Zoom workouts and group challenges: How four women are putting their fitness first during lockdown

When lockdown 1.0 was announced across India earlier this year in March, I was all set to use this phase to focus on my mental and physical health. Work from home (#WFH) had cut down my travel time to nought (otherwise approximately four hours both ways during the non-peak period) and truth be told, I was happy for the break from Mumbai’s insane traffic. But like many a best-laid plan, this one failed to take off, and now as we head into July, and as the lockdown is once again extended in most Indian states, I find myself worse off than before. 

Ironically, it has never been more important to focus on health. With the physical effects of COVID-19 only spreading and the fallout (loss of jobs, home, finances) only increasing, it has put the spotlight back on taking care of oneself. We spoke to four women who, despite battling personal health issues, mommy woes and other lockdown-related challenges, made fitness a priority during the lockdown, in case you're looking for a little bit of inspiration. 

Shaana Levy-Bahl, 36, actress and producer

For Levy-Bahl, who was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease at 19, fitness has always been an integral part of life. Six months before the lockdown, the actress and producer gave birth to her son, Zyaan, now 10 months old, and she was eager to get her strength back. “This was an opportunity to solely focus on wellness by pressing pause on my everyday concerns and work. Fortifying our immune system by being as healthy as we possibly can is the most proactive way we can protect ourselves.”

Of course, navigating the never-ending lockdown with a baby, breastfeeding and raging hormones has not been the easiest. “I have to keep reminding myself that self-care, even if that is just an hour a day, is crucial,” says Levy-Bahl, “I've had some terrible days drenched in anxiety and fear, and other days where I manage to see the silver lining and concentrate on the joy and precious time COVID-19 has brought us as a family. When would I ever have been able to spend so much quality time with my husband and baby without the guilt of work, social engagements and other temptations of the outside world?”

Levy-Bahl speaks to her life coach/healer once every two weeks. “It’s my form of therapy and keeps my emotions in check,” she explains. In addition to this, she has started maintaining a journal. “I find solace in being able to write in a free and unfiltered manner—has become my little meditative practice; sometimes it becomes a gratitude journal, other times I address it to my son or myself,” she adds.

The 36-year-old and her husband enrolled in the SOHFIT 40-day fitness challenge just as the lockdown began. “Having a community of people who were all going through the same physical and dietary regiment during this period was helpful to stay motivated. Sohrab Khushrushahi also ensured that each workout he sent was something we could all do at home with limited equipment, so there was never an excuse,” says Levy. In addition to this, she continued with her yoga practice and barre class on zoom with Samanta Duggal and Physique 57 as well as sessions with some of her favourite trainers around the world. “I am currently also doing TRX training with Niko Algieri.”

“I try and ensure that every day, even if it is for just 30 minutes, I move my body because exercise is an incredible way to boost your immunity, decrease inflammation, keep your body strong and most importantly during this time—lift your mood,” says Levy-Bahl, whose follows a combination of the paleo and blood group diet. 

Lockdown survival tip: “Join a community or an online zoom workout that keeps you engaged, entertained and gets your feel-good hormones flowing. I also strongly urge everyone to become more conscious of the food you eat and the things you choose to surround yourselves with. "

Juhi Agarwal, 26, medical doctor and clinical nutritionist

Agarwal’s biggest inspiration through the lockdown has been her mother, nutritionist and author Suman Agarwal. “Being in the profession that I am in, I know just how important it is to be fit, especially now. Both my yoga teacher, Tanvi Mehra and my functional training instructor Snehi started online classes as soon as the lockdown was announced, and this was a perfect opportunity to sign up and not let myself slip,” she says.

Agarwal now starts her day early, an hour or two before breakfast, with a round or two of Sudoku, sipping on herbal tea in the privacy of her room. “I use this time to centre all my thoughts and plan for the day ahead. When you rush through your mornings, you more often than not end up having a haphazard day,” she says.

On weekends, Agarwal shakes up her routine with an hour of house dance with choreographer James Hiwale. “It’s a great way to get a workout in while having fun at the same time—we are drenched in sweat by the end of it!” says Agarwal, who eats a well-balanced meal all seven days of the week. “If I feel like a chocolate cake, I go for it. I don’t deprive myself, but at the same time, I don’t just go all out on weekends. That just negates all the work you’ve done in the week."

