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Long gone are the days when hiring a personal trainer was a luxury, affordable only for a privileged few. Today, no matter who you are and what your fitness goals maybe, a trainer is an invaluable asset-one that you don’t have to empty your pockets on anymore either. They’ve become your go-to guide for your journey to building a better body. They can’t train for you, but will hold your hand and lead you in the right direction, so you don’t waste time and energy going astray. They’ll pull you down only so you can rise higher, criticise you, so you can push yourself harder, and most importantly understand you so that they can guide you in ways you never thought were possible. They say a trainer is someone you can (literally) have a ‘mind-body’ connect with. So here they are, 11 of India’s best in the business. Go ahead, take your pick.
The Crosfitting Yogi
Kamal Chhikara
As a model-turned-yoga instructor turned-Crossfit (CF) coach, Kamal Chhikara had to see the glamorous side of life to realise his true purpose. He took to yoga, after his initial obsession with sports as a kid, to get into shape for his stint as a model. But his passion for training people was triggered after he first witnessed poor training methodologies and mindless group sessions at a local gym. He figured he could do much better, and all he needed was a small set-up of his own-and what better than a CF studio to impart specialised training? His experience in these two methodologies of training helped him train people through CF, as well as yoga, giving his sessions that extra appeal. The positive response he’s been getting, not only from the CF community but also fitness community at large, has earned him a lot of praise. He hopes to open more CF boxes to teach people how to move and live better.
What advice would you give to a hardcore Crossfitter?
I would just tell them to hold off from loading the bar with excess weight, and focus on moving well, before moving fast with heavy weight. For instance, if I want to do 10-15 reps of squats with 45 kilos, I should first be able to perform at least five squats with double the weight with ease. Also, before you get to power moves like Olympic lifting, make sure you have the mobility, stability, strength and power, in that order, to execute a particular move.
The Kettlebell Expert
Manish Ruhail
Manish Ruahil’s work ethics were forged at an age when most teenagers begin experiencing nightlife. For Manish, it was long night shifts at call centres as a teenager that helped him work 16 hours at a stretch and the practise continues to be the same as a fitness trainer today. After spending seven enriching years at Fitness First, where he grew tremendously as a trainer and a fitness educator, he became one of the first Master Kettlebell Trainers for the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federations in the country. His gold medal at the Bangkok Kettlebell Championship in 2014 has greatly helped him build recognition for kettlebell training, not only as an integral part of fitness, but also as a sport in the country. Manish hopes to build a healthier nation by enhancing the quality of trainers.
Manish, why should we include kettlebell training in our workouts?
There’s no better training tool than a kettlebell for a quick workout session. Unlike strength training, a kettlebell works on all aspects of fitness, strength, endurance, power, flexibility and joint mobility, simultaneously. All you need is a 30 minute workout to reap all its benefits!
Fit to the core
Yasmin Karachiwala
One look at Yasmin and you’d think she was born an athlete. As someone who pays a considerable amount of attention to the way we sit, stand and walk, she really does exemplify what she preaches. Little do people know that she actually stumbled onto Pilates by accident. “It started out as something I picked up to make a few bucks on the side. My passion and intrigue grew when I discovered the things you could do with your body,” she says. As one of the only BASI (Body Arts and Science International, US) certified Pilates instructor in India, she believes that a body that performs well bio-mechanically, automatically burns more fat and generally functions better. Her diverse clientele seem to believe in that philosophy as well. Her credo all along has been to not only look good, but to feel good in addition to being healthy.
Yasmin, how do you think women should approach strength training?
Well, for starters, women are incapable of building muscles like a guy. They don’t have the testosterone to build muscles like men, no matter how hard they train! They should rather focus on understanding their body type and then pick exercises, which include strength training, to enhance it.
Superstar amongst stars
Deanne Panday
Deanne’s first boutique gym called Play was so beautifully designed, the interiors often overshadowed the big Bollywood stars that worked out in it. Situated conveniently just off Carter Road in Bandra, it soon became the hub of top celebs who wanted an unintrusive place to work out. Deanne’s claim to fame may be her proximity to actors and actresses, but that tends to belie her own personal achievements. The actor’s fit physiques are often a result of Deanne Panday’s rigourous training; her methods are unconventional but extremely effective, and while naysayers will say her book got all the attention because her friend Shah Rukh Khan launched it, nobody can say it became a best seller that way!
