Mumbai : Yasmin Karachiwala, one of India’s most well known and respected fitness professionals today launched her book along 
with co-author Zeena Dhalla titled “Sculpt and Shape: The Pilates Way” at the uber-luxe Zenith Party Suite, in the soon to be opened, St. Regis Hotel, in Mumbai. The book aims at guiding readers on how to change the shape of their body by learning more about their posture and how improving it can change the way they look.
The authors were joined at the media launch of the book by leading Bollywood celebrities Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt, who swear by Yasmin’s training regime. They were joined by Sophie Chaudhary, one of Yasmin’s oldest clients and Tanaaz Bhatia, CEO Bottomline media, (the company has managed the book-launch for Yasmin and Zeena).
ABOUT THE BOOK: After revolutionizing fitness around the world, the Pilates method makes its way to India through Yasmin Karachiwala, aka trainer to the stars, and internationally renowned Pilates instructor Zeena Dhalla, who take the original Pilates routine to a whole new level of precision and power.
From secret fitness formulas of stars, to practical tips and techniques on nutrition, breathing and everyday living that are essential to shaping your body from the inside out, this book, Sculpt and Shape: The Pilates Way, has it all.
Editors Notes:
ABOUT YASMIN KARACHIWALA:
Yasmin Karachiwala, is one of India’s most respected fitness professionals Pilates. She has been practicing for 24 years and is the Director of Body Image, her personal training fitness studio is located in Bandra (W). She has committed her professional life to promoting health, fitness and overall quality of life.
A mother of 2, she is a role model for youngsters and adults alike. She practices what she preaches, and is extremely fit herself. Her credo all along has been not just looking good, but also feeling good, in addition to being healthy and energetic.
Yasmin’s skill set is broad and deep. She is the only BASI (Body Arts and Science International US) certified Pilates in India, and specializes in Mat work as well as utilization of different machines (Reformer, Cadallac, Core Align, Wunda chair etc). She is also the only Balanced Body Master trainer and conducts teacher training for Pilates Mat, Reformer, Core Align & Motr. She has trained in many institutions globally, and on an ongoing basis stays abreast of emerging principles in the world of fitness. Her approach towards promoting fitness and health includes not just weight loss, but also improvement of posture, coordination, strength, flexibility and endurance. She believes, a body that performs well bio-mechanically automatically functions more efficiently, burns more fat, and overall performs better.
At Body Image, Yasmin uses a variety of modalities and equipment for fitness training. Her focus is on individual assessments, and designing fitness programs highly customized for each member based on their requirements, goals, like, dislikes, and make up.
She is highly respected in fitness circles, and her opinion is frequently solicited. She was the official fitness expert on the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2011 contest and trained all of the contestants. She has made a multitude of appearances on television, including being a jury member on “Get Gorgeous 5” and on NDTV in a fitness show with Kim Sharma. She also appeared regularly in printed media (Mother and Baby, TOI ROUGE, Hi Blitz), and as a talk show guest on Fitness Radio FM 93.7. She has written multiple articles for newspaper and magazines like Bombay Times, Mumbai Mirror, Vogue, etc.
Most recently Yasmin has been signed on as a celebrity trainer by leading fitness brand Puma based on the synergies in Yasmin’s approach to fitness and the Puma way.
She is a well-known name and an extremely sought after individual in the Bollywood circles. Her personal training clientele includes high profile individuals such as Katrina Kaif, Kareena and Karishma Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Malaika Arora Khan, Ileana D’cruz, Bipasha Basu, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonam Kapoor, Imran Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Anita Raaj, Neha Dhupia, Arjun Rampal, Mehr Jesia, Zareen Khan amongst many others. And cricketers like Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Ajit Agarkar.
ABOUT ZEENA DHALLA:
Zenna is and Indian girl born and raised the United States of America, who entered the fitness industry in her late twenties. She met Yasmin in California while Yasmin was taking classes for a certification programme that Zeena owned. Upon meeting, they hit it off right away, and a true friendship developed.
