Actress Sangeeta Bijlani talks to our Editor Dr. Simha Shastry during the 5k walkathon organised by Sri Krishna Wellness, Yoga & Cultural Centre, to raise funds for students of Ashwini Charitable Trust.

Dr. Simha: Hi Sangeeta, so fitness is a way of life to you.

Sangeeta Bijlani: Yes, for me Fitness is a way of life, I can’t think of a life without exercise. Not just that, Yoga, Pranayama & Meditation is also part of my life. It is a way of being. I’ve been doing it for many many years. Exercise is something that I started from a very young age. I started with
Kathak Dance, which is also a fitness exercise. I was an athlete in school. Even today I swim, cycle, do Aerobics, Zumba, and Pilates, and all that in the gym; I do weight bearing exercises as well. I keep changing my workout in different ways so that the body doesn’t get used to one kind of exercise.
I feel it is very important, because for me health is truly wealth. I don’t just say it; I walk the talk as well.

Dr. Simha: What brings you to Bangalore?

Sangeeta: First of all Mimi Parthasarathy is a very dear friend, not just a friend, but more than a family to me. We’ve known each other for many
years, so when she mentioned about this cause and this wonderful walkathon, and asked me casually if I would be a part of it, I said “Definitely!”
because she’s from the Ashwini Charitable trust, taking students, empowering them by giving Yoga Teacher’s training Course. It’s a wonderful thing when you can empower students and are showing them a way of life. It is absolutely commendable. So, I had to be a part of it.

Dr. Simha: Wonderful! What is the message that you want to give the young generation as they are more into the digital world. People are stuck to their smart-phones, their gadgets, and fitness has not been what it is supposed to be. 

Sangeeta: I would say that you can do everything, you can use your smart-phones, you can use your gadgets, you can use your computers, but in 24 hours if you don’t find even that 1 hour for yourself then it is a real shame. This body is your vehicle which will take you through the journey of life and if you don’t take care of it, it’ll start jamming up. If you don’t drive or take care of your car properly, it will get jammed and the bolts start creaking. So you have to exercise it. You have to maintain it well.

By exercising, you release something called happy endorphins, which give you a feel good factor. That is very important because the younger generation is very stressed & pressured and they are so busy trying to achieve so many things in life. Which is all fine, but you have to give that one
hour to yourselves. It is very important to exercise, because that is just for yourself and it will take you through the rest of your life.

Dr. Simha: So your message is that spend one hour for yourself on toning up your body.

Sangeeta: Absolutely, you have to do it because that is what will take you through life.

Dr. Simha: Thank you so much for talking to us.

Sangeeta: Thank you.