Off the beaten track: Here are 5 alternative ways to keep fit

Running outdoors, sweating it out at the gym, kick boxing, aerobics, zumba, body massages, yoga, meditation — you’ve heard of them all but somehow they didn’t manage to pique your interest enough to give it a shot or probably you’ve tried them and are bored. If you’re looking to try something that’s not run-of-the-mill in terms of alternate therapies to enhance well-being and methods to get fit, some that you thought were only available abroad, browse the following list of things you can try in the city.

WHAT: Powerbocking

The above picture looks intimidating but it’s not difficult to do them, assures Rahul Jain who is the founder of Ultimate Striderz, a centre where you can try your hands... rather legs at Powerbocking. Here, one has to balance his/her body on arc-shaped metal frames called ‘stilts’ and walk, jump, sprint, etc. Rahul imported these stilts from abroad, learnt to use them and even trained in advance levels abroad. Around four years ago, he began imparting his knowledge to people in the city. He has also trained celebs like Dino Morea, Rithvik Dhanjani, Gauhar Khan just to name a few. 

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT? 

“There have been no improvisation in the old school methods of staying fit like running on treadmill and cycling. Also, running on treadmill tends to result in knee injuries. So, if you’re looking for a new, exciting way to stay fit, try Powerbocking. Here, you’re at a height of 18 inches above the ground, you can jump in the air at a height of six feet and above and run at the speed of 40 km/hour. Each stilt weighs around 3.5 kg and you can’t stand still on them, you gotta keep moving — walking, running, jumping. This improves agility, using your leg muscles, strengthens your core, and uses around 90 per cent of the body muscles in activity. Also, you can burn around 350 calories in 10 minutes,” informs Rahul adding that they get 25 to 30 new members (from 18 to early 20s and 30 to 40 age group) each month and have trained over a thousand people across the country. 

WHERE: Ultimate Striderz has centres in Shivaji Park, Kandivli and Mira Road (they’re planning to have one in Andheri soon)
COST: Rs 2,000 for eight sessions, twice a week for a month; duration of each session 1.5 hours
CALL: 9664337740

WHAT: Salt therapy

Founded by Lyla and Jamsheed Mehta, Salt Escape was conceptualised after Jamsheed found much needed relief after using the treatment to alleviate the symptoms of his own chronic condition — rhinitis. He then realised that many others in Mumbai could benefit from it as well.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT?

In a polluted city like Mumbai, everyone especially children are susceptible to the pollution and allergens. And so, salt therapy is a good option for children to help to relieve symptoms of a range of respiratory problems like asthma, rhinitis, nasal congestion, cough, sinusitis, chest infections, etc. skin conditions like eczema and to build immunity too. Also, research has shown that children react to salt therapy treatments quicker than adults do. Salt therapy having no side-effects reduces children’s dependence on regular prescribed medications like antibiotics and steroids, which have harmful long-term effects. Salt Escape boasts of a haven for adults and children alike to help them breathe better and live a healthier lifestyle. For children, there is a special children’s room equipped with a TV, games, toys and books, and your children will not even realise that they are being treated.

WHERE: Salt Escape, Perin Nariman Street, behind Reserve Bank of India, Fort
CALL: +912222690034/35; visit: www.saltescape.in

WHAT: Altitude training

Altitude training also known as hypoxic training, involves exercising in environments with a reduced level of oxygen, found at high altitude regions, above 2,200 metres above sea level. Usually, athletes undertake high altitude training. The reason being, to compensate for the decrease in oxygen levels, one of the body’s hormones, erythropoietin (EPO) triggers the production of more red blood cells to aid in oxygen delivery to the muscles. By training at high altitudes, athletes aim to allow their bodies to produce extra red blood cells.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT?

With the help of technology, one can experience this sort of training, without having to go mountainous regions. Fitness expert Samir Purohit, and co-owner of The Pilates & Altitude Training Studio, says, “The oxygen content in the air at sea level is approximately 20.9 per cent. In our altitude training studio, room low oxygen in pumped in via imported machinery, making the oxygen percentage approximately 13.5 to 14 per cent. Because your body is taking approximately 7 per cent less oxygen, it causes certain physiological changes like increase in the metabolic rate. Hence, one burns 200 per cent more calories, than at sea level. So weight loss is much faster. Due to altitude training, the effect of the workout lasts for 12 to 15 hours.” In the altitude training studio, there’s a treadmill, cycle, elliptical and Power Plate (this machine gives the body muscles a high-speed workout by using vibrations).