Deanne, tell us how to get the body of a Bollywood star?
Every workout is as individual as a fingerprint, so don’t ape! A body that’s functionally fit, is fit fromthe inside out. Bollywood star-like aesthetics are important, but more important is being injury-free.
The nutritionist with muscles
Dr Asif Khan
He may be the head of the fitness facility at a luxury five-star hotel with a string of qualifications attached to his name, but at heart, Dr Asif Khan is a believer that fit bodies are not made by exercise, but by changing eating habits for the better. The low-profile, unassuming fitness expert who works out of the JW Marriott, Mumbai and trains some of the city’s top industrialists, believes that nutrition deserves more than half your attention when getting fit, and is more important than workout and rest. Hailing from humble beginnings, Dr Khan’s biggest strengths lie in two things: 1. That he has experienced the unfitto-fit journey first-hand. And 2. His intrinsic understanding of Indian food helps him create vegetarian diets for his clients that may be tough to get used to, but show definite results.
Dr Khan, tell us the three biggest eating mistakes Indian men make, and how can we correct them?
Avoid sugar and refined carbs; have a basic knowledge of macro and micro nutrients and always eat on time; but when you do not have access to a clean nutrient, skip a meal. It’s better than dumping junk into your body. Remember: Interval fasting is always better than junk eating.
The lady amongst men
Leena Mogre
If you have fond memories of Madhuri Dixit at her prime (think dhak, dhak karne laga), you should know that the actress with the dazzling smile was trained by none other than Leena Mogre. Those were different times, when fitness trainers were hard to come by and Mogre was amongst the first. She went on to launch the mega-successful “Gold’s Gym Bandra,” then successfully launched her own fitness studios, Leena Mogre Fitness. Her chain has the distinction of being India’s first attempt at a 24-hour gym chain, a feat even well-known brand names haven’t been able to achieve. Today, Mogre continues to run her gyms across the country, has mentored a fair number of welltrained fitness experts, and continues to inspire by authoring books, appearing on television or just flaunting her near-flawless physique.
Leena, what’s the advice you’d give a buddying personal trainer?
Fitness knowledge is to be shared. The more you educate your client, the more he will trust you and feel safe in your hands. So, no secrets! Show results, and don’t wait for your client to ask you why.
Mr Beautiful body
Junaid Kaliwala
His love affair with muscles started at a very early age. “If it wasn’t for fitness and modeling, I’m sure I would be dancing or acting,” he says. Raised by a single parent, success in this industry didn’t come easy for him. From working alongside street vendors, to being a part-time model, to working as a sales executive, it took a tremendous amount of patience and character from Junaid to finally pursue his passion. His status as a bodybuilder and a physique competitor rose to new heights when he became the first Indian to compete at the Arnold Classic, giving him the visibility he desired. He’s not only a juggernaut in the bodybuilding community, but now is also a revered fitness counsellor. With the space that he has been instrumental in developing and the reputation he is mustering up for himself, don’t be surprised if India soon starts having fitness icons of its own!
What’s the mistake guys make when they look to becoming a fitness model?
If your training includes following your favorite Ronnie Coleman workout video, you’ll never build the ideal body of a fitness model, and most likely never be able to emulate Ronnie himself, either! You need to keep in mind that there is a notable distinction between the training methodologies of a fitness model and a bodybuilder. Focus on aesthetics and symmetry, and strictly consult only fitness models for advice.
Slumdog Muscle
Rakesh Udiyar
Born to a family of slum-dwellers and having lost his father at an early age, Rakesh picked up several odd jobs, including becoming a sweeper boy at a gym to make ends meet on his journey to becoming a top trainer. His initial inroads into personal training came after he successfully trained small time models and aspiring actors with whatever information he mustered up through observation and reading. The knowledge he’s acquired, and the respect he’s earned over time, has seen him train numerous celebrities, including Arbaaz Khan, Diya Mirza, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. From a kid who didn’t have money to afford a bag of rice, to becoming a man who travels to distant places like Arizona, USA to train with renowned bodybuilders like Dennis James, Rakesh’s journey is one that definitely embodies inspiration and endless courage.
