Fitness Apparel

I love clothes, specially branded clothes. And I have to have a full collection of good workout clothes- some nice T's, loose comfortable, breathable clothes.



Recently Ed Hardy has been launched in Delhi. And I love their trendy designs.
They are not necessarily fitness apparel, but you can wear their T's etc as part of cool, chic, casual clothing. And they also have some track pants etc. I like their logo- Love Kills Slowly.



The store also has Christian Audigier. Must say the range is superb. Vibrant colors -which is so very- ME. Prices are bit expensive but the quality is excellent and their products do stand out.

Warm up for Functional Fusion-6

Warm up for Functional Fusion-5

Warm up for Functional Fusion-4

Push & Pull
Pulse Pull

Warm up for Functional Fusion-3

Roll up to a squat and lunge. My school PT teacher used to do this basic stuff.

warm up for Functional Fusion-2

Runners lunge- knee bend, tap toe
Plank.

The most basic stuff of warm up.

Warm up for Functional Fusion

Now final

And this is the final one.

choreography-7

Which choreography in the world goes-

monkey monkey
crazy eyes
slap it
pony
pretty shoes/ hit your foot
play the guitar
monkey rock

Are you laughing? or are you shocked? I got it as a part of written notes also and you can hear her say this in the video.

choreography-5

choreography-4

With such rave reviews that I have given about the resolution, what do you think would Reebok do in their next resolution?

a. improve their standard of training
b. omit Kiran Sawhney's name from their list of invitees.
c. continue on the same lines unaffected

Whatever they do, the truth had to be told and someone had to stand up and tell them to stop passing us low grade training in the name of resolution. It is high time they realized that Delhi trainers are very well aware of international standards. I have been attending world class Idea fitness conferences and directly interacting with international trainers. We are well versed with industry standards. Today, in the times of globalisation, such hop jump choreography is available even on youtube. So if a company like Reebok is organizing such hyped up resolution, they better make sure of some standard or else quit from fitness training and stick to selling shoes and T shirts.

Adding on to previous choreography

Another hilarious one

Blogging really helps. Now my frustration and anger is changing to laughter. Watching this video, more than anything else, I find it funny.

1st video of Reebok resolution

Assess for yourself. My regular clients can vouch for this. In my day to day fitness classes, they have done better choreography and routine than what was taught to professional fitness trainers in such hyped up resolution.

Reebok never fails to disappoint me

Yesterday I attended Reebok resolution 2008. It is a conference, meant primarily, for fitness trainers and is organized by Reebok every year. Ideally they (are supposed to) call global master trainers to bring latest information in the field of fitness to desi fitness trainers.

Now to start with, read below the email I got from Delhi based master trainer Nisha.
It clearly states that they were calling two master trainers. Despite this clear written intimation, when I went to the venue, the other master trainer Tamayah Ahmed was no where to be seen. Reebok had very conveniently not called her/him and still charged the same hefty amount for a day's workshop. And as mentioned in the email, there was no lecture on personal training as well. It happens only in India. Anywhere else in the world, a company could have been sued for giving such false information.

Instead of Tamayah, Reebok called some Krav Maga teacher named Bhanu, who taught self defence techniques to fitness trainers. That is not what I had gone to learn. But did I or anyone else have a choice? NOOO


To top it all, when i visited the other trainer's website, I found out that she is not a master trainer at all. So I was taught by some dancer and model who had much less experience and knowledge than me. But of course she was from US of A and Reebok had imposed her on us and we had paid to be taught by her.

Now icing on the cake, there was an hour presentation by Gatorade and Bodyfuelz about their products. What the fuck? 60 plus trainers paid Rs. 4000/- each to hear about advertisements of two companies ? Where in the world does any such thing happen?

Did I learn anything new? NOOO. Don't you see I am so frustrated? I wasted my precious time and of course also the money and did not learn a single new thing. I would soon be putting up videos from the conference. See for yourself. They are the most basic stuff that even my clients can teach. Few dance moves, squats combined with lateral raise, bla bla bla.

Why the hell does Reebok have to do this year after year? There products were always bad. Why do they have to prove it every year that the quality of training is aghhh!!

Now read the email. Unchi dukan feeka pakwaan (hindi proverb...which kind of translates in- All that glitters is not gold.) This is what Reebok is all about.



