Yasmin Karachiwala reveals her secrets on weight loss and fitness

Yasmin Karachiwala is one of the most sought-after celebrity fitness trainers in Bollywood. Yasmin is the person behind Katrina Kaif's figure in Tees Maar Khan, Deepika Padukone's gorgeous body in Ram Leela and Alia Bhatt's bikini body in Shaandaar. She is the proprietor of her own personal fitness studio - Yasmin's Body Image - which was founded 12 years ago. Yasmin Karachiwala is also the first BASI certified Pilates instructor in India and established the first Pilates studio in Mumbai. We spoke to Yasmin Karachiwala about Pilates, fitness and her stint with Bollywood celebrities

What made you choose Pilates as a form of fitness?
I had done a lot of aerobics, weights, TRX, functional training but I wanted something to work from the inside out and nothing does that better than pilates. It stretches and strengthens the body from giving you better posture, alignment and better form in anything else you make choose to do. It also prevents injuries.

How is it training with celebrities? Who is your favorite celeb client? Why?
Training celebrities are always fun as they have certain looks they need to do for a movie or a song. I don't have any favourites they all work extremely hard even though they have extremely busy schedules. My favourite transformations would be - The time I worked with Katrina Kaif to achieve her 'Sheila ki Jawaani' look. Getting Alia Bhatt ready for her bikini scene in Shaandaar and Deepika Padukone's training for her Hollywood film 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'

What are some of the common challenges you face with celebrity clients?
It always fun training celebrities to achieve their various looks for different roles. It keeps me on my toes to think differently and make new workouts. They work extremely hard despite their shooting schedules and so I have to sometimes come to work and 12 and 1 at night also.

Tell us something about Yasmin's Body Image?
Yasmin's Body Image is a place that is extremely personalised to your goals. My team and I discuss every workout before its made and for what purpose we give an exercise to a client. Be it in the gym or in Pilates we work with different types of clients with different body compositions and so we plan a workout accordingly.

What is that one fitness tip you swear by?
To be mobile and active. We are too sedentary and we need to move to try doing at least 6k steps per day. Don't sit for too long stand walk around and just be active!

What is your fitness mantra?
Be fit because you deserve it.

What are your tips for people who want to lose weight?

• Move: Be active throughout the day take the stairs, walk around the office just move
• Eat smart: We all know what foods to avoid like sweets, fried etc and eat healthy lots of veggies, fruit, lean protein and good fats
• Strength Train: Even own body weight exercises you don't need to go to the gym
• Hydrate: You need to drink 8 - 10 glasses of water most people don't know but if you are thirsty that means your body is already dehydrated so keep drinking water
• Attitude: Be positive and believe you can do it and you will!

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