Yoga has made me a calm person: Malaika Arora

Malaika Arora will take a yoga class with Yogi Cameron at Kite Beach this Friday.

Malaika Arora Khan is all set to open the X Yoga event this weekend at Kite Beach. As Dubai gets set for some sea, sand and sun salutations this weekend on March 16 and 17 at Kite Beach, we spoke to Malaika about why every woman should inculcate yoga in her daily life.
When did your journey with yoga begin?
My love for fitness and yoga has been on for a while now. My lifestyle is such that I am always working or dancing and that's when I was recommended to do yoga. But for the last four-five years, it is completely part of my routine. The best part about yoga is that you don't have to go to a gym for a workout. If you don't have enough time, then you can actually do the basic yoga in your house. That's the best part about yoga.
What's your favorite yoga asanas? 
There are many yoga asanas which I love and I practice every day but my most favourite one is Dhanush Asana because it is very good for the core. I also love the breathing part of yoga. But honestly, I enjoy almost every asana in my daily life.
Do you make your son practice yoga with you?
I did when he was small  but when they grow up they have a mind of their own! I remember when he was younger, he was always intrigued by what I was doing. I tried to introduce him to yoga and he loved doing it.  Every time I would go for the class, he would come with me and try to copy what I was doing. I did try to inculcate yoga in him, but he now enjoys sports more.
You are part of the industry where the pressures are enormous. Does yoga keep you calm from inside?
I do not need to sit and talk about the benefits of yoga because the goodness of yoga is known to people worldwide. It is the combination of mind, body, and soul. It is an alignment of your chakras. The benefits are there for all to see - in terms of posture or meditation. If you genuinely learn yoga and imbibe the goodness and the correct form for you, you will only benefit from it.
What message do you want to give mothers who generally ignore their own life for their family? 
As a person I felt the benefits of yoga mentally more. It made such a good difference. Every body goes through different phases in their life and yoga has calmed me and given me a sense of direction. It has made me a calmer and a stronger person. If you really tap into the benefits of yoga, it will take you a long way. I always tell all the women in my life or people I bump into that as a woman, we tend to ignore our lives for our family and neglect ourself because we are taking care of our child, or husband or family. It is very important for every woman to give at least one hour in a day for herself and do whatever makes her feel happy. It can be running, swimming, yoga, cooking or anything but that one hour should be hers and hers alone. I would recommend every woman to dedicate at least one hour a day to any kinds of fitness and they will benefit a lot.
Do you exercise during your holidays as well?
That's the best thing about yoga - you don't need to be in the gym or you don't need equipment, all you need is a little space. If you are in a room, you need a little window or if you are outdoor even better. Yoga is the best thing for me to do while I am travelling. I always make sure to find time for my asanas, breathing, meditation, Surya Namaskars. Even if I don't have time to do a lot of things, I do say namaskar at least for half an hour and I am sorted. But you must breathe right during yoga, otherwise, the whole point of doing yoga is defeated. It's a win-win.
Is fitness more fun when you are doing it with your friends?
It is always nice to work out with your buddy. I always say that you should grab a buddy and work out. It is far more fun and motivating. You tend to motivate other people.
Who is the most disciplined fitness person in your friend circle?
Everybody is very particular about their exercises in my circle of friends. We love living a healthy life. But if you ask me who is the most disciplined person, then it has to be me.
Are there days when you don't feel like exercising and how do you motivate yourself to get out there on those days?
Of course. I think you should listen to your body. If your body tells you not to work out, then you must rest. Having said that, there are days when I am busy working through the day and then I take out time to work out at night.
Malaika Arora will take a yoga class with Yogi Cameron at Kite Beach this Friday at 8 am. For details visit - http://xyogadubai.com/

 
LINDA CHAMBERS CREATED HIITasana which is a unique combination of yoga and HIIT (high intensity interval training) that offers serious benefits in terms of both strength and flexibility. It is designed for people who live busy lifestyles yet don't want to sacrifice a tough workout. Linda will be taking complimentary HIITasana class at Reebok stores during XYoga. 
 
For how many years did you study yoga before becoming an instructor? Also, where did you study yoga from?
I have been practicing since 2001 and started attending workshops in 2003. I took my 200YTT in Goa at The Ashiyana Yoga School in 2008.
 
What inspired you to take up teaching yoga as a profession? What are your hopes for teaching during XYoga? 
I have been teaching many different forms of fitness in my career. Yoga for me is home base, it comes from a very natural place as life can sometimes be very hectic and I value how much even just 15 minutes of yoga can change your entire outlook and mood. 
If I feel that way then so do others and I just wanted to share some zen for the mind and body. I hope to share my love of movement with all walks of life.
 
Do you think Dubai is really passionate about Yoga?
Dubai has really grown community wise. There are new yoga studios popping up monthly and there are so many talented teachers here. I love how active the Dubai yoga community has become in terms of activations and free community classes. It's beautiful. As a testament to this growth, fitness festivals like XYoga Dubai are successfully happening, welcoming thousands of people and global fitness giants like Reebok are taking part to inspire that community as well! 
 
Do you think more and more people will inculcate yoga into their daily routine?
In 2016 it was amazing to see such a high rate of attendance at XYoga. This year we're sharing so many classes with everything from mummy and baby yoga to Acro yoga. This year Reebok is offering another wide variety of classes which will aim for nothing less than to inspire every member of the community to get fit through yoga! I am looking forward to seeing so many more happy faces at the end of each class and meeting new like-minded yogis. Yes, I believe this year's activation will be a great start point for people to try many forms of yoga and then continue with the variations that they fall in love with. 
(arti@khaleejtimes.com) 
Linda will take two classes on March 17, 09:00 - 10:00 HIITasana and 12:00 - 13:00 Yin for Athletes at Reebok Studio at Kite Beach
 

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