REEBOK RESOLUTION 2008
DATE: 26 SEPT ,VENUE: JAYPEE VASANT CONTINENTAL, VASANT VIHAR,
FEE: RS 4000/=
TIME: REGISTRATIONS 7.30 (preferably register in advance at club Xcell on the 22 sept before 1 o clock)
RES: 8 AM TO 4 PM
PROGRAMS:By two trainers from the USA
SARAH:
1.) FUNCTIONAL FUSION Mixing popular trends! Functional training and fusion classes are the highest demanded classes in the US because they deliver a physical benefit and are always different and fun! This class blends Body Sculpting with free weights, Pilates exercises, Yoga flowandcontemporary dance. Instructors will learn to deliver unlimited class options and provide their members with physical results and an emotional charge.
2) SPORTS CONDITIONING An innovative, fun and athlete-inspired fitness class! Sports Conditioning is designed to challenge the entire body to develop strength, power, and endurance. Learn how to utilize various equipment, including free weights and Reebok Steps, as well as your body weight to become better prepared for daily life and sport. Instructors will learn the proper mechanics, flow, and progression to challenge a class with different ability levels and leave with a new toolbox of exercises to bring to their members.
3) GROOVIN' & MOVIN'
The best of all dances into one! Groovin' and Movin' is a high energy dance classes mixing hip-hop, jazz, funk, lyrical, and broadway for people of all dance ability levels to enjoy! Sara willprovide "up to date" choreography combinations. The change of rhythm, inspiring music, and new moves are a challenge for the mind, body and soul! Instructors will learn basic moves, new combinations, where to hunt for new idea and the hot new trends from the US.
Tamayah Ahmed:
4)Jump Explosive Cardio - A half hour high intensity, high energy cardio using no equipment ( except a marked line on the floor, eg a rope, resistance band, or masking tape to jump over) Starting with a full body warm up, then various plyometric jumps in time to the music. A test of coordination, propreoception, and 3D awareness as the jumps become gradually more complex. Lots of fun.. A real calorie burner.
5/6)PERSONAL TRAINING:
PROGRAM:
730 AM REGISTRATIONS
8-9AM CLASS 1 JUMP EXPLOSION
9-10 AM CLASS 2 FUNCTIONAL FUSION
10- 1030 TEA BREAK
1030-1130 CLASS 3 GROOVING AND MOVING
11-30 TO 1230-CLASS 4 SPORTS CONDITIONING
1230- 1-15 –LUNCH
115 TO 300 PT LECT –PERSONAL TRAINING
3-4 Q AND A AND CERTS

Probiotic Milk

Another good and healthy option to drink, is probiotic milk. Though, there is Yakult also, in Indian market, I love Mother Dairy's. It is called Nutrifit. Mother Dairy is available in two flavors- mango and strawberry and I personally like mango. My teenage boys who used to refuse to drink their glass of milk in the morning, now happily have their "daily boost of immunity." It is packed with billions of friendly bacteria- LA5 which help to make you strong within. It is fermented probiotic milk drink. It contains milk, sugar, water, mango/strawberry pulp, stabilizers and probiotic culture.

Each 100ml bottle contains energy 74 kcal, protein, 1.8g carbohydrate 15.0g, fat 0.8g, calcium 80mg.

Dieter's Delight

Buttermilk or Chach

One thing that I can swear on as a part of your drink is buttermilk or chach by Mother Dairy. I highly recommend this to all my clients who are wanting to loose weight. At times, when I am out and really thirsty, I just put a straw in a packet and have it chilled while shopping. This is a better option than having aerated drinks which are full of empty calories.
A packet costs only Rs. 10/- and is easily available at all Mother Dairy outlets. In 100 ml, there are 36 kcal 1.8g protein, 2.7g carbs, 1.9g fat and 80 mg calcium.
It contains milk, water, milk solids and lactic culture.
Have it chilled. You do not need to add anything else. It tastes good as it is. But some of my friends tell me that they spice it up by adding little salt or coriander or roasted cumin seeds etc. I like mine plain.
So switch to chach from fizzy drinks.

Best Italian restaurant in Delhi

For those of you who love Italian food, recently I discovered the best Italian food in New Delhi. This is coming from a fitness trainer and I am talking about absolutely low cal, nutritious and healthy options.

On 20th Sep, I celebrated my son's Birthday in San Gimignanao in Imperial hotel. He loves Italian food. And I wanted to make his day special for him.

San Gimignano is the name of a heritage village in Tuscany in Italy. The place is known for its 200 year old tall towers and buildings, which are intact till date.

I was told that you are allowed to go to this village only on a bicycle and not cars so as to preserve the ancient structures. The restaurant had original paintings of the place which are hundreds of years old. I have been to Italy but not to this place and now it has been added to my list of dream destinations.

The decor and ambiance of the restaurant is so unpretentious. They have indoor and outdoor dining. It is all pure white with white wrought iron canopies and white cane chairs. It is candle lit and has fountains.
They make thinnest possible pizza with fresh mozzarella cheese on top baked in front of you in brick furnace instead of electric oven.

I had the best possible soup of my life called minestrone soup.

The soup had full wheat and corn and organic fresh cut vegetables in it. I liked it so much that today, within 2 days of having soup there, I had to go back there with my friends and have it again. The service is excellent. The staff and chef give you lot of personal touch and attention.

