Kareena Kapoor Khan On the Importance of Yoga, Balance, and Inner Happiness

In an exclusive interview with Cosmopolitan India, actor, yoga enthusiast and PUMA ambassador Kareena Kapoor Khan opens up about her passion for yoga,  how it strengthens her body and calms her mind, and how you, too, can embark on a yogic journey...

THE BEGINNING

"I incorporated yoga in my lifestyle in 2008, when I was preparing for Tashan. And it has endured within me like a passion," says Kareena. "Yoga has been the balancing factor in my life and has helped me achieve equilibrium. I feel, now more than ever, that it is extremely essential to have a balanced diet to strengthen immunity...and calm the mind by embracing yoga in our day-to-day lives."

THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION

"Yoga comes with so many benefits. I love practising strengthening asanas to increase my stamina and Surya Namaskars for their innumerable health benefits. Practising yoga has enabled me to boost my immunity and has definitely kept stress and anxiety at bay.

Yoga certainly has the power to improve the quality of one’s life. It has taught me to listen to my body and has changed my perspective towards things. I believe yoga is the union of the body and mind and adopting yoga has been a life-changing experience.

KAREENA'S TOP TIPS

"It’s never too late to embark on a yogic journey. One of the wonderful things about yoga is that it is extremely inclusive, and all one needs is the zeal to commit. For me, yoga is a wholesome approach to wellness that impacts the mind, body and soul, and there is absolutely no prerequisite to begin yoga. Here are a few simple tips that helped me kickstart my yoga journey...

1. "Many people believe that you have to be flexible to begin this transformational journey, perhaps owing to the complex poses they see in photographs and on social media. But flexibility is not a prerequisite to begin practising yoga. In fact, yoga will help you gain flexibility, strength, and balance. All you need to do is devote time to it daily, and make it a habit." 

2. "The best thing about yoga is that you can practice it almost anywhere, anytime. All you need is a yoga mat, and your living room or the park could become your yoga centre...and the route to inner happiness."

3. "It's important to wear breathable clothes when practising yoga. I always opt for easy-to-wear yoga gear that allows freedom of movement and I feel most comfortable in the Studio Collection line from PUMA."

4."The 'buddy system' has many benefits! You can kickstart your yoga journey with a friend who already practises yoga. This will make the entire process a lot more fun, and you can motivate each other to learn and get better."

5. "Finally, turn off that 'comparison voice' in your head. Keep evolving and learning, and make sure you do not compare your growth with anyone else's."