6 celebrity fitness trainers you can work out with, for free

I belong to the species scientifically called couch potatoes. A squishy sofa – worn out enough to engulf us when we plonk ourselves on it, but sturdy enough to make for a suitable platform to place our snacks on — makes for our natural habitat.

We only emerge from our homes when we’ve exhausted our abundant supply of finger food or dipping sauces, only to return to the comfort of our couch a few minutes later to resume our The Lord of the Rings marathon.

Working out is a concept alien to us, one that we’ve overheard people talk about, but not one we have the slightest inclination towards.

“I’ll exercise the day I can manage to get an appointment with a celebrity fitness trainer” is our response to all those who try to nudge us towards venturing into the unknown territory that is the gymnasium.

But today, for the first time ever, couch potatoes will witness this fool-proof excuse fall flat on its face as they’re met with this list of celebrity fitness trainers who they can work out with from the comfort of their home. Though a personal session with any of these names might run your monthly budget into the ground, they’re generous with sharing workout videos on social media that we can easily follow along to.

These are our favourites.

Pick a celebrity fitness trainer and shed your couch potato status

Yasmin Karachiwala’s buddy workout is ideal for all those in need of company

Pilates expert Yasmin Karachiwala has trained the likes of Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt. The founder of a fitness studio called Yasmin’s Body Image and has also co-authored a book titled Sculpt and Shape: The Pilates Way.

“If you haven’t been able to schedule a weekly routine with certain days focused on certain parts of your body, choose a different full body routine each time you exercise. Whether it’s a 15-minute HIIT routine or a Pilates session. Consider how much time you genuinely have and pick a video accordingly,” says Yasmin Karachiwala in an interview with Vogue India.

“If you haven’t been working out regularly, it may not be the best idea to start off with a 45-minute, full body functional training circuit on your first day,” she adds.

From healthy recipes that disprove the myth that healthy food can’t taste good to tips that help turn your home into a fitness studio and furniture into gym equipment – Karachiwala’s Instagram is flooded with helpful videos to kickstart your fitness journey from the comfort of your homes.

The video we particularly love going back to is Karachiwala’s buddy workout. The best way to ensure that you don’t give in to the temptation of choosing a cozy day in over a workout is to invite a buddy who will push you to keep at it. Karachiwala shared with her followers six exercises that you can do with your workout buddy to make exercising a whole lot more fun.

Radhika Karle’s pilates workout for all you mommies-to-be

Sonam Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandes swear by Radhika Karle’s fitness routines, and now you can too.

A Pilates expert, this celebrity fitness trainer’s mantra is moderation – “If you crave bhajiya? Have just one. If you can have one cookie, then why not one bhajiya?”

The nutritionist and yoga instructor founded fitness studio, Radhika’s Balanced Body, and recently authored a healthy cookbook called Pure & Healthy.

The best part about Karle’s workouts is just how simple they are. Don’t expect high intensity workouts that will leave your lungs feeling like they are on fire.

This workout video features Karle showcasing an easy Pilates routine for pregnant women that focuses on strengthening the mommy-to-be’s body, and is said to help prevent lower back pain, and reduce fatigue and stress. “During pregnancy, the body releases lots of relaxin. That’s why it’s important to focus on strengthening and not stretching,” explains Karle.

Namrata Purohit’s fun fitness routine that uses innovative equipment found around the house

Namrata Purohit’s love affair with Pilates began when the fitness technique miraculously helped her recover from a serious knee injury, and she has managed to pass on her love for this form of fitness to the likes of Malaika Arora Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor and a host of other celebrities.

“If one has never worked out before, I would say try different things before you settle on a routine, because fitness should be fun. It shouldn’t be something you find monotonous, or that stresses you out,” says Purohit.

With this fun workout, she successfully throws all our excuses for not working out right out the window. You can no longer rely on “but I don’t have equipment” to save you from breaking a sweat. So, grab a pair of napkins and get ready for an innovative sweat sesh with Purohit.

Anna Kaiser is going to help you get in shape and get over your fear of dancing 

Anna Kaiser’s list of clients sounds like the ultimate girls’ night out – Sofia Vergara, Shakira, Kelly Ripa, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Kaiser’s approach to fitness is nothing short of a party. It combines dance and sculpting routines with cardio movements and strengthening techniques borrowed from yoga and Pilates. “I started a movement to inspire people to be active 4x per week, in a way that makes them truly happy, within a supportive community,” explains the celebrity fitness trainer in an interview with Medium.

This particular routine is especially made for those who inconspicuously nurse their drinks in dingy corners at parties just to avoid dancing. If you think you have two left feet, then this video will give you the confidence to use them better than you ever have, while making sure you’re meeting your step-count quota.

Coach Urmi is here to show us how to be fit while being Mummy’s favourite child

“Fit is not a body type. Fitness is doing what’s good for your body — not just because you’re expected to look a certain way” is  fitness coach Urmi Kothari’s philosophy.

Kubbra Sait, Rohan Joshi, and Sumukhi Suresh are some celebrities who swear by Kothari’s rigorous fitness routines. The celebrity fitness trainer uses lifting, gymnastics, yoga and Pilates to help people get fit the right way.

This workout is perfect for all those cribbing about not having enough time  to exercise thanks to all the chores they have to do during the lockdown. The celebrity fitness trainer gives to tips to include easy exercises when sweeping, mopping, and even while folding laundry.

Jeanette Jenkins breaks down the most insta-famous exercise move there is

This celebrity fitness trainer offers fool-proof advice. If you don’t believe us, just ask anyone from her star-studded client list that includes Pink, Alicia Keys, Shonda Rhimes, Octavia Spencer, and hordes of other celebrities.

Her workouts are always goal-oriented and a lot of the times, don’t even require equipment, making them especially helpful when working out from home. “It’s important for people to realise they are bio-genetically unique and how their body reacts to specific foods and methods of training is unique to their body,” says Jenkins in an interview with Women of Today.

This video by Jenkins is one that breaks down probably the most insta-famous workout move there is – a plank. “No one starts at excellent, we all have to put in the work to achieve our goals” is Jenkins’ message to all beginners looking to take the healthy route.