Inside Jacqueline Fernandez’s intense workout routine

It’s been a decade since Jacqueline Fernandez made her debut in Bollywood, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned about her since, it is that she doesn’t do anything by half measures. From those rigorous action sequences for movie roles and her vocal support for animal rights to turning investor in a conscious cold-pressed juice brand, she allows her passion for her work to shine bright. It should come as little surprise that she brings that same zeal to her fitness regimen as well, training with Cindy Jourdain to keep her physique toned and red carpet-ready at all times. “Jacqueline and I met a few years back when she wanted to improve her flexibility. I taught her ballet privately, and our bond developed from there. Born with amazing genes, she possesses a very athletic Sri Lankan physique and, in my book, can pretty much do anything you ask for her,” says Jourdain.

On Jacqueline Fernandez’s fitness goals for the year

With an action-thriller opposite Sushant Singh Rajput on her schedule, it comes as little surprise that Fernandez is polishing her fighting chops in the gym. “We are looking at skill-based training at the moment, getting her ready for the unexpected, thinking ahead and preparing her in the future to be able to deliver a strong punch and a powerful sprint, or [do] acrobatic sequences. Everybody can’t just deliver all of these in a convincing and authentic manner, so we have a lot of work ahead. It will involve both aerobic and anaerobic training, as well as throwing ourselves in the deep end and picking up new skills,” she decodes.

On Jacqueline Fernandez’s fitness routine

Given the many demands on Fernandez’s time, Jourdain adopts a bespoke approach to her fitness regimen. “Her routine at Beyond Studio revolves around Cindy’s Bootcamp method that involves functionality and pliability for everyday purposes, and weight-bearing and resistance exercises that are fundamental for bone and muscular health. Our bootcamp sessions usually extend for 75 minutes with major emphasis on mobility and warming up. I’m an ex-professional ballerina, so everything we do at the beginning of the session has to focus on our ability to move well, utilising our full range of motion and control under light resistance. When we are training for a specific goal, whether it is a shoot or a movie role, we work for more hours in the gym for around five or six times a week,” the Mumbai-based fitness trainer says.

She also admits that the 33-year-old star’s versatility across different workout styles is what impresses her the most. “Jacqueline will survive a HIIT class or a weight training session without too much difficulty, but she also really enjoys yoga and different dance styles. I feel we can physically go further with a well-balanced cross training program, finding two or three training methods or protocols that complement one another to ensure the right distribution of intensity, recovery and overall progress,” she states.

On training with Jacqueline Fernandez

If you’ve been wondering what it is like to work out Fernandez in the gym, Jourdain would you like to know that she brings her peppy energy to everything that she does. “A big favourite on the studio iPad is this cool Dubai Tropical House Mix, and some trendy remixes of summer hits with strong beats. Once a song she loves comes on, she’ll sing or start dancing to it; she is very happy in her own skin and it’s so lovely to see,” Jourdain divulges. She further adds,  “Jacqueline is very friendly and open to feedback; she can be very playful too and will give me a run for my money any day! She is very much like a cat—curious, precise, agile, independent and, once she’s been given instructions, extremely adaptable too. Her motor skills are way up there, in terms of coordination, balance, accuracy and general kinetic awareness. In this field, you see most people are judgmental and lose efficiency in their workout by allowing their inner critic to take over. I like that Jacqueline enjoys the discovery and doesn’t worry about the process, but instead openly accepts and learns each time.”

The uncertainties of a movie actor’s schedule can wreak havoc on the best-laid fitness routines, but the duo preemptively decided to prioritise her well-being above all else. “We both agreed from the start that if she has night shoots, long working days or travel on her schedule and isn’t able to recover properly, we would reschedule our classes together and focus on recovery first. The truth is, she is wired in such a way that she will find solutions to make it all fit. But my best advice for anybody who has a hectic working life is to pre-plan everything such as your work schedule, meals and sleep to avoid too many spontaneous changes. Massages, meditation reset sessions and low-intensity activities post strenuous days are just as mandatory for your physical and mental health, since they keep you moving but won’t affect your overall energy levels as much. I always tell her that life doesn’t have to be so hard, and maintaining a healthy body is a lot easier than what most people think; we just have to kickstart the machine, train and think smart,” she concludes.

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