FIT message from Nam

At 24 years of age, this sprightly girl’s fitness wisdom has about 10 years of practice, as she started at just 15! As the youngest Stott trainer in the world at 16, hers is a lesson in self-belief. Namrata Purohit co-founded the famed Pilates Studio with her father. Namrata’s choc-o-block agenda also includes her long list of Bollywood clientele. Most recently, she has been busy with Kareena Kapoor-Khan’s fitness regime, helping her lose weight after she had Taimur. Jaqueline Fernandes, Kangana Ranaut, Malaika Arora Khan and many others are on that coveted list. Working with heavy weights in the film industry must be tough, right? “No, not at all. Anyone dealing with celebrities will realise that they are just as normal as us, and trying to achieve their own fitness goals. When I am training them, they are like any other client. I’ve been lucky as everyone I have worked with is so dedicated. Infact, they are easier to work with, as they have immense commitment. You and I might bunk a class but they don’t. I admire their dedication.”

Right now Jacqueline Fernandes, Kareena post-having Taimur, Malaika Arora-Khan, Varun Dhawan and Ileana D’cruz are training with me,” says the girl who’s philosophy is to customise fitness regimes.

Working with Kareena post-pregnancy involved a definite agenda, “When she came back after delivery, we started working on weight loss. Nine months of having another person in you, the body goes through a lot, mentally and physically. Ensuring Kareena does not feel fatigued, working on abdominals, we follow a specific regime, with cardio. She is just so dedicated and focused, I am constantly learning from all of them,” Namrata adds.

The one thing that irks Namrata is the constant brick-brats celebs endure, “Everyone has a different body. But today, everyone is judgemental, and talk about celeb bodies. It can get really stressful and hurtful, and affect them. We forget that they are normal individuals. Yes, they are good looking, but we all must learn to respect them as we don’t know what each individual is going through, personally or professionally,” she implores constant trollers. Given how post-pregnancy weight loss is a rage, and quite drastic, in some cases, Purohit advices a gradual work-up, “I’d say a normal amount of weight to lose is .5 to 1.5 a month. More means you are under eating or over exercising. Today, most women workout even during pregnancy, so they literally just put on baby weight. We (the studio) also have pre-natal pilates classes, and many even do it for the whole nine months, after a go-ahead from their doctor,” says Namrata.

Fitness has gone overboard with many working out for hours on end. Namrata, who works out an hour a day, feels over exercising is a big NO-NO, “Over training is not beneficial. Choose everything about fitness, not just looking good, but flexibility, strength, balance, eating well and enough and no diets. Which means, don’t eat less, eat enough nutritious meals. Our studio philosophy is being smart, not over-training, but spending a few quality hours a week. I personally over trained earlier, as it had become an addiction. Honestly, my body saw low results, it was counter productive. It’s not about doing more, as your then prone to fatigue and injury. If you do too much, the body feels it’s not getting enough and starts storing fat. An hour a day is best,” says the 24-year-old who is wise beyond her years, adding, “We all can be happy with our fitness goals and regime, but don’t ever be satisfied, as that brings in complacency.”

From a family of fitness experts, she and her father Samir Purohit and mother Nandini are a three person team. Her father, she recalls self-taught himself after an injury, studying further, and she has followed suit, finishing all her Stott courses, and updates herself with workshops frequently. “His journey is so incredible and inspiring. Learning everything himself, and doing courses to go further at a time when fitness was not such a huge trend, is great. Mom, dad and I are constantly looking at basic quality controls. While dad and I train, my mother tests our trainers  and gives feedback,” she adds.

The former football player still finds time to kick-about, as a mid-fielder with friends at St. Andrews. Her life revolves around activity, and the adrenaline junkie takes the liberty to travel when her celebrity clientele are travelling as well. “I am a scuba diver, and holidays revolve around finding places to dive –Andamas and Maldives.  My dance classes and horse riding also keep me busy,” she says. “Keep it safe, simple and smart,” says the author of The Lazy Girls Guide to Being Fit. Something we can surely use.”