Shayelle Lajoie in Bathing Suit Says "I'm Happy These Days"

Australian TV star Shayelle Lajoie is enjoying the beautiful sands of Cotton Tree Beach on Queensland's Sunshine Coast (although she isn't thrilled about the cold weather!). Lajoie posted a picture of herself wearing a black shirt over a swimsuit, with a caption assuring fans that just because she trains hard, it doesn't mean she never rests. "I don't want to give off the idea that you have to drive yourself into the ground to be able to get to where you want," she says. "I'm so happy these days and it's thanks to moments like this. Sunset swim, walk & read." How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Lajoie stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

Lajoie is an enthusiastic advocate for the physical and mental benefits of yoga. "Balance is not something you find, it's something you gain," she captioned an Instagram post. "To be willing to search for better ways to have balance in every facet of your unique life is analogous to your yoga practice. You can't just do handstands everyday, you can't just sit in the splits – it must all be practiced in balance. Just like food, sleep, activities, work, friends, boundaries, and so on."

A true Aussie, Lajoie loves nothing better than hitting the waves. "Surfing can definitely be considered a form of interval training which combines short, high intensity bursts of speed with a recovery phase, repeated during exercise training," says Sean C. Newcomer, department chair of kinesiology at California State University San Marcos.

Lajoie likes dates and beetroot as a pre-workout snack. "Beets are unique for their cardiovascular and heart health benefits," says Sarah Thomsen Ferreira, RD. "Due to a combination of compounds found in beets, they are able to enhance blood flow, improve the health of arteries, support lower homocysteine levels and reduce LDL cholesterol."

Aside from yoga sessions, Lajoie enjoys CrossFit, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), and dancing. "High-intensity interval training is a form of interval training that alternates between short bursts of intense energy or activity followed by minimal rest, ideally until that person is unable to continue," says Annie Mulgrew, founding instructor for CITYROW in New York City and NASM-certified CPT. "For HIIT to be effective, your 'on' intervals need to be all-out," she says.

 

Lajoie is dedicated to a vegan lifestyle, and enjoys a varied plant-based diet. "Plants give your body what it needs to help fight off infection," says Andrea Murray, MD Anderson health education specialist. "A plant-based diet strengthens your immune system to protect you against germs and microorganisms." There are many potential benefits to following a plant-based diet, which is a diet that primarily consists of foods derived from plants, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Plant-based diets are often lower in calories and fat than diets that include animal products, which can make them effective for weight loss.