Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Yoga is the road to Happiness - Shilpa Shetty Kundra | Interview
If there is anyone from the Indian film industry who has promoted Yoga like no other, it is Shilpa Shetty Kundra. The actress and entrepreneur, who often takes to social media and discusses the importance of overall wellbeing, has always spoken about the benefits of this ancient exercise and healing form. With a perfectly toned body that inspires several fans everyday, Shilpa has always advocated the art of eating well and balancing it out with a dedicated exercise routine everyday. Her 'Sunday Binge' videos have always been a 'treat' to watch on social media. However, the actress confesses that it is 'Yoga' that helps her maintain this fine balance.
On International Yoga Day, here's Shilpa talking about her workout routine, diet and why she has always focused on the benefits of Yoga.
What is your daily workout routine like?
If I can't do my entire workout regime, I make sure that I concentrate on my breathing for at least 15 minutes a day. I follow my fitness schedule thrice a week. It includes Yoga and weight training. There are also rope workouts, which I really enjoy learning. I am also doing advance yoga right now, so that requires a lot of core strength building. You need to understand that once you are over 35 years of age, you lose a lot of muscle mass and bone density. You need to work on strength and agility. There are different kinds of workouts that help you target different problems and different body parts.
You need to understand that once you are over 35 years of age, you lose a lot of muscle mass and bone density. You need to work on strength and agility
You mentioned that you focus on Yoga and Weight Training. So, do you devote some time for cardio as well?
I just walk take the stairs wherever I can. There is no separate cardio session that I focus on.
Diet plays a crucial role in overall well being. What are some of the rules you have set, when it comes to food? Is there any specific diet that you follow?
I have made a few modifications. I eat a heavy breakfast, heavy lunch and a lighter dinner. You only need energy in the day that is why we need to keep the carbs low at night. I take a high-protein fibre diet. It is important to choose the right carbs. I eat lots of raw vegetables and fruits, that have fibre and minerals.
You feel peaceful after doing yoga and peace equals to happiness. I feel yoga is the road to happiness
What are some food items that you try to avoid?
I try to avoid refined things like white sugar, white bread and fine flour. Not so much rice though. I try and stick to red rice and brown rice. A few times, if I like to have naan with butter or biryani, I do
indulge in it.
Water intake is another important element, that people often forget. How do you ensure your water intake is balanced?
I have at least two litres of water, that is, eight to 10 glasses of water. It may not necessarily be just water. It can be lime water with mint. I always carry a glass bottle that has mint, sauf (fennel seed)
and jeera (black cumin).
You have always stressed on the importance of Yoga. When was the first time you leaned towards this ancient form of exercise?
I was suffering from cervical spondylosis and my physiotherapist advised me to do yoga. That is how I got into this and realised that it not only healed my neck, but had strengthened it as well. The most important thing about any injury is that you need to strengthen it back again from the core. And yoga helps you do that. Yoga is quite brilliant. You feel peaceful after doing yoga and peace equals to happiness. I feel yoga is the road to happiness.
What is that one special element about Yoga, that stands out for you?
Yoga is all about body balance and building core strength. It not only strengthens your body, but also your mind and bones and the alignment of these three aspects of your life make you far more centred, energetic and stronger.
What according to you would be the best time to perform Yoga?
Early morning or evening before sunset is great, as long as you haven’t eaten at least 2-3 hrs before.
Another thing that you have stressed on is 'Savasana'. What makes this simple, yet crucial asana so special?
Savasana relaxes the body and stomach breathing improves circulation, concentration and relaxes the muscles. It is greatly beneficial for mental health as it calms the nerves.
Is 'Yoga' a part of your everyday workout routine? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on Yoga or Join the conversation on
#HealthFirst | Fitness Tips By Celebrities, Experts and Enthusiasts
What's that one health tip that your favourite celebrity, fitness expert, or just a regular enthusiast swears by? As part of our Health Week celebrations (on account of World Health Day), we kickstarted a special campaign on Google+ titled - #HealthFirst
This initiative focuses on spreading awareness about good health and busting myths, misconceptions. Here, we focus on overall wellbeing and focus on mental, physical health on the whole. A big thank you to all the amazing, inspiring individuals, who took time out and contributed to this video with their tips and insights! This wouldn't have been possible without you.
Here's to living a happy, beautiful and healthy life!
