When fitness is spoken of in the context of acting and modeling, it often connotes physical health and muscularity. I have always begged to differ. The singular pursuit of physical fitness can be likened to a hamster in a wheel — it will not translate into anything consequential in the long run. To me, fitness is a holistic concept — a combination of physical health, mental well-being, and emotional contentment. I emphasize mental health because it is a prerequisite to all-around development.
At the same time, as a pragmatist, I’m acutely aware of the fact that holistic fitness is not easy to achieve, especially with life’s endless curveballs and distractions. Say, for example, a balanced, health-conscious diet — it is hard to follow in social circumstances when each person has a unique dietary preference. Likewise, clocking into the gym every morning takes indomitable motivation. It is not until you make an earnest attempt that you realize how rewarding it can be. The following hacks helped me understand and achieve holistic fitness.
1. Embracing and radiating positivity
Fitness happens in a continuum, with the process commencing right from the moment you wake up. If that moment isn’t accompanied by a sense of optimism, the day’s activities get relegated to the back burner. I start by spending the first 10 minutes introspecting the positives in my life, thankful for all that is going right for me. Positive thinking is not a cliché; it is a tested-and-proven way of self-conditioning.
At the same time, we are but products of our milieu — the social environment around us. So, I ensure my surroundings are harmonious with my positivity and conducive to my self-improvement. That involves radiating positivity as much as embracing it by, say, helping with domestic duties, giving gifts, and being supportive to near and dear ones. Needless to say, I’ve come to understand that positivity is so contagious that it gives you a Midas touch, enabling you to turn anything you do — including exercising — into something of value.
2. Regimen rules the roost
There are no set-in-stone rules for exercising, especially when it comes to timing. Many activities, such as running, hiking, swimming, and playing sports, can be clubbed under the physical-fitness umbrella. I prefer running in the morning along with some gym-oriented exercises in the evening. The exercise types and timings are to each their own, but their efficacy is hampered if there is no set routine. To quote Writer Will Durant’s Aristotelian interpretation: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Also, nothing like music to break the monotony of a routine exercise regimen.
3. Building appetite for a balanced diet
We are what we eat — something we hear as often as we ignore it. This aphorism never eluded me in my childhood, as my parents reinforced it at every opportunity. Adulthood has been a constant pursuit of a balanced diet. I perceive it as a compromise of short-term indulgences for long-term well-being. Most importantly, however, I believe in moderation, be it the intake of carbohydrates, coffee, or fried food. It takes more than a meal to build an appetite for a balanced diet, but once accomplished, it goes a long way in life.
4. Drinking water is cleansing
A notable fault line among doctors is the optimal quantity of water that a person must consume for good health. While there is no set quantity, the broad consensus is that more water consumption translates into health benefits. From personal experience, I can tell that water has a cleansing effect on humans. It reduces caloric load and improves the functioning of vital organs. In fact, many actors and models have been vocal about their higher-than-average water consumption translating to positive outcomes in terms of skin health and aging.
5. Setting micro-goals
The COVID-19 pandemic had a less-addressed concomitant: Mental health challenges. Across the world, as the crisis raged on and brought everything to a standstill, people were put off their stride. Many gymgoers, runners, hikers, and the like lost a sense of purpose. If anything, that phenomenon reinforced the need to set micro-goals in the face of disruptions. The idea is to open new doors just as old ones close, without wasting time knocking on the latter. It is always mind over matter — if you don’t mind, it won’t matter. With such a disposition, holistic fitness becomes second nature, enabling you to reap long-term rewards.
Contributed by: Shreyas Mehta, Actor, Model, & Founder of Flashmob Nation
