By Jia Singh
I am a proud gym junkie and have earned a reputation amongst my friends for trying every form of exercise that comes my way. From the quirkiest to the toughest exercises, I’ve attempted them all! Pilates, however, has always been something I have steered clear of, and for all the typical preconceived notions- it’s too slow, there isn’t enough movement and you barely sweat. When I finally decided to give this form of exercise a fair shot, I thought I’d start at a place that offers a good pilates experience, and going by recommendations, the Pilates Studio at The Aman was the place to check out the sport. The sessions come with a hefty price tag- At INR 25,000 for ten classes this is quite an investment to make for a fit body. But is it worth it? One hour, a customized session, and a hard core {literally!} workout later, I would say yes!
On walking into the minimalist studios, I was fascinated by the array of equipment and machinery that was to my disposal. I was introduced to Puneet Uppal, the instructor, who first explained the method and idea behind Pilates and then took an initial assessment to see what all I needed to work on in the session. Discovered by Joseph Pilates in 1920, this exercise is built on six principles- Control, Concentration, Centering, Precision, Breath and Flow. To prepare for the session that lay ahead, I was given a glass of chilled watermelon juice for all the electrolytes and juicy goodness, followed by a personalized postural assessment involving a round of questions and some basic walking tests. Puneet’s analysis suggested that I had to look after my knees, the small of my back, and my feet to enhance my performance in the pool or on the track- my regular forms of exercise.
My 60-minute session started on the ‘reformer machine’ with a few general exercises targeted towards my problem areas. The first set of exercises included ‘the rowing back’ {self explanatory}, which engages the biceps and the core muscles. Next up was the ‘side split’, which acts on the thigh {adductor and abductor} muscles. What followed was a series of core stability exercises – like the ‘open leg balance’, ‘one leg circle’ and ‘roll up’ with several repetitions to the point of exhaustion! When I finally decided to call it a day, Puneet gave me a couple of stretching exercises to do, and taught me diaphragmatic breathing to bring my breath back to normal.
I can safely say that there’s more to Pilates than what meets the eye! I sensed an incredible amount of muscle burn through the workout, and the session left me feeling long and limber. Three days since the class, and my glutes and abs still burn. What I did discover was that I’m more flexible than I thought! Not only was Puneet an excellent instructor, but what I appreciated was that he addressed my concerns and devised a custom routine for me. He even introduced pop Pilates {also known as power Pilates} in my session, when he noticed I needed something more fast paced and aerobic to stay engaged.
Notes in our Little Black Book |
~ thoroughly recommend it to all the fitness fanatics, ardent followers of a healthy lifestyle and those with postural issues
~ Pilates, here is a must. however it isn’t for the weak of the wallet.
~ One session lasts for 60 minutes
~ Cost: INR 25,000 for Ten sessions
~ Word from the wise: “in 20 sessions I would look and feel as good as new”
~ Where | Aman, New Delhi, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
- # +91-11-43633333.
About the Author | Jia singh is a nutritionist/food consultant for the most part, but also an ace certified trainer and a self-confessed exercise junkie. She spends an average of 14 hours a week engaging in some form of physical activity {incidental and cardiovascular}. Her personal workout routine includes a gym workout, swimming, running and yoga.
