She made her mark as an actress and now she’s creating a wave as the diva of fitness and now everyone wants a body like Shilpa Shetty Kundra. Shilpa Shetty’s hourglass figure is the envy of every woman! But looks like everyone can work towards that body now, as Shilpa shares all about her yoga journey and more, in a yoga app she launched today, on the International Day of Yoga.
In an exclusive conversation with Hot Friday Talks, Shilpa who is best known as a fitness expert now, shares all about yoga and how it has transformed her life and health.
Why did you think of creating an app especially on yoga?
“There is so much I want people to know about when it comes to yoga. I just feel we undervalue what we have, and the westerners are making so much use of it. We, in India, don’t value this science. I don’t just talk about yoga on International Yoga Day, I speak about yoga, fitness and wellness every day of my life. I use my social media to promote it too, as I feel health is the most undervalued thing that we have and there is a certain apathy towards it. The whole idea of starting the app was to bring about awareness and that awareness turned into passion and I am happy to play catalyst in bringing about that awareness.”
Is yoga also the secret to your youthful looks?
(She laughs and thanks me for the compliment) “It’s a known fact that yoga is able to reverse the science of aging or at least stop it. It’s just one of the perks, it does wonders to your body internally and also the way it shapes your mind and your body is something that you have to experience on your own and it will come with consistency, continuity and discipline. Yoga is basically discipline, though it’s not rocket science.”
How has yoga changed your life?
“It has changed me as a person. It has made me far more energetic, it’s made me even more positive because what it does is it cleanses your mind along with your chakras. It’s an energy giver, a fuel that you need especially in a profession like mine. It has made me aware to be in the moment. Despite not doing any movies since the last 11 years I consider myself to still be relevant at this time and age. I use this as my weapon to move forward. Why not talk about good health?”
There are so many other forms of exercise and keeping yourself fit, why did you choose yoga over all the others?
“I chose yoga for rehabilitating my neck and I realised it was an easier form to practice. All you need is a yoga mat or you don’t even need it, all you need is a level floor or a nice grass patch and you can do yoga anywhere in the world, unlike other stuff like going to the gym etc. It’s not dependent on anything or anyone. Yoga is an internal organ booster, there is no exercise that can work on your internal organs. Having said that, it’s not like I don’t do other forms of exercise, I do a bit of weight training to build up my muscle powers. I do a lot of functional training.”
How many hours do you practise yoga in a day?
“I do the asanas for at least 45 minutes, three to four times a week. I also meditate at the end of the day, for about fifteen minutes, I do breathing exercises. When I am alone at home, I like to pack my days with work. But on a normal day I keep myself busy with exercises etc., and running around my son, Viaan!”
How was your show Sunday Binge with Shilpa Shetty conceived?
“My show, Sunday Binge, is to show people that I do eat too! I lead a very disciplined life, I don’t eat anything after 7.30pm but on Sundays, I eat whatever my heart desires. That’s also our family day, we make sure we are all together and have brunch together.”
What is Shilpa Shetty’s favorite cheat meal?
“My favorite cheat meal is hot jalebis and gulab jamuns. A favourite childhood memory during Monsoons is eating garam garam pakoras. I try to abstain from white sugar and use coconut sugar instead. At heart I am still very middle class, and my typical nashta is ghee ka paratha and chai. I use the wheat with husk and add flaxseed for the parathas and there is ghee in my parathas.”
What is it that makes your Yoga App unique from the others?
“My yoga app is the first mainstream yoga app from India to the world and we are already live in 116 countries across the world from countries like America, Canada and UK of course India as well. I am hoping people in my country value it as well as much as westerners do. There has been a lot of thought and hard work in the making of this app.”
What’s the one important message you would like to give your fans about health?
“People need to start focusing on their health before an ailment comes up. Most people focus on their health only when they fall sick, or not feeling right. The point is only you can save yourself, so take care of your health.”
Yes! The time to start is right now!
