Bhavna Harchandrai, Celebrity Fitness Expert and Ex-HOD Group-Exercise at many renowned gyms in Mumbai, and Dr. Mickey Mehta, Global Leading Holistic Health Guru and Corporate Life Coach join forces to bring you ‘Super Fit Sixty’ – a fitness and wellness program for Senior Citizens.
Super Fit Sixty is a 3 month only Monsoon Class beginning on 15 July that will cater to senior citizens becoming stronger, enhancing mental well-being and overall confidence from the security and comfort of their homes.
The Pandemic has led to restricted access to the outdoors, especially for senior citizens. With a lack of Vitamin D (sunlight exposure), an increase in home chores with lack of house staff; backache and knee pain became endemic in the midst of the pandemic.
Bhavna Harchandrai, a Fitness Expert for over two decades saw a gap in the Fitness Industry catering to programs for the elderly. Bhavna has done a course in Melbourne, Australia on chair exercises for the older population and has conducted talks and demos for the members of the IMC-Ladies Wing, Rotary Clubs, and Shaila Welfare Trust.
Dr. Mickey Mehta, the Guru of Wellness who specializes in Ancient Wisdom of Age and Ailment Reversal too felt the need to give back to society, especially to help senior citizens regain their health and vitality (joie de vivre), and has obliged to conducting these sessions on an honorary basis.
As Bhavna Harchandrai explains “Post covid there were countless Online Fitness Programs catering to the general population. Bootcamps, Functional Training for Unisex groups, Zumba, BollyFit, Aerobics for women only, a variety of kids Fitness Programs mushroomed from across the country, yet we saw absolutely nothing for the seniors.”
“You are never too old to workout – is a phrase I believe in,” says Dr. Mickey Mehta who is stepping into his 60s and is as fit as a fiddle.
Women Fitness India Team gets in an interesting chat with Bhavna Harchandrai and Dr. Mickey over their ongoing workshop and fitness for all!
Namita Nayyar:
Bhavna you have been in the fitness industry for two decades, how did you conceptualize Super Fit Sixty and how did you get Dr. Mickey Mehta on board?
Bhavna Harchandrai:
Yes, I have been a Fitness Instructor since 1998 and in these two decades, I have trained individuals and groups in various fitness formats, from old school aerobics, step, boxercise, to new-age fitness forms trampoline fitness, penalty box fitness, and many more. I am also an internationally certified Personal Trainer.
I was lucky to have come across a course on chair exercises for seniors whilst I was on vacation in Melbourne, Australia which leads me to eventually train senior citizens for PT as I could understand their needs better. Additionally, I conducted workshops for the elite members of the IMC ladies wing, Rotary clubs, and Shaila Trust. During the lockdown back issues, knee pain became an epidemic in the midst of the pandemic. Especially for senior citizens who were mainly restricted indoors. The lack of vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) and additional household chores took a toll on the mental and physical health of many.
Simultaneously, I saw many online fitness classes sprout up for the demographic of 20-50 years. Boot Camp Training and Functional Training became the new norm. Zumba and Aerobics exclusively for women and indoor fitness for kids; general fitness mushroomed from all over the country. Yet, we did not see any fitness classes catering to senior citizens.
One evening as Dr. Mickey Mehta and I were walking along Marine Drive, he expressed his desire to give back to society. He felt a deep concern for senior citizens as a neglected age group who need TLC the especially as they step into their golden years.
Fuelled by Mickey’s “Service to Humanity” message I decided to Walk the Talk and conduct fun and safe fitness sessions for 60+, Mickey Mehta did not need much convincing as it was his heart’s desire too and we soon joined forces in this goodwill venture. My ideology is to deliver safe, effective, and fun-filled sessions for seniors so that they not only add years to their life but add life to their years
Agility- Mobility-Longevity is the mantra behind our workouts.
Namita Nayyar:
Dr. Mickey you are the leading global health guru, please define what according to you is more important mental health or physical health
Dr.Mickey Mehta:
Mental and physical health are two opposite polarities. There ought to be perfect harmony in simple terms. If physical fitness isn’t overdone to exhaustion and fatigue then there will be freshness in the mind. Also, daily activity with regulated breath and contoured workouts with acceleration, deceleration, and dimensions using gravity will certainly make your mind alert, strong, tolerant and resilient.
Exercising changes biochemistry because of breath, blood circulation, cardiopulmonary functions, and hormonal stimulation. Exercise re-creates the body, recreates your mind because of a sense of freshness, happiness, and energy. When there is energy generated the mind becomes medicinal, joyful, and happy and circulation improves, wherever there is strength liberated, body well attended to your confidence, conviction and optimism come afore.
Namita Nayyar:
Will the session be accessible for people who are new to this whole workout regime?
Bhavna Harchandrai:
Most definitely. The workouts are specially formulated keeping in mind the fragile and specific needs of this age group. ‘You are never too old to workout’ goes the saying and if you are generally healthy and mobile this class is perfect for you. Each session begins with easy mobility drills, then we dance (oh yes! we move and groove) to popular Bollywood and Western chartbusters. The session then takes on a serious note and the focus is on strengthening and rehab exercises. Delicate knees, back concerns, Osteoporosis, blood pressure, etc are taken into consideration while designing the sessions. After core strengthening (lying down on a mat/bed), we ease out with full-body stretches and deep relaxation.