Love,
The Dancebee
Decoding Deepika Padukone's Fitness Regime | Exclusive - Farhan Dhalla
When it comes to the fittest female A-list Bollywood actor (and by fit, we don't mean thin. It clearly means being healthy, strong and agile) Deepika Padukone of those few female actors who leads the pack. With abs and shoulder cuts to die for, folks can't stop obsessing over her hot bod. The actress has been a national level badminton player and swears by regular physical exercises. Actors often change their exercise routine to suit the requirements for a role, especially if it demands a lot of physical exertion. We've all been treated to some stunning stills from Deepika's upcoming (and first) Hollywood films - xXx The Return of Xander Cage, and we can't stop going gaga over her sexy avatar in the film. While the actress began her preparations in Mumbai with trainer Yasmin Karachiwala, she also had to undergo special training during the shoot, for which her team zeroed in on a popular trainer based in Canada.
We recently came across videos of Deepika's workout regime and were quite blown away by her dedication (and that awesome-sauce routine). The man behind Deepika's transformation for her hollywood debut is none other than Farhan Dhalla, one of Canada's best fitness instructors. In the past, he has worked with some of the world's greatest athletes, including Canadian Olympians and other world class athletes, many of whom have won gold medals and are world record holders. In an exclusive interview with Diary of a Dancebee, we got chatting with Farhan to understand Deepika's regime and quizzed him on all things fitness!
How did you come on board to train Deepika Padukone?
Deepika came to me as a referral from her trainer, Yasmin Karichiwala and my cousin Zeena Dhalla from Los Angeles. The two of the them together wrote a book in pilates titled “Sculpt and Shape - The Pilates Way” and are close friends. When Deepika was coming to Toronto, she inquired if either of them knew of any trainers in Toronto. Zeena suggested my name, as I’m not only a trainer, but also a former physiotherapist. Everything fell into place after that. We had our first session with Deepika on April 1 and our last on May 20 in Toronto (for the film). Then, June 21-26 in Madrid (for IIFA).
We recently came across videos of Deepika's workout regime and were quite blown away by her dedication (and that awesome-sauce routine). The man behind Deepika's transformation for her hollywood debut is none other than Farhan Dhalla, one of Canada's best fitness instructors. In the past, he has worked with some of the world's greatest athletes, including Canadian Olympians and other world class athletes, many of whom have won gold medals and are world record holders. In an exclusive interview with Diary of a Dancebee, we got chatting with Farhan to understand Deepika's regime and quizzed him on all things fitness!
How did you come on board to train Deepika Padukone?
Deepika came to me as a referral from her trainer, Yasmin Karichiwala and my cousin Zeena Dhalla from Los Angeles. The two of the them together wrote a book in pilates titled “Sculpt and Shape - The Pilates Way” and are close friends. When Deepika was coming to Toronto, she inquired if either of them knew of any trainers in Toronto. Zeena suggested my name, as I’m not only a trainer, but also a former physiotherapist. Everything fell into place after that. We had our first session with Deepika on April 1 and our last on May 20 in Toronto (for the film). Then, June 21-26 in Madrid (for IIFA).
What was the brief given to you for her look?
The focus wasn’t so much on the look, but the emphasis was really about helping Deepika with the physical demands in the scenes of the film. Deepika would describe to me what was required of her and then, I created a program to best prepare and optimize her performance. The benefits of this training secondarily resulted in her achieved physique. Though there were definitely no complaints about her results!
What kind of changes were brought about in her regular exercise routine, for her look in the film?
Our primary focus was on active stability, endurance and timing. Active stability is where we create a joint that is strong and flexible. It is for joints to function through full range of motion. Endurance was important to allow her to work and function with sufficient energy and minimal fatigue. And timing also refers to how well a body is coordinated to carry out a task efficiently and effectively. Since she is also a dancer, I created exercises that were like choreography. This worked best in helping her connect to what we were doing. It really made me step out of my box and tap into my creative side. It’s also one of the reasons why I love what I do. Every client is different and you have to be able to treat each one as such.
Were there any changes in her diet during this period?
My main concern with most clients is that they don’t eat enough food! But, Deepika's diet was pretty solid. So, we didn’t need to make any changes as such.
What was Deepika's exercise routine like?
A typical workout suggested by me begins with meditation and grounding exercise. We would then move on to mobility warm up exercises, in order to help her prepare for the workout. Deepika's workout in particular blended yoga, a bit of pilates (from physiotherapy principles), conditioning with weights, agility and dynamic exercises based on what she was shooting that day or week. Finally, some mediation to allow the body to assimilate and integrate the workout.
How would you describe your experience of working with Deepika?
What I noticed most about Deepika is that she has a mind set and focus that is very similar if not better then many of the athletes I’ve worked with. Her ability to focus and deliver whatever I asked her to do was quite inspiring and motivational. She is an absolute joy and blessing to work with.
