Yoga has been life transforming: Aishwaryaa

Fitness has always been a part of Rajnikanth’s household. But, his daughters Aishwaryaa R Dhanush and Soundarya Rajinikanth did not practise it much during their childhood. Now, Aishwaryaa has invested in the wellness start-up Sarva and has been propagating the ancient Indian physical practice. In an interview to DT Next, she opens up on how yoga transformed her life.

I like any form of physical activity. I got into functional training and like to sweat it out. I do cycling and love playing badminton and tennis. But, yoga is something that I am very interested in right now.

I have grown up watching yoga being a part of my household. But, Soundarya and I never got to practise it because as children we didn’t know the importance of yoga. We also had this wrong notion about yoga that it is slow and boring. For the past two years, I am practising yoga regularly and I am more inclined towards it. Yoga got reintroduced into my life and it’s been a life-transforming process. You will understand its importance only when you practise it. Any physical activity works on the body and mind. But, yoga is more of an organic and gradual transformation where you don’t realise that it is happening. But, if you look back after six months, you will feel the difference. Every kind of fitness is different and yoga works in a more serene way.

My children hang around whenever I do yoga at home. I think hanging around at this point is encouraging enough for them. Sometimes, they find it interesting and if they are in the mood, they challenge themselves. These are memories that will stay with them and at some point trigger their interest to get into yoga. If you advise children to do something, they will not. It should happen organically.

Today, women go through pressures in every possible aspect — be it at the workplace or home. I feel practising yoga or giving time for yourself would help women calm down and prepare them to face the challenges. Undoubtedly, yoga is of great help, and if you can do yoga for half an hour each day, you will see a huge transformation. 

I like to sweat it out when I do my yoga. I am a big fan of suryanamaskar and do 25-30 rounds of the asanas  each morning. It keeps me going and charged throughout the day. I try and practice the asanas for at least five days a week.