Out of office Asha Pandya-Sharpe on keeping a good posture with pilates

practising pilatesAsha Pandya-Sharpe explains the importance of hobbies away from dentistry and how to ensure dentists and dental professionals don’t come away with aches and pains.

Please introduce yourself

I’m Dr Asha Pandya-Sharpe. I’m a Bristol Dental School 2020 graduate (minus the graduation ceremony) working as a newly-qualified dentist in the south west and I’m absolutely loving it.

I am the foundation rep for Mentors4dentists, a Dentinal Tubules start membership rep and finalist for both the 2020 Future of Dentistry and FGDP ‘Dental Student of the Year’ awards.

What do you get up to in your spare time away from dentistry?

I’m currently still learning to juggle work life, keeping up with continuous e-portfolio DFT reflections, staying active and keeping myself sane through the pandemic.

I find peace from the world of work by indulging in food, dancing Kizomba (a couples dance originating from Angola), and practising Pilates.

Are you a foodie? Why and what particular food do you go for?

Oh my gosh yes! Food brings me so much happiness. It helps that Bristol has been voted one of the best culinary destinations in the world.

Over my years here I’ve managed to work my way around the majority of the foodie scenes. If anyone is ever in Bristol and in need of a good restaurant recommendation for any sort of occasion, message me – @Asha_PSDentist. I’ve got lists at the ready.

Whilst seafood is my absolute joy for a special occasion, a good truffle mac ‘n’ cheese does the job nicely.

Are you into any sport? If so what sport and why did you get into it in the first place?

Within the first few months of treating patients in second year at dental school, I started to get back and neck aches despite making an active effort to keep good posture.

I quickly joined the University Pilates Society and fell in love with the activity. Pilates encourages proper posture, builds total body strength and improves balance and flexibility.

I soon became vice president of the Pilates Society and held that position for a couple of years.

After leaving university I wanted to keep in touch with pilates. So I’ve enrolled on a course that will soon enable me to become a pilates instructor.

I regularly post moves and positions specifically aimed at helping dental aches and pains on my dental Instagram account.

What type of television/movies do you like? Any guilty pleasures?

Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to incorporate much TV into my schedule. I’m often shattered after a day of work, exercise and cooking.

I did binge Married at First Sight – Australia during lockdown though. I hate how much I loved it.

Do you like to travel and do your hobbies take you anywhere in particular?

Travelling (and the food whilst travelling) is what I feel life is all about.

I took a gap year prior to starting dental school where I travelled solo throughout south east Asia.

During my degree, alongside a friend, I returned to south east Asia twice; once to volunteer as a dentist in rural Nepal, and later to complete a dental elective in Phnom Penh Dental Hospital in Cambodia.

I would encourage all dentists to give doing some dentistry abroad a go when/if they get the chance post-Covid.

Why is it important to have hobbies away from dentistry?

I feel it’s very easy for us as dentists to become sucked into our little dental bubble and forget about the world outside of the mouths we’re looking into all day.

Hobbies are a great way to chill, become energised, keep us entertained or stay active and help us to find enjoyment in life.

Whilst I love dentistry, there’s more to life than teeth.


Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.

Favorite
Get the most out of your membership by subscribing to Dentistry CPD
  • Access 600+ hours of verified CPD courses
  • Includes all GDC recommended topics
  • Powerful CPD tracking tools included
Register for webinar
Share
Add to calendar