Yoga Day 2020: Malaika Arora Talks Yoga, Its Importance And Her Favourite Asanas

Talk about fitness and Bollywood celebrity Malaika Arora is a true inspiration. She never fails to motivate her fans by setting fitness goals through myriad forms of workouts - from Sarvangasana to the headstand and handstand. A diva in the truest sense and a yogi at heart, she believes that the real meaning of wellness is one that connects both the mind and the body. Yoga has been her way of life, and it also lead her to become the co-founder of yoga platforms Sarva and Diva Yoga. We caught up with Malaika Arora to learn more about her yoga journey.

How important is yoga in your daily fitness routine?

Malaika Arora: Yoga has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I used to practice it regularly even before the lockdown and thanks to digital mediums, I still practice it everyday. Yoga helps me stay active, relaxed and mindful of my mind and body, which I think is of utmost importance during a time like this.

(Also read: Yoga Day 2020: Keep Calm And Practise Sarvangasana, The Shoulder Stand)

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People who know me, they know that everyday is International Yoga Day for me. Not a lot of you know this but yoga helped me through some of the toughest moments of my life - Both personally and professionally. And I'm not talking about just yoga asanas, I'm taking about leading my life in a way that I focus on the positives, be grateful for the life I have, the people I have in my life and work every single day to get better at it. Yoga has taught me all this. This International Yoga Day, you should not just take up yoga as a workout form but as a lifestyle. As long as you have yourself, your loved ones, you have the power to overcome any obstacle. Today being Sunday, give yourself a little love. Practice yoga, cook for your family, spend the evening in conversations and just dwell in all the positivity. I wish everybody a happy international yoga day! Love, light and happiness, Malaika Arora @sarvayogastudios @thedivayoga #mylifemyyoga #fitindiamovement #yogawithsarva

A post shared by Malaika Arora (@malaikaaroraofficial) on Jun 20, 2020 at 9:17pm PDT

What got you to become the co-founder of fitness platform Sarva?

Malaika Arora: For me, yoga has always been more than just a workout. I not just practice it quite regularly but also now, during the lockdown, it has kept me mentally and physically active. And that's why Sarvesh and I partnered in this mission.

What are 3 of your favourite yoga asanas?

Malaika Arora: I wouldn't really call any asana my favourite as each asana is designed to work on a specific muscle and benefits you in one or the other way. But I particularly enjoy doing these a lot

1. Inversions

Inversions really help me focus on my core strength and are a great way to get the blood flowing throughout the body. Asanas like Sarvangasana, Sirsasana, Halansa etc are great inversions to begin with

2. Backbends

Another great set of yoga asanas that help stretch the back muscles, especially for people like me who are constantly on the move. I personally love Dhanurasana, Chakrasana and Sethu Bandha Sarvangasana

3. Suryanamaskar

The one routine that every yogi I know, loves is the Suryanamaskar. The 12 steps in a surya namaskar help work my entire body because they stretch and activate each and every muscle. Not just that, you can practice it anytime of the day on your yoga mat.

^{Malaika Arora nails the Sarvangasana}

With Covid-lockdown, online workouts have become the norm. How doable is online yoga?

Malaika Arora: It's as convenient as it can get. Especially the kind of online mediums available today, it is so convenient to practice yoga anytime of the day. The Sarva app for example, has on-demand yoga workouts as well as live sessions with their instructors - you can literally choose anything as per your convenience.

Yoga and weight loss, your thoughts?

Malaika Arora: In my opinion, weight loss cannot be viewed in isolation. I think weight loss is a combination of a lot of factors such as your diet, metabolism, stress and workouts. You definitely can practice high-intensity yoga routines to up the calories you burn through your workouts but unless you combine it with a healthy diet, good sleep etc you might not see any results.

Yoga, pilates or dance - what's your favourite workout form?

Malaika Arora: A little bit of everything. I think it's important to keep mixing things up so you don't get bored, your body doesn't get used to working the same muscles and to push yourself a little more.

^{"Yoga for me is that one hour to myself that I never miss." - Malaika Arora}

What are the yoga asanas you think one must practise everyday?

Malaika Arora: The best answer to this can be given by a certified instructor but I'd personally suggest at least 2 minutes of Pranayama or meditation everyday. It's important to allow your mind to tune off for a few minutes during the day and think about the positive aspects of your life.

What's your mantra on fitness and wellness?

Malaika Arora: It's actually no different what you might already know. Eat right, workout regularly and listen to your body. It's very important to know when to give your body and mind a rest. Just how we switch off electronic devices to prevent it from overheating, our minds and bodies too require that off-time to be able to reboot. And lastly, give your mind the tools to relax - meditate, spend time doing the things you love, be with your loved ones etc.

Tips to beginners starting out on yoga

Malaika Arora: Just do not limit yourself by thinking that you're too thin, too fat, too stiff, too flexible or basically too-anything to start doing yoga. Start with what's possible, what your body allows and keep building on it. Take the help of experts to tell you what to begin with. Just be regular and you'll start loving it.