for me it is the main meal of the day. I wake up hungry and without having breakfast I don't feel active. My ideal breakfast changes depending on where I am, but wherever I am, I can't do without it. I have Cappuccino with rice milk and toast with homemade jam (especially blueberries) when I am at home, but I remain a big fan of milk and cereals, especially in summer and when I am in a hotel.

What is the first thing you do every morning to start your day the best way?

I move my body by gently awakening it. I listen to what I need and improvise a sequence, a flow of movement, or I rely on someone else and let them guide me.

What would you write on a billboard in the centre of your city?

Go with the flow.

Do you have rituals that help you feel more confident with yourself?

My ritual is confidentiality. If I'm really aiming for an important goal, I keep my focus on that and don't share it with others until I've achieved it, almost as if I want to protect it and be sure I can do it on my own. But then I can't wait to share my happiness and well-being with the people I love!

What comes to your mind when you think of the word ‘success’?

Success is something that has succeeded, but in what sense? There cannot always be an objective outcome that is the same for everyone (what is good for me, does not have to be good for everyone). So I think the meaning of success is subjective, even though it is often associated with professional advancement or, more trivially, with money. For me, the value of success is directly connected to the serenity and well-being that each of us feel or manage to achieve and conquer during our journey.

If you were invited to speak at a conference and you didn't have to talk about your work, what would you talk about?

I would talk about wellbeing in general, how crucial it is to understand where or what it comes from and how subjective it is. I would talk about the courage to push yourself beyond your certainties and the value of our time. I would refer to experiences I lived directly or indirectly, mentioning friends/acquaintances. I would talk about something true and concrete because life stories are everyone's stories. They involve us and give us confidence.

Is there anything you believe in that other people find crazy?

Definitely more than something, fortunately, otherwise how could we compare ourselves? The important thing is that everyone believes in something that brings out the best in them, without thinking about how crazy it might be for someone else.

What human characteristic most appeals to you?

Spontaneity, without a doubt.

Three people you would invite for dinner if you had the chance and why.

My grandmother, because in the first place there could be no one else. Brad Pitt, simply because he is the most handsome of them all. Probably with my embarrassment it would be a dumb dinner, but if you eat, it counts! Zerocalcare, because, with his comics, he was fundamental at a particular time of change. A dinner with him would be continuous laughter and an exchange of opinions and curiosity. He lightens me up (I laugh a lot) and, at the same time, provides me with stimulating insights and reflections.

Do you tend to choose courage or comfort?

Can courage be written in large letters? Absolutely courage, a word that almost moves me by how much it means to me. Courage is like magic. It creates an inner light that then spreads outwards and illuminates you. Courage is true serenity, because you are giving yourself the chance to be able to choose and be yourself.

If you could change your job for a day, what would you become?

I would open a ranch, a horse farm. For me it was love at first sight, unconditional and never fading. I love horses for their nature, not to compete in races or show them off in some competition. I love them because they are beautiful, elegant and powerful and because they have a wild and free spirit. I would open a ranch to spend more time with them than at home, to take care of them and ride from dawn to dusk.

Do you have any favourite podcasts? Which ones would you suggest?

#IoMiProclamo by Arianna Lai, Spazio di Consapevolezza by Beatrice Mazza, Il volo del Mattino by Fabio Volo.

Describe your practice in three words.

Fluid, aware, complete.

BIG SMALL TALKS

Your everyday uniform: leggings, t-shirts and sweatshirts.
Favourite flowers: White rose.
Your comfort food: Ice cream, exclusively not fruit ice cream!
Your favourite magazine: International, and not just for Brezsny's horoscope!
The book of your heart: Prima di Noi by Giorgio Fontana
Your favourite artist: Auguste Rodin
Your favourite city: Venice, forever and always.