Armed with more than two decades of experience in the fitness industry, celebrity trainer Yasmin Karachiwala is well known for whipping celebrities into shape — think: Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Whether it’s doing full body moves like deadlifts or simply stretching to strengthen your muscles, Yasmin takes well-being to the next level with her approach to fitness, and being the first certified Pilates instructor in India certainly helps. We caught up with the trainer at the recent Reebok UnREST event to give us some tips and tricks to being the fittest version of yourself.
Start with your approach to food
Yasmin doesn’t believe in diets. She says,”We all know what foods are good and bad for us. I believe in eating whole foods and avoid eating anything from a packet.” Her meals are always sans sugar and fried items. “I make sure I eat a wholesome diet with fruits, veggies, lean protein, and good fat, and I always keep myself hydrated.”
Try a workout you will enjoy
For beginners who are just getting started on their fitness journey, Yasmin advises starting off with a form of exercise that you enjoy doing. “Also, make small daily lifestyle changes like walking to work, parking your car 5 minutes away from work, and opting to take the stairs,” she says.
Burn fat by focusing on the right exercises
“A combination of strength and cardio is good to burn fat. Full body moves like squats, deadlifts and push-ups that include large body parts working together is best for fat burning,” says Yasmin. And if you wanted to get toned, lean-muscled legs like Deepika’s, Yasmin advises doing lunges, step-ups and butt bridges.
Incorporate exercises that strengthen and tone your muscles
While high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and cardio will get your heart pumping and make you shed weight faster, you need to add exercises like Pilates to your workout regimen that will support and help you perform other forms of exercise better. “Pilates is a form of exercise that stretches and strengthens at the same time. It works the whole body from the inside out, stabilises muscles, and builds the muscles closest to the spine which are our core muscles that help in posture and balanced muscle development. Practising Pilates also helps in injury prevention,” she says.
Katrina’s washboard abs are the result of long hours of Pilates, so you know what you’re getting into.
