Founded by fitness entrepreneur Sarina Jain, this workout consists of a rousing blend of bhangra dancing, Bollywood moves, and lively songs. In addition to establishing Masala Bhangra classes nationwide from California to NY, Jain has made eight bollywood-inspired workout videos over her 20-year career in fitness, and has a dedicated following due both to her personal charisma and the intensity and exuberance of her workout. Anu Athri, a current studentof Jain’s, had heard about bhangra and Bollywood workouts but was skeptical at first. Jain’s energy, she says, kept her coming back. “She’s taken those steps and made it a really good workout,” Athri says. But importantly, she makes sure to keep the class upbeat and fun: “She doesn’t just make you do steps,” says Athri. “She really brings out the celebrative spirit of the dance.” The workout itself consists of nonstop movement designed to raise the heart rate and keep it up for the duration of class. Jain breaks down a series of bhangra and Bollywood-style dance moves, and then sequences them into a routine which is slowly added onto throughout the class. In addition to burning a hefty amount of calories, you can also learn some moves to bust out at your next wedding!

“Get the South Asian people moving – that’s the key, because South Asians in general do not work out. It’s not in our culture at all,” says Jain, who cites the passing of her father as the driving force behind her decision to meld her fitness knowledge with South Asian culture and music. This year, her workout celebrates its 10^th anniversary and its popularity has exploded, even among non- South Asians. In Latin America, as the face of Nestlé fitness, Jain has her workout DVDs in 2.6 million cereal boxes and is reaching thousands of households. She is expanding, teaching master classes and training instructors overseas. “Masala Bhangra is very popular is Japan right now,” Jain says. “I have so many instructors in Japan, and they love our culture!” Luckily for us, Sahelis, we don’t have to travel that far to get our bhangra fix! Jain herself teaches eighteen classes in NYC throughout the week, at various NYSC and Crunch gyms and the Alvin Ailey studios. Check out the schedule here.

Founded five years ago by dancers Priya Pandya and Kajal Mehta, DhoonyaDance has grown to encompass a wide range of offerings and classes in New York, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. For the beginner, a Bollybasics class is recommended; here students learn footwork, shoulder and arm moves, and put them together into a dance routine of bhangra moves and bollywood flair. The new DhoonyaFIT class, which began in NYC in June, evolved based on student feedback. A more intense, cardiovascular version of the Bollybasics class, it is designed with fitness and weight loss in mind. One student who has been coming since DhoonyaFIT’s inception praises Pandya’s patience and gentleness, especially with first-timers. “The fitness class is intense!” she says. “I can feel changes in my body, in my stamina.” Stamina is one thing you’ll wish you had more of as you follow movement after consecutive movement, without pause, as Pandya or other teachers lead you on encouragingly. Nonstop motion ensures heart rate elevation and great fat burn, while swiveling moves target the abs and obliques, lunges work the thighs and glutes, and pushups and crunches at the end of the class round out the workout. Expect to be sucking wind thoughout, but the payoff is worth it, with students happily flushed and sweating at the end of the class. Merely the sight of the lithe bodies of Dhoonya’s teachers jumping effortlessly from one movement to the next is inspiration enough to keep coming back. If it works for them, Sahelis, then it will work for us!

There’s more: Dhoonya also offers classes for kids, in Chelsea and Caroll Gardens, BK. The curriculum is based on age groups, with an eye towards cultural immersion: kids learn the basic concepts of rhythm but also the meaning of various Hindi words and how they relate to the song and dance. As if that weren’t awesome enough, Dhoonya also has a performance company, which dances at various public and private events, galas, and weddings. And if you’re looking for a chance to bust a move like these pros, you can: private and custom classes are offered for individuals and couples to wedding parties of a dozen or more, where you can learn a piece of choreography to perform at your event. Impress your guests with your new body and your new moves! Check out Dhoonya’s offerings here.

