What is common between Jennifer Aniston and Deepika Padukone? Apart from the fame, money and glamour, both actresses swear by their Pilates regimes. While Aniston is known to have popularised this muscle activation exercise in the West, Padukone is among the many Indians who have recently taken to it. But the other two fitness regimes along with Pilates that are all set to rock the Indian fitness scene are Jukari and Latino.
Dhiraj Khatri, trainer, Hired to Inspire (h2i), Anytime Fitness, Delhi, says “Pilates has been a hit for quite some time now, but interest in Latino and Jukari is also on the rise. Even though setting up a Jukari studio requires time and is expensive, people have been asking and waiting for this one.”
Latino involves multiple dance sessions to the rhythms of Latin music that introduces one to flexible body movements. While Pilates activates core muscles and helps build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips and back, Jukari requires trapeze-like movements which involve swinging around and being suspended on air, defying the gravity. Khatri says, “It is the reverse way of getting fit when compared to other gym workouts. The Jukari regime uses an equipment, the FlySet, which hangs from the gym’s ceiling and is not attached to its floor.” Jukari has found many takers in the West, with celebrities like Miranda Kerr, Kim Kardashian and Mischa Barton all swearing by it.
All three fitness regimes are easy to follow and a fun escape from daily routine. Shivani Kapur, a 28-year-old Delhi-based advertising professional says, “Thisgroup activity allows me to relieve stress. I have been taking Pilates classes for over a year now and can vouch for its changing effect.” Experts attribute ‘group activity feature’ to the popularity of these three fitness exercises. “All three are primarily women-oriented exercises in India and take about 45 minutes to an hour. So, they take less time,”Khatri says.
Namita Jain, Celebrity Nutritionist at Diet Mantra says, “Pilates and Latino workouts will be evergreen and can never go out of fashion, but Jukari is like an adventure sport and only those with a streak of adventure in them should give it a shot. But nonetheless, they are a great form of exercise and strengthen the core muscles of the body.”
Bhavna M Harchandrai, Manager, Group-Executive, Gold’s Gym, adds, “Jukari Fit to Flex is an absolute fun workout for women, as you get an opportunity to experience the way the dancers of Cirque du Soleil train. Using the resistance band in various ways, it’s a unique and complete workout which combines the components of cardio, balance and strength gracefully.”
While the Pilates workout could cost anything between `3,000 and `4,000 per month, Latino workouts range between `2,000 and `2,500. The Jukari workout, which is yet to be launched in major gyms in the country, could range between `6,000 and `7,000.
Dr. Karuna Malhotra, Cosmetologist and Homeopath Physician, Cosmetic Skin and Homeo Clinic, says: “Internationally, experts in hospitals have started recommending Pilates for those recovering from strokes, cardiac bypasses, and as a pre-and post-pregnancy regimen. Another trend this year internationally is working out in groups with a personal trainer. All these trends will soon peak here in India as well.”