“What is common between us is that we both share an extreme passion for helping change lives. For both of us, being fit isn’t just about a flat stomach or slimmer thighs—athough that’s a wonderful by-product of getting fit. Being fit also means being mentally strong, feeling more confident and achieving every goal in life thatwe set forth to achieve. Being a fitness trainer means inspiring people, educating clients and being examples of the change that we want to see in them.” Says Zeena.
Zeena earned her first certification to be a personal trainer at the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and eventually decided to own her own women’s gym, the Athletic Club for Women. It was in this business that she discovered her passion for Pilates, and completed the Body Arts and Sciences International (BASI) Pilates certification course in 2004. At the time, Pilates had only begun to grow popular in the US, and her studio was the first in the area to introduce the concept of Pilates equipment classes for small groups.
In 2007, she decided to sell my women’s gym to become an adoptive mom. After a few years of stay-at-home motherhood, she opened a new studio, Vertical Pilates (the first vertical-only Pilates studio in the US) in 2012. “It had always been a dream of mine to bring more postural alignment and awareness to the art of Pilates, and my studio in California reflects this dream. I have been lucky to develop a strong reputation in my area, having written for and contributed to numerous local websites, magazines and TV shows.”
CELEB SPEAK:
Salman Khan, actor: ‘Having witnessed Yasmin’s growth and commitment to health as a way of life for the past twenty years, I know that her book will help many more bodies believe that that’s the best place for a soul to live’
Deepika Padukone, actor: ‘I realized after reading the script of Cocktail that it would be a unique film in my career. I remember telling myself that it was a very special role and I had to make it exceptional. The character needed me to work on my physical self. When I spoke to people, they said, “But why do you need to work out? You’re already so fit and athletic!” But I looked at myself in the mirror and knew I could do something different. That difference was Yasmin Karachiwala.
‘Yasmin introduced me to Pilates. Within a couple of sessions I was addicted! I could actually see my body transform. Pilates has made me realize how we neglect our core and also how important breathing correctly is. It helps me focus! It helps me on a stressful day!
‘Being an athlete has taught me that it’s not the number of hours you spend in the gym, but the quality of workout time that you put in. Even just a 20–30-minute session with the right focus and dedication can make a difference. Fitness has to become a part of one’s lifestyle.
‘I believe that physical fitness is a combination of the mind and the body. Working on your mind is as important as working on your body. And with Yasmin, it’s always the perfect combination of both.
‘Yasmin is not just my trainer. She is my friend first . . . my confidante. She makes you believe that you are capable of achieving the impossible. She has a constant desire to keep improving her craft and her techniques. She has an endless desire to learn, to grow and be the best! For me, she is already the best’
Katrina Kaif, actor: ‘I first met Yasmin Karachiwala at a party. I had gained quite a bit of weight and she told me she could help me lose it. At first, we started with functional training as she was still setting up her Pilates studio; as soon as it was ready, we moved on to Pilates.’
‘The best thing about Pilates is that it is a healthy, gentle and sustainable approach to fitness, based on strengthening and stretching your muscles. Your body feels wonderfully realigned and refreshed. Often, high-intensity CrossFit or functional training (which is very good when you have a specific or quick target to achieve) can be very strenuous on the body. This is especially true if you have any joint or back issues. Pilates is a very gentle way of training your muscles without further injury to yourself.
‘Pilates also helps improve your posture. Today, it continues to be embraced by professional dancers. This assures you of the effectiveness of Pilates, as dancers put their bodies through a lot of strain. Pilates can realign any misbalances that occur. During intense physical preparation for films like Dhoom 3, and songs such as ‘Sheila ki Jawaani’, Pilates has always been an integral part of my training.
‘Yasmin has a wonderfully positive attitude at all times and she makes training fun. She’ll often adapt or change our training sessions according to my mood or energy level. Often, when I have intense periods of training, like before Dhoom 3, she will train with me, as in, do each exercise along with me because I don’t like doing it on my own. She’s very passionate about her clients achieving their results.