For those looking for a little less workout and a little more choreography, BollywoodFunkNYC offers an array of fusion classes to those hankering to learn some music-video-worthy moves. Founder Ayesha Khanna trained at the renowned Danceworx Performing Arts Academy in New Delhi and danced in many megahit bollywood videos, including “Dhoom Machale,” before moving to NYC and opening the school in 2007. The BollywoodFunkNYC dance company, comprised of dancers of all backgrounds, is making a name for itself, with performances at venues such as the South Street Seaport Diwali festival and the Fred Astaire Awards ceremony. Impressively, they were the first bollywood dance group invited by MTV to compete in their hit show, America’s Best Dance Crew!

Classes are taught by company members, who train under Khanna for a long time, learning her signature style and choreography. The dance style of these classes is very contemporary, a blend of jazz, hip-hop and funk to the latest and hottest bollywood songs. The Basic Beginner level is perfect for those with no previous dance training; a single routine is learned and practiced over the course of five weeks. Advanced Beginner and by-audition-only Intermediate levels are better suited for those with previous dance experience, while Hip-hop Hungama, a purely hip-hop class set to bollywood tracks, is open to all levels.

Check out the class schedule here. Sign up now and get ready to start dancing like a bollywood star!

Nothing says bikini-ready like a toned and sculpted waistline.  Classes that focus on your core—from the top of your abs down to your thighs—are popping up all over the city and gaining fast popularity.  Different combinations of Pilates, core-strengthening, and even yoga all work towards the same goal: a strong and toned center combined with a long and lean figure. We tried three of the most popular classes and have the lowdown on what you can expect (and how sore you’ll be the next day!)

Physique 57

Ask Kelly Ripa her fitness secret and she’ll give complete credit to Physique 57.  Combining interval training with Pilates and barre work, founder Tanya Becker has created a fitness system that takes strength and flexibility training to an entirely new level. Be prepared to sweat! Set to high-energy music, and with nearly no rest in between exercises, you will work during every minute of the 57-minute class.

Why you’ll love it: Thigh dancing is without a doubt the most entertaining part of the class—check out this video of Anderson Cooper giving it a try.  You’ll laugh your way to a smaller butt!

More information, including studio locations and cost is available here.

Core Fusion

For Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp, the husband-wife duo who created the Core Fusion technique, increasing strength and flexibility is a complete mind and body experience.  Incorporating principles of yoga and meditation into a rigorous core-strengthening workout, these classes have a slower pace to them. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less intense! Be ready for an hour-long class that works your muscles to exhaustion and follows it up with a series of stretches to create a long, lean look.

Why you’ll love it: The mind-body combination means you’ll get a high-impact workout, but leave class refreshed and feeling a little more Zen.

More information, including studio locations and cost is available here.

Nalini Method

The Nalini Method takes traditional core strengthening and adds an Eastern twist. Founder Rupa Mehta teaches many of the classes herself, providing personal-trainer-like attention to each member of the class. The bare studio is emblematic of Mehta’s focus on results instead of presentation. Unlike other classes, be prepared to use resistance bands and ankle weights to increase the intensity of the workout.

Why you’ll love it: The smaller classes get you personal attention to ensure you have the proper form and technique. Mehta’s targeted focus on different muscle groups also means you work nearly every muscle in your body for a complete full-body workout.

More information, including studio locations and cost is available here.

About the Instructors

Pooja Laungani
Pooja is a Reebok Certified Instructor who has been in the fitness industry for the past 15 years and is the leader in Bollywood Dance Aerobics classes in the heart of Bollywood (Mumbai, India). Pooja has been professionally trained in Aerobics, Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Hip-Hop Dance, Zumba, Step Aerobics, Weight Training, Belly Dancing & Pilates. She has created Bollywood Dance Aerobics by combining Bollywood dancing & aerobic steps.

Linda Arsenio
Linda Arsenio is a feature film actress, born and raised in Dallas, Texas now living in Mumbai, India. Linda began her career in Tollywood (the South Indian Film Industry) with lead dance numbers in Tamil and Telugu movies. Shortly thereafter she was the leading actress in the Bollywood film Kabul Express.  Her upcoming films include playing the role of Sonia Gandhi in The Mystique of Indira Gandhi, co-directed by Hollywood Director David Whinning.

