‘I Feel Comfortable In My Own Skin'

Dancer Kristina Rihanoff reveals how motherhood, life after Strictly and a new way of eating have changed her outlook on life

- Georgia Farquharson

Kristina Rihanoff is best known for starring on Strictly Come Dancing for eight years.

But, what you might not know is that the 42-year-old pro-dancer recently trained as a yoga teacher, and has been practicing it for over 20 years.

Kristina says yoga has not only helped her avoid injury but also kept her ‘focused’ and ‘mentally on track’ throughout her competitive years – including her time on the hit BBC show, in which she met her now-partner, former England rugby player Ben Cohen, in 2013.

And four years after hanging up her Strictly shoes, Kristina’s schedule is busier than ever.

As she juggles motherhood, teaching, running Soo Yoga – a yoga centre she and Ben launched in Northampton earlier this year – and rehearsing for her upcoming Dance to the Music tour, Kristina still manages to sound calm and content when we catch up with her. And over a cup of tea, she reveals why she turned vegan and the secret behind her newfound body confidence…

Having danced since the age of five, it’s safe to say that health and fitness have always played a part in Kristina’s life, but they have become even more important to her since her daughter Mila was born in June 2016.