Lifestyle Celebrities tell K.Jeshi how a cocktail of exercise and right foods have them hooked to their fitness routines
T hey call it a healthy ‘mix and match' routine, where fitness is fun. And further enliven it with wholesome meals and healthy snacks. A holistic approach is the new age fitness mantra. And, the fitness buffs are lapping it up. Actor Neetu Chandra gets a healthy start to her day with ‘hot yoga'. She practises 26 yogic postures in a room where the temperature is set at 40 degrees. “My focus is entirely on my breathing. It is refreshing and I am ready to face the day,” she says. Neetu, who has acted in films such as Garam Masala, 13 B, RGV's Rann, and Mysskin's Y utham Sei, says new routines help to beat the boredom. “Break away from monotony, start experimenting and fitness can be fun. I dance, I play basket ball and I do yoga. Even just walking, squeezing your stomach muscles is a great fitness routine.”
A regular workout and a healthy diet is all. While in the entertainment business, the pressure to stay trim and toned up is more, Neetu says everyone ought to respect their body and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Be it treadmill, yoga and or abs, actor Shriya Saran enjoys working out. “I never get bored of it as it important for me to stay fit,” she says. “I begin my day with a glass of orange juice, and gorge on fruits, and lunch is always roti with fish/chicken or dal sabzi. I drink coconut water and ensure that I have my dinner by 8 p.m.” Sriya's last hit was the youthful Chikku Bukku. Her upcoming films include Rowthiram in Tamil and Casanova in Malayalam.
Sammir Dattani, of Well Done Abba and Karan Johar's I Hate Love Stories, believes in a flexible work out. “I gym, do cardio, swim and play some sport to make it interesting and exciting. A nice steam after a workout kills the toxins and cleans your muscles. A deep tissue massage improves blood circulation, recharges your body and you feel energetic.” His diet is full of fruits and protein sandwiches.
Fashion designer Anitha Vadivel jogs her way to fitness: “It helps maintaining a balanced mind and stay charged,” she tells us. Dance based routines are popular too. Masala Bhangra is a certified fitness programme by the American Fitness Board. “Dance workout is a form of letting go. It makes people feel good, feel free and brings a smile on their faces,” says Sarina Jain talking to us from New York City.
Besides health, Masala Bhangra reinforces the ‘jiyo' spirit, about staying alive. “Music means so much in our culture. The lyrics of Bollywood songs put people in a happy mood. I tell my students to imagine themselves as the hero and the heroine of the film. They put their arms up in the air, the abdomen is engaged, they move their legs to the Bhangra beats as they would in a shaadi. It builds immense strength,” says Sarina, referred to as the Jane Fonda of India. She has been into aerobics, weight training and kick boxing for over two decades: “I visit India twice a year and the response has been overwhelming.”
Working on a treadmill or EFX is passé, says Mohammed Sahliya, aerobics instructor at Gold's Gym. Aerobics, kickboxing, steppers, abs training, stretches, Pilates and power yoga are in. They want fitness to be entertaining. In aerobics, simple arm and leg movements allow them to burn calories and have fun too as they love to watch themselves break into a dance, he adds. Improved stamina, flexibility and muscle strength are the brownie points. Kumudha Palanisamy, fitness manager at Pink, an all-women fitness centre, says group workouts are a big hit among youngsters, and the middle-aged including house wives. “They are very aware of their health. They even know about fat percentages and start their work out regimes,” she says. A combination of relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and meditation classes are motivating.
Take the organic route, says Bindhu Vijay, a senior nutritionist with fitness one. And, follow a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and exercise. “Organic fruits and vegetables are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals, and other essential nutrients.”
Be it a dance, sport or an outdoor activity, choose one at a time, give it your best shot and don't fatigue yourself, cautions Tai Chi expert Sonika Vickraman. Most importantly, be aware of what your body is asking for. Sonika says more youngsters prefer a routine that allows them to slow down, as their lives are so fast paced. “Today even workplaces encourage employees to stay fit. Everyone wants to connect with their roots and take a holistic approach to fitness. And, they enjoy every moment of it,” she sums up.
I begin my day with a glass of orange juice, and gorge on fruits Shriya Saran
A nice steam after a workout kills the toxins and cleans your muscles Sammir Dattani
Besides health, Masala Bhangra reinforces the ‘jiyo' spirit Sarina Jain of Masala Bhangra