The Guru of Holistic Health, Dr. Mickey Mehta then guides the ‘youngsters’ with pranayama, a pep talk and answers audience questions with the poetry and finesse that he is known for. Everyone leaves revived, rejuvenated, refreshed, and with a smile on their faces.
Fitness for all. Wellness for all.
Namita Nayyar:
Your mission is to make the world disease free, right now the world is in a huge health crisis, affecting people in every way, your advice to people to keep up during these times
Dr. Mickey Mehta:
I certainly don’t see the crisis as a crisis. I see an opportunity to be creative in a crisis. If there was a lockdown and if there is still a partial lockdown, what one needs to do is make the best of being at home. The things one could do at home are; functional training, yoga, agility drills, spot cardio, cardio in a small elbow room.
One could sit silently, meditate and breathe. Go to the windows and balcony to appreciate nature, sunbathe, breathe for breakfast, take an air bath, and mingle with the elements. One will feel free and happy. Stimulate those elements within you. So my advice to people is that use every crisis as a seat for creativity, as an opportunity for creativity. Use the time for self-development, to reinvent yourself. Find out your genetic coding, what are your set skills and special talents, own them and work on your weaknesses. Most important is to participate and collaborate with your family in the day-to-day function of life and get into a better bonding and most important I would say catch up on your sleep, workouts, and clean food. This will not only reverse your ailments but will also reverse your age.
Creativity Maximized, Get Mickeymized!!!
Namita Nayyar:
How do you introduce the elderly to a holistic approach to fitness?
Bhavna Harchandrai:
The elderly usually bank upon walks and stretching as a means to long-term fitness and good health.
The idea behind this class was to introduce them to the Five Fingers of Fitness.
- Cardio-vascular (in this case, mobility and activity with an eye on coordination)
- Strength Training (light toning using things easily available at home; waterbottles, chair, towel, ball, leggings etc)This is a neglected part of fitness for seniors and we see the loss of bone density, dystrophy (shrinking and wasting of muscle) as well as joint issues as our muscles are the support system/ framework for our joints.
- Flexibility and balance . To improve motor skills and aid in activities of daily living (ADLs) so we stay mobile and independent right through our golden years.
- The importance of eating a well- balanced and nutritious diet . Guided by Dr. Mickey Mehta in his signature style.
- Mental well-being. A be’fit’ting end to each session is a feel-good talk by the Guru of Wellness himself to boost confidence levels so we look forward to life with a spring in our stride.
Namita Nayyar:
You are collaborating with Bhavna Harchandrai, for an amazing session tell us about how did you decide to get on board and what would be the main takeaway for the participants
Dr.Mickey Mehta:
Bhavna has been around for two decades and she is extremely consistent with her passion. Most importantly her seriousness and devotion towards fitness are superlative, and the way she gives in her 100 percent to all our clients and friends I have seen is very rare. Bhavna came up with this idea, and I thought that let’s use this idea literally to support the senior citizen’s cause. Because this cause is of great value, these senior citizens have really served us, they have served the country, not only the country, and they have served the world.
This is the time to give them back, so I said why not? We hit upon the idea very well and since Bhavna was going to design the workouts program, I thought that I would work on the Mind is medicine, nutrition, philosophy, breathe, meditation, and make sure that we complement each other Bhavna and myself. Bhavna literally her workouts inspire me, it’s not just I’m saying, I have seen her work for a long time. She is an extremely straight, simple, and honest person, so I thought it was the best partnership one could have.
At the end of the day, benefits to senior citizens it would really help them and improve their functions mobility, agility, range of movements, strength endurance, stamina, tolerance, resilience and most importantly it would help them to repurpose their lives, because whenever I talk to them, discourses with them, there’s one thing which is primary and fundamental is helping them to repurpose their lives. Repurpose their lives into adding values in the society which I obey. So that would be a great takeaway. Reversal of age and ailments is the best thing that they would take away.
Life Maximized, Get Mickeymized!!!
Do join up in this goodwill endeavor by the dynamic duo Bhavna Harchandrai and Dr. Mickey Mehta to “Be Stronger. Live Longer”
Details –
Super Fit Sixty. Fitness for senior citizens.
Sessions on Zoom
15th July – 15th October (3 months only)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 5 pm
Fees – Rs.2000/- per month
Instagram: @bhavnaharchandrai @mickey_mehta
Website: www.bhavnaharchandrai.com
Medical Disclaimer: You understand that any information and contents of this article and images and the exercises and advice given at the Super Fit Sixty sessions are for a generally healthy and mobile population of 60 years + of age. This advice is not intended nor otherwise implied to be medical advice or a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. You should always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions regarding a medical condition, disorder, treatment plan, or other health-related issues. Dr. Mickey Mehta, Bhavna Harchandrai, and their assignees, contributors expressly disclaim any and all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk personal or otherwise, which may have or has incurred as a direct or indirect consequence of the use of any of the advice, comments, exercises or information contained in this program. In no event shall the above parties be liable for direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages related to the use of the information, exercises of the Super Fit Sixty program.