'Zumba is a workout in disguise'

Fitness funda

Living by what Fred DeVito once said, ‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you’, is Bengaluru- based Zumba instructor  Namrata Sinha who has been teaching the fitness programme since the last three-and-a-half years.
     
Her passion for dance and a desire to pursue what she likes led her to make the
shift from being a fashion designer to a zumba instructor.

 For about 10 years, she learnt different kinds of fitness dances in Canada and the UK, after which she started taking sessions in fitness forms like Les Mills and Bokwa, finally hitting upon Zumba as a career.
      
In a chat with Surupasree Sarmmah, Namrata talks about her journey, the importance of Zumba in daily life and the fitness scene in Bengaluru.
 
How did your journey from being a fashion designer to a Zumba instructor take shape?
I was introduced to Zumba after my first child was born. I was in Canada then and had put on a considerable amount of weight. Zumba was new at that time and I fell in love with it. It is a workout in disguise. I got inspired by one of my instructors and seeing her practice Zumba so dedicatedly helped me pave my path as an instructor.

Your take on the importance of being fit…
It is extremely important. I have been training people from all walks of life, and to see how fitness is a priority in their lives is amazing. Most people have their own idea of fitness, but in an era where everything is at our fingertips, physical activity has reduced considerably.

Many in India are taking up Zumba classes these days… how popular is it in Bengaluru?
In India, I would say Zumba is as popular as yoga. And Bengaluru, being one of the fittest cities, has one of the biggest turnouts. We have approximately 400 instructors and all of them are doing pretty well. People here are very much aware of this form of fitness.

Three benefits of Zumba…
It is a great stress buster,  a weight loss phenomenon and it also helps one build a social circle.

Aqua Zumba is lately gaining a lot of popularity…
Aqua Zumba is like a therapy, and people with backache and knee pain can take up this form. Immersing half the body into the water makes it feel weightless and it is easier to do the same exercises as on land. It doesn’t require any pre-requisites, in fact not even knowing how to swim.

A turning point in your life…
The day I realised that I need to get into fitness.

Your personal fitness regime in four words…
Eat, sleep, Zumba and repeat.