Exclusive! Alaya F: Don’t underestimate your body, it’s capable of amazing things – Times of India

‘I was not aiming to find peace when I started doing yoga’
Talking about how yoga has helped her beyond physical fitness, the Freddy actress says, “Practising yoga has opened up my body. Now, if I don’t practise yoga for a while, my body starts feeling tight, and I don’t feel like myself. When I started doing yoga, I just wanted to get fit… I didn’t really have any other goals in mind. In fact, I told my yoga instructor that I’m not interested in finding mental peace, I just want to get ripped. But the beauty of yoga is that by default, you end up finding a sense of calm and peace.”

‘You can start doing yoga at any stage’
Encouraging people to pursue yoga and believe in self-care, she says, “Don’t ever doubt your body! You can start doing yoga at any stage, and the essential practice of it remains the same. It’s never too early or too late to start. Don’t underestimate your body, as it’s capable of amazing things. You just need to believe in it and not be scared. For me, self-care goes beyond just fitness. Self-care involves your mental health and the way you talk to your own body and mind.”

‘Dance is also a great form of workout’
Today, most actors practice various fitness forms, including dancing, and Alaya, too, has developed a liking for it. She shares, “For a long time, I was a bad dancer, so when I wanted to learn how to dance properly, I started doing it for seven hours a day. There was no other way for me to learn. It became a great form of workout for me, and it’s super fun!”

Alaya’s daily diet essentials
· Avocado in various forms like a salad, guacamole, or just plain
· Smoothie with nuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, berries and whatever superfoods, antioxidants or protein powders
· Celery juice
· Variety of fresh fruit
· Lots of water

Alaya’s fitness mantra
· Do whatever feels natural and take one step at a time
· You don’t need to work out for more than an hour every day. Take out only 10 minutes in the day, but make that effort to show up
· If your body wants to work out or be more active, it will give you signs. If your body wants to eat better, it will tell you