What do the rich and famous do when they aren't working? They work out

Today's HNI is a fitness freak, ready to go to any length to look good and feel great. A look at some of India's best fitness trainers who give personalised sessions to the country's who's who

In Mumbai, a session of Pilates with Namrata Purohit has caught the fancy of clientele such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, PV Sindhu, Shraddha Kapoor, among others. But why Pilates? Simply because it is a full-body exercise that works on both the superficial muscles and the deeper minute ones, explains Purohit, adding that it aids inch loss, improves lean body mass and posture, improves flexibility, coordination and balance.

And it’s not just Purohit, high networth individuals (HNIs) are seeking out the services of professional, high-profile fitness experts who customise their workouts and diet schedules, based on their lifestyles, basic metabolism, habits, long-term fitness goals and such like. In fact, reports suggest over 70 per cent of ultra HNIs spend on yoga, while for almost 40 per cent a ‘Crossfit’ training is a must.

Cardio fitness: A key component of exercise is cardio fitness, which is all about improving the health of the lungs and the heart. It involves workouts such as running, brisk walking, swimming, biking, aerobics or working out on cardio equipment. The regimen not only helps one lose weight, reduce stress levels, decrease fatigue and improve sports performance but also helps increase blood and nutrients in working muscles. Other options in the fitness space include boxing, strength and functional training, weights, cycling, sports conditioning, Yoga and dance fitness. “Each workout has its own benefits, but in the end, it’s all about consistency and to make that happen, it’s important to keep the workout routines interesting and constantly changing,” says Rishab Telang, master trainer, Cure.fit.

Yoga: The all-time favourite, yoga, continues to find favour with the country’s elite. Grand Master Akshar whose client list includes cricketing legends such as Matthew Hayden and Sunil Gavaskar, and athletes such as Babita Phogat, talks about how yoga is all-round body treatment, be it a pursuit of health, healing or fitness. Says ­­Akshar, “It is not simply physical movement or activity. The asanas and pranayam techniques whose benefits are  physically obvious also lead to immense mental and emotional gains. It is this is the holistic healing approach that sets yoga apart from all else.”  Yoga can be used to manage weight, strengthen the body, and deliver general health and healing as well.

Continued practice of asanas will result in a change in body weight, body strength, body balance and flexibility. Pranayama techniques have numerous benefits, ranging from weight loss and stress management to healing and treatment of various diseases. Akshar says, “Everyday yoga is a blessing to the body, mind and soul. It isn't just a workout, but a body healing process.”

Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar performing a yoga pose under the watchful eye of instructor Akshar

Zumba: This is a rage among the nextgen of big city elite. Sucheta Pal, Zumba ambassador and presenter, says the format is based on the science of interval training, which gives a total body workout and increases endurance. It is one of the few international brands of workouts with trademarked dance-fitness routines, based on music created by collaborations with the biggest names in the industry such as Shakira, Pitbull and Jason Derulo. "In addition, we incorporate dance forms of 185 countries, making this one of the happiest workouts in the world, creating huge mental health benefits,” says Pal.

On an average, one can end up burning 300 to 800 calories. A group session would cost Rs 20,000-45,000 a year, with 12 classes a month, while a personalised session costs upwards of Rs 3,000 an hour.

Full-body sessions: There are many sought-after personal trainers who give full-body workout sessions and charge by the hour. Dharmender Singh, fitness expert and strength and conditioning coach, trains many industrialists in south and central Delhi. He says his clients seek exclusive attention and don’t want to mingle with the crowd at gyms. He generally takes classes thrice a week and designs workout routines based on the job profiles of his clients. Which is why a workout regimen for some with a desk job will differ from that of someone whose job involves field work or extensive travel. His clients typically invest in a basic home gym with equipment recommended by the trainer. However, he strongly advises that one must go for certified trainers. They must be from a recognised sports college, preferably with a certification from an American online course.

Exclusive clubs: You also have some uber luxury clubs such as The Lodhi, which has more than five acres of dedicated health club area with an Olympic-sized heated swimming pool, silver lounge, a space for functional core workouts, Pilates studio, gym, weights, spinning studio, infrared saunas, two steam rooms and a Turkish hamam. According to Akhil Mehta, director, club and recreation, The Lodhi, “Membership is not given to everyone who can afford it. Many leading sports personalities, industrialists, lawyers, and diplomats are our clients, and average daily time spent at the club is two and a half hours.”