‘I always feel better when I’m healthy and fit! I believe that there are no shortcuts to becoming fit. If you want to be fit and healthy or if you want to correct an injury, you have to put in the time. It is important to be regular and incorporate Pilates as part of your lifestyle’
Kareena Kapoor, actor: ‘My first squat, my first lunge and my first bicep curl— that’s where my journey with Yasmin began. From teaching walking-lunges in her living room—her gym about fifteen-odd years ago—to becoming a woman who is a superstar herself and the reason why all of us are looking our best, Yasmin is the soundest mind on fitness. She is someone I admire for her time management—for giving equal importance to all the lovely superstars by giving each one their required time as per their body type. That’s her finest professional quality. To me, she will always be a friend first and then a fitness guide. Our journey is forever and with Pilates, our new friend, it has just begun. Here’s to you, Yasmin—to the most well-deserved success story, and to many more amazing and insightful books to come’
Alia Bhatt, actor: ‘Once upon a time, about one year ago, I was having an anxiety attack. I had one month to look sexy in a bikini. I had lost a whopping amount of weight and was beginning to look like a boy! Which, for obvious reasons, is not sexy at all!
‘Then, my very efficient manager hooked me up with another very efficient human being. Enter Yasmin Karachiwala. I think it’s safe to say the first time I met Yas, I was a bit scared (you would be too if you had been there). Fluorescent clothes, sprinting away on the cross trainer wearing the ATS (Altitude Training Systems) machine, which kind of makes you look like a monster or robot (which, by the way, is now my favourite machine—great for burning fat). However, within a month of training with Yas, or even less actually, it’s safe to say I was in love. From not being able to stand straight with my two feet on the ground, she now has me doing squats on the flat side of the BOSU ball. Okay, that still sounds complicated. Even though I had been working out before I met her, the gym was always a burden for me. A place I had to push myself to go to. But here, it’s the other way around. I have to push myself to not go to the gym sometimes.
‘Apart from Yasmin, there was something else that I fell in love with—Pilates. At first, I was confused! I had done a couple of sessions before, but that was ages ago, and I was probably sleeping through the class. But this time, Pilates seemed very exotic. A special room at Yasmin’s studio, Body Image, is dedicated only to Pilates, and contains all the necessary and extremely fascinating Pilates equipment. We have the Reformer, which is multifaceted—you can use it for three different types of workouts. Then there’s the Wunda Chair, which is as fun as the name suggests, and then comes my favourite, which is CoreAlign—again, as the name suggests, the best thing for your core (also known as the stomach, which you will want to show off in a bikini or a lehenga!).
‘I have only been doing it for eight months and I’ve seen a massive change in my core strength, so imagine what I’ll feel like when I do it for longer! Pilates is all about hand-eye coordination and focus. You have to mentally be very present to do it right. There is not a single point where your core is at ease; you have to keep it activated at all times, but that comes with lots of practice. I am an impatient person but with Yas, I’ve learnt how to be patient and strengthen my body for the long run rather than lose five kilos in a month, which will eventually come back after one holiday. She doesn’t help you just lose your weight; she helps you develop and maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle; so in the long run, when you do lose the weight, it stays that way.
‘What I love the most is that I enjoy my workouts at Body Image. It’s not just the same thing over and over again. It’s almost like a school, where you move from workout to workout and graduate to different levels, and with this, your strength, and obviously your body, are changing and improving. With Pilates, all the workouts and exercises have these interesting, quirky names. And as Yasmin once told me, Pilates is all about the imagination as well. “Imagine there’s a bowl of water on your stomach”; “Roll the marble”; “Shine your chest” and my favourite, “Look at the
‘The kind of erratic lifestyle that I lead, it gets hard to stick to just one timing sometimes. But with her complete focus and dedication, she will come any time—be it 6 a.m. or 10 p.m. But I must mention, I get a firing every time I’m late! In short, if you haven’t already understood the pros and pros of Body Image, you must be really slow. Put on your gym clothes and shoes (make sure you match and colour-coordinate them— another thing I’ve learnt from Yas) and go to Yasmin’s Body Image now, now, now!’
