Look around you the next time you’re in a gym. You’ll notice the cardio section has a decent sex ratio, but the area around the weights is a veritable sausage fest. There’s a reason women tend to avoid strength training and it’s not all down to a fear of sitting in a puddle of man… Continue reading The shocking truth about weight training
It claims to be tailored for the ‘anatomy of a woman’s foot’ – which made me skeptical about the PureBoost X – but I was game to try anything to stop post-Crossfit foot trouble. The lightweight shoes were almost sock-like, hugging the arches of my feet. The arch support made all the difference during my… Continue reading We took the new Adidas PureBoost X for a test run (or ten!)
A new craze, the Sirtfood diet requires you to up your consumption of sirtuin-activating foods (read red wine and chocolate). Sirtuin, a naturally occurring protein in our bodies, burns fat, increases muscle and improves cell repair. It’s all about choosing smarter indulgences. Flip through the gallery to see what you can swap
Let’s be honest, trying a new workout can be equal parts exciting and nerve-racking. Will I be able to work the equipment properly? Or will I make a fool of myself? Pilates is all about achieving the perfect balance and coordination – getting more in sync with your body while also increasing flexibility and in… Continue reading 5 Pilates moves to try at home
While most women shy away from the weights section at the gym, your cardio isn’t of much use without it. Cardio by itself might make you lose a heap of weight, but it will also leave you with loose muscle in all the wrong places. Tone your body and boost your metabolism with resistance training… Continue reading How Alia Bhatt stays in shape
Gwyneth Paltrow is concerned you might be peeing your pants. The Goop founder recently used her website to highlight the unconscious un-coupling between women and their pelvic floor — and for good reason. A study by USA’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that up to 45 per cent of women suffer urinary incontinence… Continue reading The importance of kegels
Your news feed has probably been flooding with all the ‘New Year, New Me’ posts by now. But how many people really stick to those dreams and ambitions that come along with January 1, every single year? Ditch that tempting discounted gym membership deal and allow these Instagram fitness gurus to help you achieve the… Continue reading 6 (quick) workout moves to steal from Instagram
After pretty much setting new fitness standards in Bollywood, Shilpa Shetty Kundra never expected to be fat-shamed for a few extra post-pregnancy kilos. “It was four months after I had my baby and I felt so terrible,” she says. Not the kind to sit around moping, she skipped the health fads and decided to get… Continue reading Shilpa Shetty Kundra on why rajma-chawal is all the superfood you need
Self-improvement is a noble goal, and if it’s something you’re after, don’t be afraid to ask for a little help. These apps will help you be a better version of yourself, from making sure you eat right to helping you learn that new language you always wanted to. 1. MyFitnessPal Perfect to help you get… Continue reading 5 apps that will (literally) change your life
Celebrity trainer Yasmin Karachiwala recently co-authored a book with writer Zeena Dhalla, called Sculpt And Shape. And it’s packed with fitness truths that Karachiwala’s (many) clients Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone are already privy to. In fact, Katrina Kaif’s fitness rules 1. Fixing your posture can help you look better. When you are… Continue reading 3 major fitness truths revealed in celebrity trainer Yasmin Karachiwala’s new book
Jillian’s my main girl. But there’s also Shaun. I had a brief fling with Tony but he didn’t treat me right, so I ditched him (but I do occasionally go back for more). As for Ashley, no one makes me feel quite as good as she does. We’ve been getting sweaty together in my living room… Continue reading The best workout DVDs
A gym membership is expensive, but home workout equipment isn’t cheap, either. If you want to stay fit on the fly, check your cupboards for these items that’ll double as weights, bands, and other exercise aids. Ketchup bottle Use this, or any other bottle of similar heft, instead of weights for your arm exercises. The… Continue reading How to: set up a DIY gym at home
Sonam Kapoor is taking a crack at building her upper body strength. Over the next 15 days she’ll perfect her push-ups. The results will be for all to see, because her progress will be tracked at 5-day intervals on her trainer Yasmin Karachiwala’s Instagram account. It all started with Kapoor insisting, “Oh, I can do… Continue reading Sonam Kapoor takes up a 15-day push-up challenge
“I don’t practise pilates to look good, I do it to feel good,” says Huma Qureshi, about her training with Mumbai-based nutrition and pilates expert Radhika Karle. “I want to lose weight well, by building strength and muscle.” The actor will begin shooting her next film, based on Hollywood’s Oculus (2013), in less than a… Continue reading The curvy girl’s guide to getting fit, by Huma Qureshi
We kicked off ELLE Active back in January with a commitment to giving you all the fitspiration you need. Now that Yoga Day has taken over our timelines, let’s revisit ashtanga vinyasa yoga expert Deepika Mehta’s videos. Start by getting your basics right, with surya namaskars. Then learn how to tone your legs: And finally, learn how… Continue reading Yoga 101 by Deepika Mehta
Pressed for time? Download Shaun Thompson’s Focus T25 videos or app — each of the base kit’s 10 circuit-training workouts gives the effects of an intensive hour-long aerobic workout within 25 minutes. And while you’re at it, take clinical nutritionist Dr Ishi Khosla’s suggestions of some healthy tweaks to your diet. WEEK 1Work it out:… Continue reading 4 tips to tone your thighs
Ditch dumbells and shape up your posterior with a bodyweight training regime that you can actually do while brushing your teeth. Boost your immunity with an alkaline diet to manage your body’s acidity levels. WEEK 1Work it out: Start with three sets of jump squats: stand straight with your hands on the back of your… Continue reading How to sculpt your butt in under a month
Kajal Tejsinghani, executive director of Surfset Fitness India, tells you just how to get a surfer’s sinews without crashing into waves. Pair this workout with nutritionist and founder of The Protein Bake Shop, Rashi Chowdhary’s muscle-building diet for a wetsuit-friendly frame in no time. WEEK 1Work it out: Inspired by the water sport, Surfset uses… Continue reading Your 4 step plan to toned arms
Think two-inch thigh gaps are overrated and kale shakes taste like sadness? We feel you. Begin your four-week bikini countdown with rookie-friendly workouts and diet plans that don’t include munching on salad leaves all day. Summer’s waiting! Get a flat bellyWashboard abs are no problem at all, says Yasmin Karachiwala, pilates expert and trainer to Alia… Continue reading How to get a flat belly in 4 weeks
