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METRO WORKOUT

Got the guts?

Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Suck in the Abs A girl works out at Power House

It was meant to be a salsa class. It ended as a Pilates class. Yes, I hadn’t even heard of it before. Pilates is a form of exercise, developed by Joseph Pilates. Ok, maybe that’s not too enlightening. The emphasis of this routine is on core strength, meaning the muscles of the stomach. Unlike other exercises, which might emphasise the arms and legs, this ensures the balanced development of the body by strengthening the centre. It helps to support the spine and thus all movement. It’s a popular exercise that is attractive to a wide range of people from new mothers to athletes. It’s also different from other exercises as it doesn’t focus on repetitions. In fact, it’s more like yoga, where breathing is of prime importance.

I’m taught the basics at an uninspiring gym named Power House. The board itself is enough to scare the brave. General Manager Vikas Kr. Singh claims this is one of the only gyms in the city that teaches this routine. While machines can be used for the Pilates routine, they have stuck to the floor exercises. Singh elaborates, “It’s about physical and mental well being.”

We start with the most basic Pilates exercise called Imprinting. I lie on my back with arms on the side, knees bent and feet apart. The spine, I am told, should be well rested against the ground. Then I slowly relax the entire body starting from the shoulders and working down to the hip. The idea is to visualise that your spine is leaving an imprint on the ground – vertebra by vertebra.

The next simple exercise is arms over. I once again lie with back and knees bent, feet flat and abs pulled in. With arms by the side and chest wide, I extend my fingers along the floor towards the wall in front. And then I arc my arms up with fingers pointing to the ceiling.

After these gentle exercises, the routine picks up in momentum and demands. Abdominal crunches are simple enough. But it is difficult to get the exercise right. The abdominal muscles have to be tightly pulled in. I must admit, this is not easy to do. It’s easy to put pressure on the neck, instead of the abs, and that’s the worst. Pilates is an elaborate routine. After a brief trial, I know what it takes to have guts. And it ain’t easy.

Raj Dhingra’s Power House, Hauz Khas Village 26864446/8

( nandini@thehindu.co.in)

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