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Actress Parineeti Chopra attributes her new-found body to Kalaripayattu. While that statement may not be all above-board, we realise that she isn&rsquo;t the only one ditching the gym for the Kerala martial art form. Priya Anchan, 31, belongs to a large chunk of corporate professionals whose chaotic work hours lead to unhealthy lifestyles.
<img title="Coach Belraj Soni with his students at IIT Powai. PIC/Sameer Markande" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/Coach-Belraj-Soni-with-his-.jpg" alt="Coach Belraj Soni with his students at IIT Powai. PIC/Sameer Markande" /> Coach Belraj Soni with his students at IIT Powai. Pic/Sameer Markande
&ldquo;The gym did not excite me. And I was clear about one thing, I wanted to learn a physical activity that had its roots in India,&rdquo; says the Ghatkopar resident. Through an online search, she chanced upon tutor Belraj Soni&rsquo;s Kalaripayattu classes in Vidyavihar. It&rsquo;s been one and a half years since Anchan has been practicing this martial art form which dates back to 13th century. &ldquo;It keeps me energised, active, and more confident. Kalari has complex movements, but you get a hang of it with practice,&rdquo; she says, sounding upbeat even though she&rsquo;s just ended a one-hour session.
There are many like Anchan and Parineeti. Several Mumbaikars are opting for kicks, leaps, crouches, cross-splits, and brandishing metal arms as a fitness regime over other modern alternatives. For Dilna Shreedhar, a research student at IIT Powai, Kalaripayattu offered relief from asthma. &ldquo;Breath control is an integral part of the practice, due to which lung related problems wanes away in short time,&rdquo; she says.
The term kalaripayattu translates to &ldquo;practice in the arts of the battlefield.&rdquo; Practitioners work in a structure known as a kalari that provides space for instruction and practice, along with room for bouts in which two students work in a mock duel. But, it&rsquo;s more than just a fitness solution. Soni, who teaches the art at Somaiya Vidyavihar three times a week, says most of his students are from theatre, dance and movement arts who have joined in to extend their repertoire.
&ldquo;People from theatre and dance consider this a way to increase flexibility, a bonus in their professions,&rdquo; says the 42-year-old who has been teaching Kalari for 24 years.
Palak Lalwani, actor and a student of Soni, says Kalari teaches Gaja Vadivu (Elephant Posture) that comes in handy in physical theatre. &ldquo;Sometimes actors need to sit in that position for hours, Kalari helps you gets the stance right,&rdquo; says the Andheri resident.
The session begins with a 5-minute warm-up followed by leg lifting exercises, Meithari (body control exercises designed in a special sequence) and mock duel. Soni says it takes about 3-4 years for one to master the art. He cautions that the movements need to be practiced in the presence of a trained instructor. &ldquo;Kalari cannot be learned in capsules format. It demands patience and total dedication.&rdquo;

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Not on Twitter, but into a Kalaripayattu class. Turns out, it is as good for your health as it is for your DPs

Try Kalaripayattu like Parineeti Chopra. Here's why...

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Home / Lifestyle / Health & Fitness / Article / Try Kalaripayattu like Parineeti Chopra. Here's why...

Try Kalaripayattu like Parineeti Chopra. Here's why...

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