Not only is Gul Panag a versatile Bollywood film actress, entrepreneur, and hobby pilot, she also understands the value of optimal health and fitness. Vasujit Kalia meets with Gul to learn more.

Personal Fitness

“My main goal is to make sure that I do 40 to 45 minutes of sweat time daily. By this, I mean that I should be able to break a sweat and my heart rate should be high. I do various things like yoga, swimming, playing tennis, or squash, or running up and down the stairs when it’s raining in Mumbai. The goal is to be consistent and make sure that I do this six days a week.”

Tried and Tested Health Tips

“I think working out first thing in the morning is a good idea. By saying this, I don’t mean it has to be 5 or 6 AM; it can be before you head out for work. Secondly is the flexibility about where you exercise and how. For example, if you don’t get the time to go to the gym, you can climb up and down the staircase for 30 minutes and it’s as good as going to the gym. Remember, fitness is a journey, it’s not a destination. Fitness is not about losing weight to get that perfect figure for a wedding, it’s about a journey for a lifetime. Lastly, don’t start to take fitness seriously only when health related issues start cropping up.”

Keeping a Balance

“I think work-life balance is very important, especially in the type of lifestyle which we lead; I cut off from work every day at around 6:30 to 7 PM and after that I switch my data off and I don’t do anything work related. I feel that worklife balance is very important because without it, there will be a tug of war between work and personal life.”

Nurturing the Spirit

“I think meditation and yoga play a very important part in the overall well-being and fitness of a person. Fitness is not about physical fitness; it is about having a balanced mind as well. I try and take out five minutes during the middle of the day for deep breathing because it centers me.”