Of monks, matcha, and mindfulness: Hurssh Verma blends ancient Shaolin philosophy with modern wellness

Tailored for every age group, Core Clubb conducts classes which range from breathwork and meditation to archery, tai chi, and martial arts

Wellness centres are currently in, and everyone is looking for one that caters to their overall well-being. As a recently-launched boutique wellness centre in Juhu, Core Clubb aims to cultivate wellness by blending the roots of ancient philosophy with modern living practices. Founded by Hurssh Verma, India's first Shaolin warrior monk to be adopted by the Shaolin temple in China, the wellness centre fosters fitness through an elevated lifestyle.

Hurssh Verma (right) says, ‘We are not just building fitness, we are building awareness of the being.'

Verma pursued his education by completing his masters in ancient Buddhist philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, archery, Qi Gong and different meditation techniques. Moreover, he is also a certified mental health counsellor. "I aim to restore the Indian culture that has been lost," Verma shares. "The culture of such wellness stems from India - unfolding naturally from Bodhidharma, Kalaripayattu, Ayurveda, Buddhism and yoga pranayama." The principles that set Core Clubb apart is the way that it goes beyond conventional ones - it guides you for all the 24 hours of your day. Core Clubb takes an exceptionally holistic approach - the classes range from breathwork and meditation to archery, tai chi, and martial arts. These courses are personally designed by Verma and taught by his well-trained team of instructors. The most intriguing bit about these courses is that they are tailored differently for every age group - the centre encourages participation from kids as young as four years of age, and adults as old as 80. The philosophy behind every class, he explains, is to "help people cultivate and become better versions of their mind and body to awaken their inner spirit".

Core Clubb aims to not just train you for the one-hour session that you attend, but guide you for the other 23 hours of your day too

The values of Core Clubb also lie in sustainability. "During breathwork, you cannot be inhaling carbon dioxide in an air-conditioned room," Verma laughs. "One needs to be in a space with fresh air and sunlight." Thus, the place is in the premises of a Shaolin temple. With a pickleball court, meditation yard, and a myriad of community-building events that promote fitness - both physically and mentally, Core Clubb is redefining the sphere of wellness spaces. "We are not just building fitness," Verma emphasises, "we are building awareness of body, breath and being."

Hurssh Verma