Malaika Arora Khan, actor: ‘Whatever I say about Yasmin will never be enough. She is one of the most dedicated, sincere, hard-working and affable people I know. Her knowledge about training, workouts, nutrition, etc. is so vast and precise. She makes going to the gym so much fun. She has truly changed the game. Thank you so much for introducing Pilates to me. It has changed my body and, more importantly, my life. You truly are an inspiration and we love you’
Imran Khan, actor: ‘Working with Yasmin really helped me fix a lot of issues with my posture, flexibility and balance. Core strength and stability are vital for action sequences and dancing, and that’s where I really saw a difference in my capabilities’
Karan Johar, film-maker: ‘I heard much talk of Pilates in various social conversations, but I stayed away . . . till I met the relentless, persistent, but immensely affable, Yasmin. This may sound wrong, but she made me feel parts of my body that I didn’t know existed. This will sound even more wrong but she made me stretch in directions I never had before. Along with Pilates, she introduced me to ATS, which makes you feel like you’vecome from a good run in Ladakh without actually having been there. Her constant follow-ups make me feel like I now have two mothers in the world . . . While that thought can be annoying at times, it’s tremendously comforting as well. So, has Yasmin been responsible for making me love my enemy? Not entirely . . . but because of her, I am civil with it today’
Zoya Akhtar, director: ‘I was diagnosed with a bulging disc. It was a very confusing time for me—“Wear a brace”, “Don’t wear a brace”, “Your muscles should work”, “Sit upright”, “Don’t sit for too long”, “Stretch your back”, “Rest your back”, “Physio helps”, “Yoga heals” . . . blah blah blah blah. I was prepping for my film and was slated to travel for one month looking for locations. I was in pain and often wondering when my L4-L5 was planning to pop out and pay me a visit. I spoke to Yasmin, who introduced me to Pilates. Slowly, I became strong and my core grew stronger. Pilates is a part of my life now and I can’t do without it. My back is in great shape and the rest of me seems to be catching up too’
Ileana D’Cruz, actor: ‘There are days when my body just feels sore and tired, and doing a session of Pilates just stretches it out and makes me feel great and rejuvenated. I look forward to my sessions with Yasmin. She pushes me to do better every day and the results are clearly visible. Plus, it really is motivating when you have a trainer as fit and gorgeous as Yasmin—it just makes you want to work that much harder to get a body that you will love in the years to come’
Sophie Choudry, actor–singer: ‘Pilates gives you so much body awareness, it really helps you to connect your body, mind and soul. It gives you tremendous core strength and flexibility, and it’s extremely challenging! I’m actually miserable if I am unable to work out! I feel fitter, happier and stronger whenever I practise Pilates and it is a form of exercise I recommend to everyone, especially anyone with injuries! Thank you, Yasmin, for making me feel and look so fit and fabulous’
Preity Zinta, actor: ‘Yasmin is the kind of trainer whom you love and dread at the same time. You love her for how you look once she is done with you, and you dread her when she is training with you as she pushes you to your limit. I love her attitude at work and her attention to detail. She is undoubtedly the best in the business and takes extra care if you have an injury. She has a vast amount of knowledge and experience and has been in the fitness business for as long as I can remember. Don’t get deceived by her pretty face, as underneath, she is tough as nails. Go to her if you are willing to work hard and love your body. You will never be disappointed’
Kunal Kapoor, actor: ‘I went to Yasmin with a couple of injuries, and she made them worse and then refused to refund my money. Haha! On a serious note—Yasmin is one of the most incredible trainers. Her approach to fitness is unique and holistic. Working with her helped me take my fitness to a new level and look at training in a whole new light’
Zaheer Khan, cricketer: ‘Adding the Pilates workout to my routine of strength and conditioning, along with training on the field for cricket, has benefited me. Thank you, Yasmin, for making the Pilates workouts fun by adding variety’
Kiara Advani, actor: ‘I’ve never known anyone who is as passionate as Yasmin when it comes to fitness. She’s always travelling to push herself and learn newer techniques, which all her clients are excited to learn when she returns. There’s never a dull moment at Body Image. It’s the thing I look forward to every morning and the sense of achievement you get after that workout, motivates you to conquer the rest of your day’
