Shilpa Shetty Kundra has been practising the fitness regime for the past 14 years
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 21, 2015)

She might not be on the silver screen anymore, but Shilpa Shetty Kundra, still makes heads turn with her lithe body. It’s all thanks to yoga, says the yummy mummy. So much so, she even came out with a couple of DVDs on yoga, two years ago. “I wanted to be a small catalyst in spreading the importance of yoga,” she says. No wonder then, she was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be a part of International Yoga Day today. Here, she tells us what yoga means to her and why she is passionate about the Indian-based fitness regime..

What made you take up yoga?
I was suffering from cervical spondylitis and was undergoing treatment. Yoga was suggested to me as part of physiotherapy. I started it as a remedy, but soon realised its multiple benefits. It’s been 14-15 years since I have been practicing yoga and though it hasn’t cured my spondylitis completely, it hasn’t relapsed.

How does yoga help?
Yoga has majorly contributed to my energy levels, fitness and state of mind. Yog means unity. It brings your mind, body and soul together. We live such fast-paced and scattered lives, combat stress at so many levels that it is important you find at least half-an-hour in the day for yourselves every day. Yoga brings your senses in alignment. It gives you a blood rush, lubricates your glands and muscles, and makes you flexible. It is an antidote for stress. Most importantly, for women out there, I would say it helps in reversing the ageing process. And, if you aren’t doing yoga, June 21 is your day to start!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited you to be a part of his International Yoga Day Initiative in Delhi. Will you be going?
I would have loved to, but by the time I got to know about it, I had committed to the Karnataka government and will be doing a yoga session in Bengaluru on the same day. I am glad that yoga is getting its due. Credit has to go to Modiji who has taken it upon himself to see that yoga is recognised. Delhi or Bengaluru, it doesn’t matter as long as our aim is to spread awareness about yoga.

Your son Viaan is too small, but does he like to do yoga?
Yes. It’s better to inculcate this habit when they are young. Though Viaan does it for fun, it is embedded in his subconscious. He does the Om chants with me and has learnt to breathe right. It is wonderful to see that as a mother.

People abroad are more fascinated by yoga than Indians, right?
Everywhere in the world it is cool to do yoga, while we are steering towards pilates and weight-lifting. I have nothing against that, I have tried everything and each to his own but I swear by yoga. I believe it gives you a complete body workout.

Virbhadrasan
Helps in strengthening your leg muscles.

Urdhva dhanurasan
helps you to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles It also opens up the chest neck and shoulder. It gives your back great flexibility And most importantly it helps with kidney disorder.

Vriskshasan
or the tree pose is one of the most difficult yoga poses but at the same time it’s very effective. It helps in healing mild giddiness, weakness of legs and shoulder.

Om chants in Padmasan
strengthens your core, re-energises and aligns mind, body and spirit. It teaches you to breathe right.

Naukasan
This mainly helps with eradicating your belly fat. It’s also a leg workout. Plus the body posture improves as you are lifting your legs and at the same time stretching your arms. The strength comes from your core.