Celebrity trainer Namrata Purohit opens up on training Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan for over decade

Mumbai: Over the years, Pilates has gained popularity among Bollywood celebrities, with actors Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan among its prominent enthusiasts. Their commitment to the fitness regime has also encouraged fans to explore this mind-body exercise.

Much of the credit goes to fitness expert Namrata Purohit, who trained both actors and helped them incorporate Pilates into their fitness routines.

Speaking on teaching Pilates to Sara and Janhvi, Namrata told ANI, “Both Janhvi and Sara have been training with me now for about 10 years or even more, actually. They are pro now. I sometimes joke with Janhvi that she can become an instructor now. She's got the knowledge; she understands movement. Sometimes she even takes her friends' classes for fun when they are travelling because she's learned so much of it; it's actually quite cool.”

“I love the fact that they've learned so much about their bodies that they cannot only, of course, do it themselves, but they've understood form, movement, breath work, and engagement, that they can even teach somebody else,” she shared. 

Namrata shared that while she trains celebrities in fitness, she also learned a lot from them, especially when it comes to discipline.

“I would say in general all the celebrities teach you something, and the main thing that every celebrity will teach you is discipline. The kind of discipline and grit they have, I think nobody has. They're so focused, and they always work towards achieving their goal and do everything that they're told. That's why they get the results they get,” she emphasised. 

Pilates is a form of mind-body exercise that originated in the 20th century and continues to be widely practised for its holistic approach to fitness. Developed by Joseph Pilates, the method goes beyond building strength and improving flexibility, focusing on core stability, controlled movement, body awareness and concentration.

For those new to Pilates and looking to understand its benefits, Namrata and her father Samir Purohit are among the key names to follow. The father-daughter duo has played a significant role in popularising Pilates in India, helping more people understand its benefits and making the fitness practice accessible through studios across the country.

Recently, they reached a major milestone with the opening of their 50th Pilates studio.

Reaching where they are today has not been easy for Namrata and her father, Samir Purohit. Like any entrepreneurial journey, theirs too has had its share of ups and downs and challenges.

Recalling the early days, Namrata shared how being betrayed by someone they trusted taught them an important business lesson that every agreement must be put in writing.

She shared, “I think one of the difficult parts was somewhere at the start itself when we were considering expanding our studios and we did partner with someone who we trusted by word and then we got a bit messed up in the whole process. But I think learning that lesson very early in my career and life taught me that when it comes to business, everything has to be written down in black and white. It has to be clearly stated because, while you may trust someone and take their word for it, misunderstandings can happen."

"At the end of the day, if everything is written down and clear, there can be no ambiguity. I think that was one of my biggest lessons. At the time, it was very hard because my father and I were both very trusting and naive about these things,” she added.