Love,
The Dancebee
5 dieting and fitness myths busted | Health
Since childhood, we have all been taught that health is our greatest wealth. To swear by this golden rule in life, people opt for various methods, which include hitting the gym, signing up for various fitness classes, and of course, dieting. The fact that several hundred diet courses are available in the market, only shows its great demand. However, along with such fads come several myths that often lead to confusion. What is a boon in one plan, may turn out to be a bane in the other. So what should one do? Well, just act sensible and find out the right combination of exercise and food plan that works for you. And no, crash dieting doesn't work. We list down 5 myths related to good health.
☻“I run on the treadmill every day, which means I am fit” - Erm, no! Spending 15 random minutes on the treadmill is not everything. While at the gym, shut off the world (the gym is not a place to gossip) and divert all your attention to the workout. Follow the instructor’s advice and focus on different parts of your body each day. Work on your stamina, track your progress regularly, and make note of your strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, include brisk walking, yoga or a fun activity for added benefits. Don’t treat it as a formal drill, make healthy living your lifestyle.
☻“I am losing weight, because I am on a juice diet” - Juice diet may work as good detox for a day or two, but skipping meals entirely and starving yourself by only drinking fruit juices for days and weeks is insane. During the course, you may end up feeling weak & exhausted, or even worse, falling sick. Your body needs healthy solid foodstuff too. Balanced meals are the way to go.
☻“I had a heavy breakfast, so I can skip my lunch” - Not really! A heavy breakfast helps you stay on your toes all day, but the lunch will help you cope with the later (more exhaustive) part of the day. A wholesome, nutritious lunch is extremely important. Don’t eat till you stuff your face and feel like throwing up. Divide the day’s food plan into 5–6 small meals.
☻“The plan worked for my friend, who is the same age, so it will work on me too” - Kidding, right? No two individuals are the same, and everybody has different requirements. A lot of factors, including your BMI (Body Mass Index), internal and external health issues, family health history among other things, have to be kept in mind before you go ahead with a fitness or food routine. Plus, the key areas that need to be worked upon differ too. So, think twice before you blindly follow a family member, peer, or favourite celebrity’s fitness/food plan.
☻“I had a bowl full of fresh fruits in the morning. Having a plate of French fries now causes no harm.” - If you have committed to following a particular routine, stick to it. Don’t cause disruptions that can ruin your health during the course. A few cheats once a week are fine, but otherwise, junk food items that do no good to your body are best avoided.
While there are several myths, the best you can do for yourself is to take control of your life at the right time. And if you still dread the consequences of all the time that you have wasted earlier, opting for a health insurance plan may be a good choice. We recently came across Royal Sundaram’s Health Insurance Plan, and after learning how they have been at the forefront of innovative insurance solutions since several years, we definitely thought of giving it a serious thought. After all, precaution is always better than cure, and your health is definitely more precious than anything else under the sun. You may act lazy, make excuses, and try convincing yourself that you don’t need to make that extra effort, but remember, in the end, it is YOU who will reap the benefit.
-- This post is written in collaboration with Royal Sundaram --
Love,
The Dancebee
How To Get Fit During Monsoon | Health Diaries with Mickey Mehta
Starting this July, we are excited to bring an all new monthly Celebrity Guest Feature as part of our fitness section. Our guest feature writer is none other than an extremely popular and respected Indian Holistic Health Guru. Yes, we are talking about none other than the leading expert with over more than 25 years of experience in the field of fitness - Mickey Mehta. The renowned health guru has a huge list of celebrity clients who swear by his teaching which includes Priyanka Chopra, Priety Zinta, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Smriti Irani and many more. A philosopher, life coach, an author and a fitness guru, Mickey Mehta has revolutionized health with his philosophies of zen, tao, tantra and ved, and blended the disciplines of exercises such as calisthenics, functional training, boot camp, agility drills, tai chi, pilates, yoga and swimming.
We are extremely delighted to have Mickey Mehta on board as the Celebrity Guest Writer, who will be providing fitness tips and answering reader queries every month on Diary of a Dancebee. This month, we got the Health Guru to talk about beneficial Monsoon Workouts.
A splash of cool rain drop on your face no doubt brings in a sense of relief from the scorching summer heat and makes you swoon with joy. It is a season to rejoice and enjoy the beauty bestowed by the rain God on mother earth. But this season tends to be the most difficult one for the fitness addicts. Unlike other seasons, during Monsoon, it not only becomes quite difficult to step out on rainy days but it also gets tough to cater to ones fitness needs. In this month's feature, I have put together some great exercises, especially for the ongoing monsoon season, that one can practice at home, without taking the trouble of traveling on rainy days.
