Pop goes the Pilates

Groove to the latest hits of the seasons with Pop Pilates and lose close to 600 calories while you’re at it
Pop Pilates
Pop Pilates

You could credit the initial Pop Pilates phenomenon to celebrities like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus but, today this fun regimen is fast becoming one of the most sought-after group fitness activities across the globe. With only three Pop Pilatesinstructors in the country, Coimbatore is home to 1/3rd of that population. Only second to be certified as an instructor, Nityanandhini Manoharan’s pilates classes see men, women and children ranging anywhere from ages of 16 to 59 in attendance.

This 30-minute to hour-long session is a twist on traditional Pilates with peppy music (mostly pop, hence the name) and have dance-like workout moves. “You would think that people would dismiss this fitness regimen as just another dance class, but most of the time you find the participants calling Pop Pilates an intense workout. You could say it’s not all song and dance here,” shares Nithyanandhini with a laugh.

Choreographed to a playlist of 10 to 15 of the pop hits of the quarter, each session includes a mixed series of low impact and high-intensity exercises, offering a complete body workout. “With each track, the focus is shifted on to a different muscle,” she says.  However, this format is inclined towards strengthening your core and upper body.

<strong>Nithyananhini and her daughter after the 5k run</strong>
Nithyananhini and her daughter after the 5k run

Divided into basic, intermediate and advanced sequences, each move has an easier variant we are told. “Consider the plank—the most intense sequence that we have are the plank jumping jacks. This means an individual would have to hold the plank position while doing jumping jacks. The variant would allow you to place your knees on the floor,” she explains, adding, “For strength and weight training, we add a kettle bells routine as well.” A recent mother, Nithyanandhini has a special workshop called the Fitmomma Club since many of her clients are women looking to get back in shape post-pregnancy. The 33-year-old is also a marathoner and recently completed a 5K run with her two-year-old daughter on her back.

The next Pop Pilates workshop will begin on August 20. Rs 5,000. Details: 8754108790

Related Stories

No stories found.
Indulgexpress
www.indulgexpress.com