How many times have you watched yourself in the mirror and yearned for an enviable, hourglass figure, flaunting a shapely belly in a sexy number — be it a two-piece, a wrap-around skirt or a fluttering sarong for that matter — on a sunkissed beach? Pretty often we would guess. But for that, you will have to lose those dogged love handles and that stubborn belly-bulge.
Before The Xpose hit the theatres, lead heroine Zoya Afroz was in the news for sizzling in her brand new bikini avatar from the film’s teaser. The former beauty pageant participant, posing in a fetching black slinky midriff-exposing swimsuit, also highlighted the importance of fitness in one’s life. Credit goes to Namrata Purohit, the youngest Stott Pilates instructor in India, who was roped in to get Zoya ready for her much-touted bikini act in the thriller.
Being a former beauty queen, Zoya was already accustomed to the gym-culture. So Namrata didn’t find it too difficult to work on Zoya. “Zoya has been training with us since almost a year now. She started dropping in regularly right after her Miss India stint. She was always focused and in spite of her hectic schedule, she never failed to squeeze out that quality time to devote to her health. She would hit the fitness studio (in Santa Cruz, Mumbai) without fail. She knew from the word go what her exact goal was and what she must undergo to attain it.
“She did Pilates exercises on the reformer, Cadillac, chair and ladder barrel. A typical workout session would normally last about an hour. The good news is that in just a matter of a few days we started seeing her body shape up. Visibly, her muscles too looked more toned and stronger after a heavy-duty fitness regime and she obviously looks like a million bucks,” Namrata says.
Zoya was also put on a nutritious diet to convincingly look the part in the movie. “Every workout routine is different, so is every meal. It’s imperative to eat small quantities at consistent intervals. At the same time, keep yourself sufficiently hydrated with plenty of water,” adds Namrata. But why only celebs? Even you can attract eyeballs with your flat, washboard abs, slender limbs, shapely derriere and unveil your navel with a touch of panache.
“In general, a series of simple, exercises at home may come in handy. Squats, lunges, skipping, push-ups, ab-preps, obliques, plank are few such exercises to get a strong, flexible body,” says Namrata. “Doing Pilates particularly benefits the exerciser as it can be customised to body type. Also it works best on the deep muscles of the body, strengthening the insides out. Also, wisely follow a safe fitness regime plus a proper diet-chart to reap the long-term returns,” she says. A mix of cardio with a intense sessions strength training is a must if you want that bikini body. Even a close-door belly-dance act should not be ruled out,” says the fitness expert.
