Fitness takes on new shape with Martial Arts, Film Hits

Unusual as it may sound, but the latest in the fitness industry in India is the combo of martial arts and aerobics as also a jazzy mix of popular Bollywood songs with aerobics steps. It is definitely good news for those who like to pump the iron, this is the best way, says a fitness expert.

The combo is a part of the 'Cardio Kick Punch' technique, a mix of aerobics and martial arts that Reema Sarin, a fitness expert picked up at Singapore. Sarin, who trained at Singapore and US says the combo offers a "revolutionary change in the personal fitness scene in India as it is already a rage in Singapore."

"I have been training people in aerobics for more than a decade and interestingly I often came across the complaint from men especially that aerobics is nothing but dance choreography left best to women," says Sarin.

"Men find it difficult to fall in step with the smooth aerobics steps, so ultimately their attention is more focused on the coordination than on exercises," Sarin adds. Her stay in Singapore in 2000, changed her perception of fitness care, Sarin says.

I came across the CBC of fitness training and I trained myself in it," Sarin says.
The CBC is designed for both men and women as it combines the smooth manoevres of aerobics that women find easy to follow and the martial arts steps that men "simply love to sweat out." Over the years, with changing face of fitness training other facilities like gym equipment has also undergone change.

"For the last decade gyms have undergone radical changes," says Prasad Kumar, a fitness instructor at a Health Club here. "For one thing, multigyms with modern and more expensive machines have come up," he adds. Prasad who teaches body toning methods to youngsters feels that "people are more conscious of fitness now than before."

Apart from equipment, orthodox aerobics music that sticks to the recorded and patented by the international aerobics body at the US is also to get a jolt soon.
"What is 'hot' now are the jazzy Bollywood numbers that I have choreographed aerobics steps with," Sarin says. "I am teaching these steps locally at the Reebok institute presently, but I want to take the Bolly-aerobics mix even further," Sarin says.

"No one has ever taught aerobics so far with popular numbers like 'mahi we' and its a hit with the young crowd here who do the steps naturally."

Fitness is not a serious issue with the Indian, the young instructor feels.
I often hear the complaint from girls and housewives that they are overweight and need to hit the gym to lose weight. But weight loss and fitness are entirely different issues," Sarin says.

The Indian food habit combined with the basically laid back attitude goes a long way in contributing to the list of obese people. A new find shows that every fourth person in the world is obese.

Another major factor why the fitness industry is not much impressive in our country is probably due to the exorbitant price tag that it comes with, Sarin feels.
An average gym would charge nothing less than Rs 2000- 3000 a month for working out, She says.