Evelyn Sharma, actor: ‘Pilates is the best and definitely the most fun type of workout for me. In only five sessions, I can feel a definite change in my body! I have tried many workouts in the course of my career, but I have never seen such quick results as when training with Yasmin. My arms and legs are super toned and my core muscles have become really strong. I feel fit, beautiful and ready to shoot! Yasmin is like a genie doing wonders’
Zareen Khan, actor: ‘For me, Pilates means Yasmin Karachiwala. She introduced me to Pilates when I had no idea what it was. I’m thankful to her for doing so because it really did wonders for me. It not only helped me sculpt my body but also taught me the importance of having a strong core and a well-aligned body. I wish her all the very best for the book and I’m happy that it will help a lot of people understand and enjoy the benefits of Pilates’
Kristofer McNeeley, actor, Hollywood executive: ‘As an actor, I’ve always been very particular about keeping myself in shape. I’ve turned to Zeena Dhalla over the years as someone who can teach me about my core, and how to keep the correct muscles in shape to stay injury-free. Zeena brings to the world of Pilates her attention to detail, a clear passion for success and a commitment to excellence. I’ve known Zeena for over twenty years, and I have been consistently impressed with her ability to help her clients achieve their goals, in a gentle, but tough-love way. I’m thrilled that the world will get to read the myriad of her teachings through the book Sculpt and Shape: The Pilates Way. This book will not only help the reader become more aware of his or her body, it will offer invaluable education on the proper exercises to look and feel better from the inside out’
Kinita Kadakia Patel, sports nutrition consultant: ‘When I think Pilates, I think of Yasmin Karachiwala. She brings a new dimension to Pilates, making it fun and enjoyable whilst at the same time ensuring one achieves one’s ultimate health goals. It’s no wonder that the Bollywood and for the book Sculpt and Shape. I’m sure the readers will get a glimpse of the magic you make during your classes’
John Gloster, sports physiotherapist: ‘Pilates—a sports physiotherapist’s best friend. Thank you, Yasmin, for embracing the concept, perfecting the techniques and delivering such an important component of everyday life to so many. A must for every sportsperson, gym junkie, couch potato and desk-bound individual to get the best out of their professional and social lives. A fitness regime beyond all others’
Ridham Desai, managing director, Morgan Stanley, India: ‘This book talks about crucial things like how to stand, walk and breathe, and before you say, “Oh! I know that”, stop and read the book, and you will be surprised how little you actually know. Reading the book is only half the job. After finishing the book, begin the practice of Pilates. This book is to inspire you to practise. In fact, as I have told Yasmin, the book should have been titled Zen and the Art of Pilates because Yasmin is like a Zen master when she is practising Pilates. And just as Zen is best learnt from a Zen master, Pilates is best learnt from arguably India’s best, Yasmin Karachiwala. And after you learn from the book, pray you get lucky like me, and she trains you one day’
Jennifer Pearlstein, Body Arts and Science International, Pilates senior faculty: ‘I have had the privilege of knowing Zeena for thirteen years. Throughout that time, Zeena has continually found ways to educate and expose people to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Sculpt and Shape is more than an exercise and diet book. It is a way of living, a way of thinking and a way of moving. When reading, I found myself being immediately mindful of my posture, sitting or standing. The Pilates programmes are so straightforward and understandable. I am so proud of my friend Zeena for creating this simple yet profound book of posture and well-being. May this book inspire us all to live our best life’
Michelle Dúbe, Ladies Professional Golf Association, master golf professional‘Being a golf professional, I have worked with various fitness coaches. Zeena is among the best! She is a great communicator, she is knowledgeable and she pays great attention to detail; if I perform any exercise incorrectly, she corrects my form and I repeat the exercise, recruiting the correct muscles. Pilates is a powerful exercise regimen, and I hope her book will inspire others to integrate precise, posture-focused workouts into their routines’
Source : Sachin Murdeshwar