I practise power yoga five days in a week along with my dance practice. I practise simple ways of keeping fit; like avoiding the lift, answering the doorbell as many times possible.

Dance

I started dancing at the age of 6, and it has been an integral part of my life since then. Dancing takes me to a different world, which transports my mind to a spiritual platform. It’s not just an external expression; it’s a beautiful trance that makes me lose myself. Early marriage and kids kept me away from dancing for a while, but I got back to it when I could manage. At the age of 44, I performed my arangetram, which was a huge challenge for me, so much so that in the history of my guru’s teaching I was the only one who did that at such a later stage of life. I dance 4-5 times a week and to me, it comes naturally. It is an expression of complete joy and bliss!

Diet

I have small five meals in a day: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, evening snack and dinner. Fresh fruits, salads, vegetables, soup, fresh juices, and dry fruits are the major constituents of my everyday meals.

I believe in healthy eating and avoid access of sweets and fried items. Though there are conscious indulgences on and off.

Mind

At this point in life, exercise to me means more of an emotional de-stressing activity than a physical indulgence. I meditate at least three times a day as it helps me to detach from external surroundings and makes me come to a conclusion that all our answers are within. It helps me evaluate different experiences of my life.

Spirituality

Dance and creativity is my passion. Being a classical dancer and having studied Indian aesthetics at masters level; my inspirations are rooted deeply in the emblems and postures of high cultural value, historic importance, dance forms and nature. I also read a lot of philosophical books.

Spirituality to me is equanimity within and the percolation of positive energy in the people who mean something to you and the ones we connect with. It is about achieving pure excellence and selflessness by giving birth to a new you, evolving every moment.

My father besides being a poet was one of the leading economists of India, to me; one of his poems is a prayer which is as follows:

“Hashe jo karno toh, sakal jag sangeet banshee”.

If you have the ‘listening’ ability then the whole world will sound like music to your ears.

“ami aakhon ma jo, patthar pat per pushp kulshe”

If you have compassion in your eyes, flowers will bloom on rocky surface.

“hashe jo haiyu kunu, malin tanma mandir sada”

If you have a tender heart, God resides in your being.

The book that has inspired me a lot is ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ written by Richard Bach. It gave me flight and the courage to seek roads which were not only less traveled but not traveled at all.

Whatever regime you follow, be it yoga, exercise, spiritual belief; it should have some kind of a meaning and importance to your being in your daily life and conduct. For me that is the key to fitness.”