Namrata Purohit is an award-winning entrepreneur, B town’s favourite fitness instructor and an author as well. FACE’s Managing Editor, Neha Sachar Mittal caught up with her to get a low down on what makes Pilates the “go-to” workout for this generation and all things fitness.
1) You were a certified Pilates instructor at the young age of 16… This much clarity of vision is impressive in a teenager. Was this always part of the plan?
The honest answer is NO, it wasn’t part of the plan. When I was 15 I had a bad fall and injured my knee, I had to undergo immediate surgery and was asked to stay away from anything high impact including squash, dance and many other things I enjoyed doing. I then went on a quest to find ways to feel better and pain-free and to be able to do all the things I used to, once again.
I tried various forms of exercise and eventually fell into the laps of Pilates. In just a few days I was pain-free for the first time in almost a year, I even got on the squash court and played the nationals that year. Pilates was like magic for me, and I just felt a need to spread the magic. That is when my father, Samir Purohit, and I decided to open The Pilates Studio.
2) Pilates is a unique form of exercise and relatively new on the scene compared to yoga, cardio or weight training. What sets it apart from the rest?
Pilates works on all aspects of fitness including strength, stability, flexibility, balance and much more. It is a mind-body form of exercise and works the entire body inside-out. While it is an intense workout, it is also an extremely safe one. It can not only help you if you are injured but can also help you prevent injuries in the long run.
Pilates was started by a man for men at war and then transformed for ballet and contemporary dances, so I often say you will get the strength of a warrior and the lean, long, flexible body of a dancer. The best of both worlds.
3) You have trained celebrities like Kangana Ranaut, Jacqueline Fernandez, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Nargis Fakhri, Neha Dhupia, Lauren Gottlieb, Shibani Dandekar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Malaika Arora, Janhvi Kapoor to name a few…what’s the one thing that is most challenging and the one thing that’s most fun about being a celebrity fitness trainer?
It’s been a great journey, and I would say the most challenging and fun thing is actually the same, which is that they have to look a certain way for different roles. That means constantly changing, evolving and adapting and also ensuring they achieve their goals in a safe, sustainable and healthy manner in the short span we might have.
4) You wrote the book “Lazy girl’s Guide to Being Fit”… is it even possible… for a lazy person to be fit? Please share some tips.
Yes, it is! It’s simple, the few tips I would give would be,
-> To find an exercise regime you enjoy. There are so many forms and fitness classes available, try a few, see what you like, I am sure there is something for you. And once you find that something you will feel like sticking to it.
-> Find a workout buddy who pushes you
-> Find a trainer you enjoy working with and who motivates you to do better.
-> Do small little things every day. Even just a 5-minute workout is better than no workout. In my book, I even talk about how shopping can be a good way to move.
5) You are viewed by the world as a Holistic Fitness Icon. What’s your personal diet and fitness regime like?
I don’t follow a diet but rather just have a healthy nutrition plan. I eat three main meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, and sometimes a small meal in between my main meals. I ensure I eat all the macro and micronutrients as well as stay well hydrated through the day. I believe in eating enough and eating right rather than eating less.
When it comes to my nutrition or workout regime I often say one must ‘KISSS’ which is Keep it Safe Simple and Smart.
My primary form of exercise is Pilates which I do 4-5 times a week and EMS once a week and I horse ride 3-4 times a week and do a dance class once a week. As part of a healthy fitness regime and lifestyle, I also ensure to give my body enough rest and recovery time as well as sleep.