JOG ON THE SPOT:
An indoor jog on the spot or around a house jog serves as a great warm up exercise and can be extremely beneficial. This is one important way to shed off the extra fat.
PUSH UPS:
Push ups serve as a complete body exercise and can be easily modified in order to make it more challenging for your body. Sometimes, even the most avid exerciser can find several reps of this exercise tough. For fitness enthusiasts who feel that a regular push up is too easy for you, try the Single Leg Push Up.
BURPEES:
One of the best exercises during monsoon is Burpees. This exercise serves as an intense, full body workout, and helps burn tons of calories. Burpees helps in increasing the metabolism rate as well. They are ideal for developing conditioning and endurance.
JUMPING LUNGES:
Lunges serve as an excellent thigh toning exercise. Add to that, jumps between these lunges and the entire exercise form - Jumping Lunges - turns into an incredible calorie burner. It also helps keep your legs toned and fit.
CLIMBING STAIRS:
The stairs in your building (home or office) serve as a superb exercising device by themselves. Walking up and down the stairs in between work is absolutely perfect for those who spent hours in front of the computer.
JUMP SQUATS:
Do a regular squat, then jump as powerfully as you can (reach up for the ceiling or sky). Jump Squats not only help in burning more calories, but also helps keep your legs fit and pushes you to challenge yourself for more.
JUMP ROPE:
Jump roping is an amazing and simple workout option. There is no end to the tricks and variations you can do with a jump rope. Not only jump rope is a good exercise, but it also helps you work on co-ordination and balancing your body. Jump roping burns a lot of calories and is also the cheapest form of exercise. No frills! Just a jump rope in your hand and you are good to go.
JUMPING JACKS:
Jumping jack is a structural workout. It is a full body workout and strengthens your core muscle very well. It also serves as a good warm up exercise. It is an effective exercise for the joints and also helps strengthen them.
YOGA:
Practicing Yoga on a regular basis is a must. Yoga is an incredible form of exercise that can be performed both indoors and outdoors. Select an airy, clean spot in your house, bring out your Yoga mat and practice simple asanas to keep yourself fit. Start with the basics like Pranayam, and slowly, move on to asanas like the Surya Namaskar. Yoga also helps diminish respiratory problems that are very common during the monsoon season.
DANCING:
Everybody loves dancing. And if you are someone who swears by it, then dance like no one's watching. Dance is an incredible form of exercise, who not only helps keep you fit, but also makes your body more flexible and free. Choose your favorite music and dance genre, and burn calories without having to worry about hitting the gym on a rainy day.
Make fitness and wellness a part of your daily lifestyle. A dash of discipline, good food habits, regular exercises, combined with adequate sleep, rest and relaxation and a graceful attitude will surely get you rejuvenated, revitalized and Mickeymized this Monsoon!
By Mickey Mehta
for Diary of a Dancebee
Master Class with Ramona Braganza - Part One (Office Exercises)
Finally, the master class that you have all been waiting for! It's been a week since we started off the Fitness Month campaign on our website and we are so grateful to all our readers, because the response have been amazing. While starting off the campaign, we promised you a series of fitness demonstration and advice videos featuring a popular celebrity trainer. Well, here we go!
Diary of a Dancebee brings you Master Fitness Class, with a popular celebrity fitness trainer, straight from Hollywood. She is none other than, Ramona Braganza. That's right, the name that is trusted by not just fitness enthusiasts, but also the who's who of the International film and music industry including Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Ashlee Simpson among many others. We have got exclusive tips and exercise demo videos coming up on our YouTube channel, all this month, where Ramona will answer your queries and help you get fit, the healthy way.
The trainer has recently launched her book, Feel Fit Look Fantastic in 3-2-1, published by Harper Collins. Well, we have already finished reading it and Oh boy! What a wonderful and inspirational read it has been. Don't worry folks, we have got a detailed review of the book coming up soon.
This week in our Master Class sessions, we have got Ramona talking about Office Exercises.
On Twitter and Facebook, most of you asked me to question Ramona about quick exercises, that can be performed in between work, without any hardcore training equipment. Keeping in mind the crazy lifestyle that we all deal with (and despite of being all optimistic), not everyone can afford to take out a precious hour or two to train in the gym (ask me, spending twelve hours in office was no joke). So, here's Ramona teaching a few exercises, which if done regularly, can not only help in maintaining your shape, but will also help improve your posture. Watch!
Keep watching this space (and subscribe to our YouTube Channel) for more Master Class videos.
Love
The Dancebee
Love
The Dancebee
