Namita Nayyar:
Dr. Mickey you are the leading global health guru, please define what according to you is more important mental health or physical health
Dr.Mickey Mehta:
Mental and physical health are two opposite polarities. There ought to be perfect harmony in simple terms. If physical fitness isn’t overdone to exhaustion and fatigue then there will be freshness in the mind. Also, daily activity with regulated breath and contoured workouts with acceleration, deceleration, and dimensions using gravity will certainly make your mind alert, strong, tolerant and resilient.
Exercising changes biochemistry because of breath, blood circulation, cardiopulmonary functions, and hormonal stimulation. Exercise re-creates the body, recreates your mind because of a sense of freshness, happiness, and energy. When there is energy generated the mind becomes medicinal, joyful, and happy and circulation improves, wherever there is strength liberated, body well attended to your confidence, conviction and optimism come afore.
Namita Nayyar:
Will the session be accessible for people who are new to this whole workout regime?
Bhavna Harchandrai:
Most definitely. The workouts are specially formulated keeping in mind the fragile and specific needs of this age group. ‘You are never too old to workout’ goes the saying and if you are generally healthy and mobile this class is perfect for you. Each session begins with easy mobility drills, then we dance (oh yes! we move and groove) to popular Bollywood and Western chartbusters. The session then takes on a serious note and the focus is on strengthening and rehab exercises. Delicate knees, back concerns, Osteoporosis, blood pressure, etc are taken into consideration while designing the sessions. After core strengthening (lying down on a mat/bed), we ease out with full-body stretches and deep relaxation.
The Guru of Holistic Health, Dr. Mickey Mehta then guides the ‘youngsters’ with pranayama, a pep talk and answers audience questions with the poetry and finesse that he is known for. Everyone leaves revived, rejuvenated, refreshed, and with a smile on their faces.
Fitness for all. Wellness for all.
Namita Nayyar:
Your mission is to make the world disease free, right now the world is in a huge health crisis, affecting people in every way, your advice to people to keep up during these times
Dr. Mickey Mehta:
I certainly don’t see the crisis as a crisis. I see an opportunity to be creative in a crisis. If there was a lockdown and if there is still a partial lockdown, what one needs to do is make the best of being at home. The things one could do at home are; functional training, yoga, agility drills, spot cardio, cardio in a small elbow room.
One could sit silently, meditate and breathe. Go to the windows and balcony to appreciate nature, sunbathe, breathe for breakfast, take an air bath, and mingle with the elements. One will feel free and happy. Stimulate those elements within you. So my advice to people is that use every crisis as a seat for creativity, as an opportunity for creativity. Use the time for self-development, to reinvent yourself. Find out your genetic coding, what are your set skills and special talents, own them and work on your weaknesses. Most important is to participate and collaborate with your family in the day-to-day function of life and get into a better bonding and most important I would say catch up on your sleep, workouts, and clean food. This will not only reverse your ailments but will also reverse your age.
Creativity Maximized, Get Mickeymized!!!
Namita Nayyar:
How do you introduce the elderly to a holistic approach to fitness?
Bhavna Harchandrai:
The elderly usually bank upon walks and stretching as a means to long-term fitness and good health.
The idea behind this class was to introduce them to the Five Fingers of Fitness.
- Cardio-vascular (in this case, mobility and activity with an eye on coordination)
- Strength Training (light toning using things easily available at home; waterbottles, chair, towel, ball, leggings etc)This is a neglected part of fitness for seniors and we see the loss of bone density, dystrophy (shrinking and wasting of muscle) as well as joint issues as our muscles are the support system/ framework for our joints.
- Flexibility and balance . To improve motor skills and aid in activities of daily living (ADLs) so we stay mobile and independent right through our golden years.
- The importance of eating a well- balanced and nutritious diet . Guided by Dr. Mickey Mehta in his signature style.
- Mental well-being. A be’fit’ting end to each session is a feel-good talk by the Guru of Wellness himself to boost confidence levels so we look forward to life with a spring in our stride.