I even asked for the calorie content of the soup today. Despite being huge portion size, it has only 50 calories.
I highly recommend everyone to try this place. Simply Awesome!!

Places to workout in Delhi- Lodhi Garden

Lodhi Garden is very popular amongst people in South Delhi.



This place has a beautiful walking trail, with lots of trees and lush green gardens all around, which are well maintained.



Walk in the morning here is so peaceful and refreshing. It has beautiful spots where you can even sit and meditate.



The beauty about this place is its beautiful old monuments which are scattered all over and restored. So the walking trail goes around them.





But what I do not like here is that unlike my favorite Jahanpanah forest, it is does not have marked distances. So, even after taking three complete rounds, I was not sure that I had completed my 7 km (that is what is one round of Jahanpanah forest). But this place is more vibrant, energetic and frequented by fitness enthusiasts.



But if we are comparing the two, then this place is the most picturesque trail.



There is even a small lake with a fountain in it. So you walk alongside the lake on one side and monument on the other. Can it be any better?

Kiran Sawhney demonstrates Bosu, Medicine Ball, Thera Band

Jahanpanah Forest-Places to workout in delhi

If you are in Delhi the best place to go for a walk is Jahanpanah Forest. Where in the heart of South Delhi (It is busting with traffic and residence and markets), would you find a forest? It is actually a forest which is so well maintained. I do hope commercialization never takes over this place.

You get real fresh Oxygen to breathe amongst so many green trees. There is its own nursery also. And a walking track is made in the middle of the forest. You can even see some peacocks.

Now comes the best part- why I like a walk here the best. It is marked all over as to how much distance you have covered. So I don't have to even rely on my pedometer. It starts with 0 km and guess how much is one full round?



I took my friends there for a walk who were clueless as to how much they had to walk. the deal was that they had to finish 1 round and we would come out. So we started walking/jogging/running/sprinting.



You even see people feeding birds there. There are special pots kept for people to put bird feed in them. It is an amazing feeling to see so many varieties of trees all around you and such enthusiast morning/evening walkers.



So coming back to my question as to how long is one round of this forest. It is full 7 kms track. Viola! if anyone does just this everyday, I bet he/she will always be really fit.



These are my clueless friends, who did successfully complete 7 km track. And at the end of it, they were really happy and rejuvinated. They have promised to do it every day.



Jahanpanah Forest- Here we come.

Swiss ball workout

This works like a leg press gym machine.
Lie down on the mat with hips next to the wall. Take the legs up. Now slowly bend your knees towards the chest and place a swiss ball up on your feet next to the wall.



Slowly push the ball up with your feet and straighten the knees.



Repeat few more times.

Calisthenics-3

Lie down on the floor. Keep the hips close to the wall. Place the legs on the wall. Now Lift the hips up. In this position place one foot over the other knee. Rotate the bent knee outwards.

Next rotate the same knee inwards towards your face.

Repeat few more times and change the leg.

Swiss ball workout- for abs-2

Lie down on the mat. Place a swiss ball on the wall and place your feet/ legs on top of the ball. Lift the hips up. This time because of the instability of the ball, it becomes more challenging and different than if the feet are placed against the wall which is a stable surface.



Try to straighten your legs straight up and lift the hips more.



Slowly bring the hips down.



Repeat few more times.

Calisthenics-2

Lie down on the mat on your back. Place the hips right next to the wall. Take the legs up straight against the wall. Lift the hips up and start to scissor the legs. Alternately, take one leg off from the wall and towards yourself. Then the other. Repeat.



You are on the mat- same starting position as above. Here you do not lift the hips up. Instead you lift the torso and head up and bring one arm to touch the opposite ankle and go back to the starting position. Repeat for few counts and then do with the other side. You are working on obliques.

Calisthenics

In the following exercises, you really do not require much equipment. You can easily do them at home and achieve an effective workout.

1.Lie down on the mat with your hips next to the wall. Take the legs up, next to the wall. Keeping your feet, firmly on the wall, lift the hips up and then lower them down. Squeeze your glutes.Repeat. This will target your hamstrings, lower back and abs.

2. Windshield wipers

Take the legs up straight against the wall. Make sure the hips are placed next to the wall. Now keeping one leg up straight, lower the other one towards the floor. Then bring it up again. Repeat for 20 times and then start doing with the other leg.

Swiss ball workout- for abductors and obliques

1. Sit on your knees next to the Ball. Slowly place your side on the ball and rest your hands on top of the ball for added support. Now lift your outer leg out to side- up and down. This works on your outer thigh also known as abductors. Repeat 20 times and then do on the other side.



2. From the above position, place the leg down and start rolling further back on the ball on your side. Try to place both legs straight out to side and even extend the hand above and overhead. From hand, down the waist, till your legs, the body should be in one straight line. Feel the stretch in your love handles.