Yoga, especially, has helped her become more mindful. “That one hour is all about you on the mat, nothing else matters. The strength and flexibility I’ve gained are added bonus. My regular yoga practice is definitely helping me get through this trying phase,” she says.

Lockdown survival tip: “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then is not an act, but a habit—I read this somewhere online and I truly believe in this. Start by making small, sustainable lifestyle changes, more so now when it’s imperative to stay mentally and physically fit.”

Shaheen Abbas, 48, jewellery designer

Abbas was in the midst of readying for the half marathon that was to be held in Amsterdam in March when the pan-India lockdown was announced. This included training on the beach with her running group BeFit, marathon runs all over Mumbai and functional training with her personal trainer at least five-six times a week. “I cancelled my marathon plans only in the first week of March and had in fact self quarantined much before the lockdown was announced. I knew, however, I needed to continue moving. If I don’t run or walk or lift weights, it brings me down mentally,” says Abbas.

Like Levy-Bahl, the jewellery designer signed up for the SOHFIT 40-day challenge, which was later extended to 90 days. “I was fed up of scrolling through Instagram and watching people bake banana bread! So this was definitely the best decision I made. There’s not just accountability but also a lot of support and encouragement from other members in the group,” says Abbas.

In addition, she continued with her fitness via Zoom and as soon as lockdown restrictions were eased, started running outdoors again. The challenge for her has been to juggle household chores in the absence of any domestic help and a chronic back pain. “I decided to just get positive about it—I’d go up to the top floor of my home, blast some music, finish my workout, followed by housework and then a nice long shower. I now look forward to this routine even on Sundays,” says Abbas, who has been diligently working towards bettering herself with the help of Dr. Joseph Muphy’s best-selling book, The Power Of The Subconscious Mind. “This time has not just made me more self-sufficient but it has also helped me become more resilient.”

Incidentally, Abbas continued with the fitness challenge even during Ramadan, ensuring she timed her exercise after breaking her fast, as water was definitely needed to survive the tough workouts. Having ‘ghar ka khana’ helped big time as well when it came to maintaining her goals. “Eating right has always been a struggle for me, especially since we have so many social commitments and eat out often as a result. But I’ve learnt now to eat intelligently, to make better food choices. My vegetable intake especially has tripled. I hope to continue making wise food decisions even when the lockdown ends,” she says.

Lockdown survival tip: “Exercise for the happy hormones. Do it for your mental health more than anything else.”

Naina Bhan, 28, creative producer and model

Last year Bhan took a break from work, her fitness and diet routine taking a backseat as well. “I don’t have an issue with being curvy, but I had let go so much that I had become unfit. And this was now causing problems for me,” says Bhan as she explains her reason for getting back on track this year. The year started off with boxing, and for the first time in her life, she could see her body changing, “I felt stronger, more energetic and generally better about myself. So when the lockdown was announced, I freaked out as I knew my routine would be disrupted. But I decided not to let my efforts go in vain. I started paying more attention to what food I was putting into my body, I even learnt how to cook,” she says, “And I started following Chloe Ting’s workouts online.”

For a while, Bhan’s focus was only on exercise and diet during the lockdown, which she had to multitask along with work from home and home chores. And it worked, at least initially, as it busied her days and gave it some kind of structure. But with the lockdown getting extended every month since March, it got tougher for her to just follow this routine, day after day, leading to anxiety and insomnia.

Bhan decided she needed a change. Her new routine included walking every morning in the forest near her home, listening to the Get Sleepy podcast (a mix of long-winding bedtime stories, meditation and calming soundscapes) at night, following the HealthifyMe app to ensure she’s having well-balanced meals and experimenting in the kitchen with nutritious meals that would nourish not just her body but her mind and soul as well. “Every few days I switch things up further. Sometimes I draw, sometimes I write, sometimes I play badminton or board games, whatever works to keep me mentally sane,” she says, admitting that the biggest challenge has been to eat and sleep on time, in addition to the disruption to her schedule. “I am not more in control of my body and my life by just doing these simple things.”

Lockdown survival tip: “Stop obsessing over productivity, especially when it comes to physical fitness. Be flexible and open to change.”

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