What advice would you give to a budding celebrity trainer?
Train people in a manner that gives them visible results. If you have sound work ethics and are result-oriented, sooner or later your work will get noticed. I once trained a model who couldn’t even afford my fees. His recommendations have gone a long way in helping me get to where I am.
Mr Scrawny to Brawny
Koushik Balial
The fact that Koushik Balial has made a name for himself in the city of joy, where ‘joy’ often equates to sitting back on your armchair with a book in your hand, sipping a cup of tea rather than an active lifestyle, is commendable! Koushik has built his reputation by catering to those seeking quality fitness expertise in a city where finding a good trainer is hard to come by. Along the way, he’s managed to spread awareness, has earned the goodwill of everyone he’s trained and built a fitness community in Kolkata. The mistake he made by enrolling himself in a gym as a skinny college guy to ‘bulk up’, changed his mindset towards training altogether. “Some people hate change, but I love the learning and challenge that accompanies it,” he says. The injuries that followed forced him to delve deeper into the subject to find answers and eventually made him an expert. Today, as one of the most sought out personal trainers in Kolkata, he hopes to transform the minds and bodies of the people who wish to seek his guidance.
Is misinformation or demotivation a bigger problem?
They both go hand-in-glove with each other. Demotivation is often a result of unrealistic goals that people pursue. Follow this simple train of thought: If you can’t do five proper squats with 60 per cent of your body weight in five seconds, you should scratch the box jumps off your training itinerary.
In love with fitness
Vesna Jacob
With blonde hair and attractive features, you’d think it’d be distracting for her students to concentrate. But Vesna’s no-nonsense demeanour, passionate instructions and clipped Bosnian-English accent, has given her a reputation to reckon with. What few know is that her move to India was the result of an online love affair with her husband at a time when TCP/IP internet connectivity was all one had. (3G, 4G and dropped calls were all a dream!) Vesna had also been through a debilitating accident and used fitness and resolve to bounce back. Despite being an Indian wife and a native non-Indian, Vesna went on to work in the fitness industry, create young trainers, launch gyms, train some major corporates, and now runs her own fitness studio in Delhi. In front of all she’s done, even the fact that she’s so pleasing on the eye seems pale in comparison.
Vesna, what’s the biggest mistake Indian men make when it comes to fitness, and how can we correct it?
Not understanding how their body works, Indian men work out too hard or too little. Here are a few tips: Balance cardio and strength training, whole body versus weights, improve flexibility, strive towards proper work/rest ratio, eat clean and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate; then look at supplements to add the edge. And of course, keep reading Men’s Health for updates on how to train and live smart!
The holistic approach
Luke Coutinho
As one of the few holistic health practitioners in the country, Luke Coutinho is a stand out amongst fitness trainers. Luke started his journey as a lifestyle and exercise coach and the latter required him to treat people through a multifactorial approach, which required him to use his knowledge of nutrition, special exercise, medicine, mental and physical healing in conjunction with each other. He mission is to build awareness of the philosophy he follows in society. “We are all products of nature and therefore we respond to the biological parameters that define us. If we are able to align our lives, including the way we eat, sleep, move and think, with nature, we will naturally thrive.” Apart from his integrated approach to training and healing, he is also currently researching supplements, spices and foods that can boost immunity, target cancer stem cells, heal, cure and prevent diseases.
What’s missing from most training plans nowadays?
The personal touch is found lacking in most of the ‘latest’ fad workouts that people adopt. Most fads are not designed for beginners or necessarily for your body either. You’ll be better off finding an exercise programme that you enjoy and that suits your body. Some of the best programmes only last for around 30 minutes or so (to avoid an increase in your cortisol levels) and usually include adequate rest periods.
COURTESY: menshealth.intoday.in
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