Fit as a fiddle

The fitness-crazy crowd in the city is always game to try out new forms of exercise. With going back to the roots being the mantra in all fields, be it fashion, food or even home decor, exercises based on functional moves are making a comeback at most fitness spaces.

The functional moves focus on push, pull, plank, squat, lunge and twist.

Harinag S P, a fitness trainer, says that it is integral to include these forms in all exercises as they help in building one’s core strength.

“The best part about these exercises is that one doesn’t need a gym space or heavy equipment to work out. These moves can be practiced in the comfort of one’s home, while travelling or even at a workplace,“ he says.

A complete workout is what everyone is looking for these days and these functional moves provide the perfect fitness solution. “It adds to one’s stamina. People like experimenting with new things and when an exercise form has a new name, it attracts a lot of attention, which leads to old forms being sidelined. But functional moves are getting popular even in the West now. This has brought the spotlight back on them,” he says.

Many youngsters are including these moves in their fitness regimen and noticing significant changes.

Zaib S Asif, a hotel management student who has been practising these exercises, says that including squats in one’s schedule helps cut the monotony and increases mobility. “The joints benefit the most from these movies and you feel really energised,” she adds.

The energy levels one experiences after doing such exercises is quite different, says Shruti Gadge, a product manager.

“Many can do a squat but include the different facets, like maintaining a straight back, not letting the shoulders droop and keeping knees in the right position, and the results are phenomenal. Often a squat doesn’t feel like a hard task but that is probably because one isn’t doing it right. A
lot of dynamics go into perfecting the moves,” she says.

Shruti is able to handle stress better and feels more energetic now, compared to earlier days where work would leave her tired.

“I feel stronger from inside, have a more toned body and feel a sense of fulfilment after every session,” she adds.

Fitness trainer Manisha Bhatt points out that functional moves were the foundation of all exercise forms.

“These are moves that our forefathers used to practice. We are now going back to them because people understand that these moves give great results with minimal risks. The possibility of injuries here, compared to those while lifting weights, is negligible,” she says.

“When doing any of these moves, one should make sure that the dynamics of each position
are followed properly. In planks, the elbows have to be in a 90 degree position. Lunges are also great
moves for strengthening
of muscles,” she adds.