It is established that fitness is a long-drawn process. Not only does one have to stay committed to it for life, it’s requires patience as the results aren’t visible instantly. If you are looking to start out on your fitness journey, or want to incorporate different forms/routines, we tell you about a few celebrity trends and their benefits. However, we would also want to mention that we don’t endorse a particular form of fitness. Every body is different, and one must consult experts as they go along.
1. Disha Patani, Martial Arts
It’s no news that Disha Patani is a fitness freak. To stay strong and in shape, she practices various forms of martial arts such as Taekwondo, Capoeira, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), along with a rigorous regime at the gym.
Martial arts is a series of traditional combat practices and moves designed to improve your physical and mental strength. In addition, it also helps the person understand the basics of self-defense.
Benefits: A session of 30 minutes increases your heart rate, thus building cardiovascular endurance. Further, the various kicks, throws, and acrobatic moves help you become more flexible and improve reflexes, thus reducing the chances of injuries. It also boosts metabolism.
The variations allow the person to stay committed and interested in the form for long. However, we strongly advice a doctor’s discretion for those with medical conditions such as seizures, injuries and heart trouble.
2. Kriti Kharbanda, Pole Dancing
This may not be one of the most popular forms of exercise, but a few celebrities such as Kharbanda and Jacqueline Fernandez are fast making this a routine to consider.
Pole dancing combines dance and acrobatics centred on a vertical pole.
Benefits: Contrary to popular belief that pole dancing is an erotic dance form, it is an effective way of improving flexibility and building stronger abdominal and back muscles.
However, if you are a beginner, it’s imperative that you perform pole dancing under the guidance of an expert. Also, some pain along the shoulders, hands and the back, although normal, may crop up. . But, if it persists, see a doctor.
3. Anushka Sharma, Shirshasana
Sharma, who delivered her first child in January 2021, ensured she religiously followed yoga during pregnancy. In December 2020, she posted a picture of her practicing the Shirshasana on social media. The Shirshasana or Yoga Headstand is an inverted asana in modern yoga, and involves the person performing a headstand against a wall. With ample practice, one can also choose to do it without support.
For expectant mothers, this asanaencourages light stretching such that there is no strain on the baby, while it works to improve your flexibility and balance, mental alignment through meditation exercises, and focused breathing.
Benefits: The Shirshasana intends to calm the brain and relieve stress, stimulate the pineal and pituitary glands, strengthen the arms, legs, lungs, and spine, tone abdominal muscles, and improve digestion.
If you are attempting this while pregnant, all advanced yoga poses should be done under supervision, keeping the health of both the mother and the child in mind.
4. Kriti Sanon, Pilates
If there’s one thing our Bollywood beauties love, it is a toned body. This is why Pilates has been a favourite form of workout for a lot of them. Recently, Kriti Sanon shared a video of doing Pilates.
Benefits: Pilates aims to strengthen and stabilise your core muscles through a series of movements that are done in a particular order, one after the other. There is a lot of emphasis on the technique, which is how you end up working the muscles. It leads to better posture and an overall sense of well-being.
If you’re a beginner, it is best to practice the moves under the guidance of a Pilates trainer. Gradually, you can move to working out on your own. Make sure you also add cardio to your workout routine as this is not an aerobic activity.
5. Malaika Arora, Aerial Yoga
Arora is particular about her health and makes it a point to include a mix of workouts in her regime to make sure her muscles do not get used to the same thing, thus using their optimum strength. However, she swears by yoga for her fitness. She is an avid practitioner of aerial yoga.
In an aerial yoga class, you perform the same poses you do on a yoga mat, except you’re suspended from the ceiling using a silk hammock as a prop to support you through the various movements. The purpose of the hammock is to help you improve flexibility and build strength, while allowing you to do more challenging poses without added pressure on your shoulders, spine, or head.
Benefits: Perhaps the biggest advantage of aerial yoga is the upper body and core strength , without straining your joints. Practitioners have also shared how it has helped them improve their joint mobility. It’ll also make you better at the inversion poses for your regular yoga practice, such as the handstand.
However, one must exercise caution if they are just learning their way around aerial yoga. Make sure your instructor is around to oversee your poses and transitions, so that you don’t lose balance and hurt yourself.