London, Nov 7 (IANS) Oscar winning actress Hilary Swank says she always makes time for her work outs because she considers it as important as eating and breathing.

'I love getting the opportunity to recognise what your body's capable of. Being an athlete is something I enjoy. I don't even think of not exercising. It's like the air you breathe and the food and water you need,' Swank was quoted as saying by femalefirst.co.uk.

The 35-year-old actress says she was inspired to work out more after she saw the muscular form of the African tribals.

'You see these incredible bodies in Africa that are all muscle. They're running to hunt in these tribes. And you think, 'How does the body look like that?' But if you're utilising your body, you recognise it is a machine and it can be capable of whatever you need it to be,' she added.