Namita Nayyar:
Being a renowned, Bharatanatyam dancer you have traveled as an official ambassador of Indian culture to various countries around the world. How has it helped you stay fit over the years?
Yamini Muthanna:
Yoga is a part of my daily routine. It is like food and water for me. A practice of yoga just needs intention and does not need equipment or a specific type of space. I carry my practice wherever I go. And when it is time to practice, I spread my mat and just practice- whether it is the airport, hotel room, green room, park, or a little space on the balcony, I do my practice. My mat is part of my luggage wherever I go. Everyone around the world knows about Yoga as a classic, Indian holistic health and wellness routine. I have gained more respect for my practice of Yoga, wherever I have gone as an ambassador. I have taken impromptu classes with random groups during my travels. I am proud of our Yoga heritage and enjoy sharing it with anyone who is keen to understand.
Namita Nayyar:
5 key hurdles you have observed amongst kids & women you practice yoga but are unable to derive its maximum benefits?
Yamini Muthanna:
- Inconsistency
- Self-doubting (will this work?), Lack of patience (I have been doing this for 1 month now, and I see no benefit?), Over expectation (I want to lose weight in 15 days as I am getting married?!)
- Postponing activities (Will do them next month)
- Lacking skill in prioritizing things that are important.
- Too many choices and eagerness to be entertained all the time with variety.
Namita Nayyar:
What kind of diet do you recommend and follow yourself? How do you like to kick-start your day?
Yamini Muthanna:
I recommend sticking to the traditional diet as in, what our parents and grandparents ate. I kickstart my day with high-protein multigrain porridge which is my mother’s recipe. By the end of a month, I make sure that I have had enough greens, enough pulses, enough protein, and enough calcium, all through vegetables, fruits, and pulses. I change my diet plans according to the season. I make sure I prepare the menu for the month every 1st week of the month. Makes it easy for me to maintain my kitchen. I never eat stale food from the previous day. I never diet. I just eat right.