WHERE: The Pilates & Altitude Training Studio at Santacruz (W), Hughes Road and Andheri (W) 
COST: Rs 10,000 for 12 sessions in a month (three days a week); Rs 7,500 for eight sessions in a month (twice a week)
CALL: 9833151149, 9821154492; 
visit: www.pilatesaltitude.com

WHAT: Cryotherapy

This therapy looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. For around three decades, Whole-body Cryotherapy has been practised in Europe and Japan. Hollywood celebs like Daniel Craig, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cristiano Ronaldo, to name a few indulge in it. 

Here’s how it works, during a session of whole-body Cryotherapy, the body is exposed to temperatures ranging between -130 °C and -150 °C with cold air for one to three minutes in a cryochamber. When the body is cooled at such a rapid rate, it goes into ‘survival mode,’ causing the blood to flow to the most vital organs in order to relay more oxygen and nutrients. After the session,  enriched and less-toxic blood is flushed back into the rest of the body.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT?

Neville Wadia, Director of Alchemy, which offers Cryotherapy in the city says, “Various people can benefit from it ranging from sportspersons, fitness enthusiasts seeking to reduce muscle inflammation and fatigue to people with medical conditions like arthritis, skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis (local cryotherapy) to people looking to lose weight as one could burn around 800 calories in three minutes (however, he clarifies that cryotherapy cannot be relied on as the sole method for weight loss, but in conjunction with exercise and right nutrition) to lay persons who want to enhance their general well-being as cryotherapy elevates one’s metabolic rate to those seeking beauty benefits to treating acne, reducing scars, toning the skin as cryofacial serves as a natural way to build collagen in the body.” The number of sessions depends on the purpose one is seeking the therapy. 

WHERE: Alchemy, Parijat Building, corner of G Road, Marine Drive 
COST: Local cryotherapy Rs 1,000; Cryofacial Rs 2,000; Whole body cryotherapy Rs 3,000
CALL: +912222048484, +917045595996; 
visit: www.alchemylife.in

WHAT: The Matrix Rhythm Therapy

Matrix Rhythm Therapy was developed by Dr U G Randoll in Germany. This therapy is based on his research in Cell Biology.  

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY IT?

Dr Randoll found that our cells rhythmically pulsate in frequency of 8-12 Hz in a normal healthy condition. This rhythm is disturbed because of various factors like infection, injury, toxins, allergy, chemical, electrical interference, psychological, emotional, stressful situations etc. Disturbance of rhythm at cellular levels affect the extra cellular logistics causing accumulation of fluid, oedema, and swelling. Matrix Rhythm Therapy provides pulsations in the same frequency to synchronise and reset the disturbed cell rhythm. It regenerates cells through mechanical pulsations thus healing and restoring muscle and tissue tone. Elimination of waste products, acids and gases takes place and fluid absorption is reduced resulting in speedy healing and eradication of pain in joints, head and neck aches, back pain, sinus, mobility increase in limbs, wound healing disorders, etc. “We get approximately 50 clients a month between our two spas in Bangalore and Mumbai for the Matrix therapy and an equal mix of men and women. The age group ranges from 25 to 90 years. The younger ones are mainly with muscle spasms and sporting injuries and the older ones with sciatica or arthritis etc,” informs Achui Luikham, manager at the spa. Coupled with a steamed herbal compress, a variety of massages and steam removes toxins and results in speedy recovery. The total number of sessions required for complete relief depends on one’s health condition.

WHERE: The Palms Spa, Dhanraj Mahal, opposite The Yacht Club, Apollo Bunder
COST: Matrix therapy (60 mins) `3,500; Matrix + Balinese Massage (120 mins); `6,500; Matrix + Herbal Compress and Steam (135 mins) `6,900
CALL: +912266349898, +912266349922; 
visit: www.thepalmsspaindia.com