Don’t take our word for it.  Bollywood director Karan Johar is a strong supporter of Fitness Guru.  “Bollywood Music of every kind has a beat and rhythm that you can’t help but stomp your feet to and move your body with. This musical energy when blended with exercise keeps the calories off and the spirits alive in an otherwise mundane routine….Dance to Fitness Guru and get the waistline back!!”

Click here to get your copy today!

The video features three dances set to Bollywood’s biggest hits.  Each dance offers an increasing level of difficulty and unique dance style.  You’ll find a warm up, a step-by-step guide to each dance and a cool down. The dances are all energetic, sensual, fun and set to the beat of some of Bollywood’s most famous songs, namely ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams and ‘Maahi Ve’ from the film Kal Ho Naa Ho with Shahrukh Khan.

Unlike other Bollywood dance videos on the market, Bollyrobics has great camera work which gives you a complete look at each move.  You will never get bored with Julia Casper’s teaching style and detailed breakdown of each movement, which is easy to follow and makes you feel more aware of your body.  Also a fantastic way to practice your moves for a Bollywood night out!

Buy it here:  Bollyrobics Dance Workout

Owner and creator Rupa Mehta has concocted a perfect mix that combines just the right amount of yoga poses, Pilates strength-building exercises, and traditional workout methods. The hour-long fusion session on the Upper West Side promises to give you a stronger physique, leaner muscles, enhanced flexibility, increased bone awareness, and improved posture.

Rupa pays close attention to each student and makes sure they use the resistance band, the weights, the ballet barre, and the exercise ball correctly for maximum results. It’s difficult not to come out of a session feeling stronger and more energetic!

The lessons focus on one body part at a time, starting with the arms, moving to the legs, then the posterior, before finishing with the stomach, all the while stretching out your entire body.

But don’t be fooled by the happy pop music playing in the background; Rupa means business and the session is a hardcore workout! If you feel like challenging yourself or just trying a new workout regime, CitySaheli recommends the Nalini Method.

48W 68 Street
New York, NY
(212) 787 5588

The class is for all levels. A beginner can learn how to shake her hips like it’s done on the big screen, while also getting an amazing work out. And, a well-seasoned dancer who has been practicing Bollywood dance will sweat up a storm, while learning some new sexy Bollywood moves. In just a few classes you will learn steps to your favorite Hindi songs and be on your way to becoming your very own Bollywood star! CitySaheli tested and approved.

Sonalee Dance Studio

When: Every Wednesday, 7pm – 8pm
Where: Roy Arias Studio
How Much: $10 for one hour

What is it?  This form of yoga was developed by Bikram Chowdry, in Calcutta India, approximately 30 years ago.  He began studying yoga at the age of four, and developed this particular form of yoga after he experienced a very serious knee injury.  This form of yoga cured his injury and is practiced today by people around the world.

Bikram yoga can be practiced by all fitness levels.  Typically a Bikram yoga class lasts for 90 minute, in a 100 degree room, and involves 26 different stretches and poses.  The poses can be modified depending on fitness level.  The benefits of staying in a pose include stretching and elongating your muscles and improving your breathing.  Consistent practice results in looking lean, better posture and feeling great.

When CitySaheli first tried Bikram yoga, we found it a little tough, particularly because of the very high room temperature.  So, if you’re trying it for the first time, make sure to pick a spot near a door or window that is propped open.  And make sure to tell the instructor you are new.  Once you get used to it, challenge yourself and sit in the back corner, where its likely the hottest.  Hydrate yourself thoroughly before, and during class.

Stick to Bikram yoga and you are sure to see excellent results!

Some hot yoga spots CitySahli loved or heard great things about:

Bikram Yoga NYC (CitySaheli Tested and Approved)

Bikram Yoga Chelsea/Soho/Greenwich Village

Some Like It Hot Yoga

Bikram Yoga Union Square

Bikram Yoga Lower East Side