Dr Sneha Desu may have won the Devil’s Circuit — Legend’s Cup, considered the toughest sports competition in Asia, the title ‘Fittest woman in the country for 2015-16 and nicknamed ‘Animal Flow Goddess’ in Hyderabad, but she likes to describe herself differently. “I’ve been a medical student who did nothing, but study all her life until fitness happened to her’. Dr Sneha has introduced a fascinating new fitness programme called Animal Flow to Hyderabad. For onlookers, it’s a graceful, yoga-like exercise regimen that includes moves that replicate that of animals while they hunt, pounce, stretch etc. There is a seamless flow of handstands, somersaults, stretches, twists etc remind you of an agile animal on the prowl. Created by Florida-based fitness guru Mike Fitch, Animal Flow is a bodyweight programme that’s centered around ground-based work. It features animal-style movements that encourage core stability and strength, joint strength, and body awareness — all without any fitness equipment. This former F45 gym instructor has conducted several sessions to introduce poses such as the beast, crab, ape, sidekick through, front step through and scorpion reach in Hyderabad earlier this year. “It’s when I started putting together my medical education and fitness experience for a more holistic regime that I felt my training was different from the others. This set me apart from trainers with no medical education and doctors with no fitness experience. With a balance between those two, I found that I could bridge the gap and create a regime that is firm, but fair to the individual. That is what led to Vigour,” she says about her new venture. “Vigour encompasses everything I’m passionate about, personal training, group training, workshops, seminars, wellness retreats and corporate wellness.” She is excited about the first retreat she is going to conduct in Goa in October. Dr Sneha who also specialises in pre and postnatal fitness has been a wellness consultant for celebrity wives and daughters such as Sreeja Konidela and Pranathi Nandamuri. One of the few Animal Flow certified instructors in city, she believes Animal Flow is for those looking for recovery. “2020 is going to be about better health, more workshops and fun,” she says.
