Her glowy post-workout selfies may not look like it, but when Athiya Shetty works out, she goes all-in. “For me, fitness means the correct balance between body and mind. You must feel good about yourself and your body," she shared. If you're looking for inspiration to get on the mat too, here's what to know now.
Having a routine is important
Shetty likes working out, but she'd rather have a balanced routine rather than spend all day at the gym.“In terms of workouts, I do weight training five times a week, where I work on strengthening and endurance. My three essential principles of fitness that I always follow are: early to bed and early to rise, regular workouts and a balanced diet,” she confirmed. This way, when you work out, you're able to put all your energy into it, and the rest days ensure that your muscles can rest and recover.
Work out for your body type
Shetty is an ectomorph, which is characterised by a skinny and tall frame. These people are unable to gain muscle mass and fat, and they usually have a high metabolic rate. “As an ectomorph, muscle doesn’t form easily on my body,” she told Vogue India. But pros make it clear that body type isn't set in stone—doing the correct exercise can help. “I stick to weight training because it’s necessary for my body type, but of course there’s always a change in exercises,” she shared.
Add yoga into your routine too
While Shetty has loved MMA training and strength-based workouts, she has enjoyed adding yoga into her repertoire too. “I recently started yoga. My dad put me on to it. Then my mother started it, then my brother and I think out of FOMO, I also joined. It was hard for me because there's so much silence and to get comfortable with it is something you learn over time. I never understood the importance of it until now. It helps with breathing, digestion and instils calm,” she said. Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility. Slow movements and deep breathing can increase blood flow and warm up muscles while holding a pose can build strength.
Find a fun workout partner
If you're exercising alone, you might not find yourself as motivated to get on the mat. Shetty counts her father, Suniel Shetty as her trainer when she's at home, especially in quarantine. She also calls in her friends for support. “I’ve also discovered a newfound love for working out. I look forward to 5PM every day. That’s my workout time. I’ve been making fun workout videos. I’ve been facetiming with my friends and trainer and working out together,” she said. Working out with a partner will help you feel more motivated, and will force you to be more consistent too.
Let your workout of choice challenge you
She started it for a film role but then continued finessing her martial arts skills. “Besides making me feel strong and powerful, this training has become a way of releasing my negativity and stress. It is the highlight of my day, whether it is waking up at 6AM for it, or ending my day with it," she confirmed. MMA is able to rev up cardiovascular health and improves reflexes, which can improve your ability to be better, faster and stronger.
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