Mohan sisters Neeti, Shakti and Mukti discuss the secrets to their svelte frames, and how their distinct careers led them on different fitness journeys
Neeti, Mukti and Shakti Mohan
At 41, 36 and 32, the Mohan sisters —Neeti, Shakti and Mukti — could be model figures of athleticism. Although they eventually ventured into different fields, they were bound by their love for dance, early on. They count themselves among the first to volunteer for extra-curricular dance and performing arts activities in their school, and trace their athleticism to this tendency. While they were exposed to the “concept of fitness as an entity" only when they took to their professional endeavours, the desire to “look appealing" for their performances kept them in shipshape.
Choreographer Shakti Mohan says growing up in a boarding school implied that they were always on their toes . “We participated in basket ball, throw ball, and school competitions. Our school played an instrumental role in keeping us on our feet and exposing us to new activities, be it music, dance or sport."
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While Neeti Mohan eventually established herself as a promising singer, she understood the importance of fitness when she came to Mumbai to try her hand at professional dancing. “I was training at [a dance school], which taught me the importance of building stamina, and how one could be pleasant to the eye with the [right] body language. During that period, I learnt a lot about how the body works," says the singer, who, as part of the National Cadet Corps, also participated in several camps, and took part in the three-and-a-half kilometre march at the Republic Day parade. “I am not adventurous, but, I am active. And whenever the three of us gather, you'll always see us indulging in some form of physical activity."
Having been exposed to both Indian and western forms of fitness activities, actor Mukti Mohan finds comfort in the disciplines rooted in India. “Our pattern of learning is different from westernised methods. For instance, ballet principles talk of postural alignments — things like tucking the stomach and holding the core. But Indian forms helped me understand how that is to be done. While training to be an actor, and having been subsequently exposed to forms like kalaripayattu and chhau, I often found myself thinking that I could derive more from my ballet class if I had the knowledge that I got from these sessions."
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As powerful as their collaborative dance pieces, Shakti and Mukti's partner workouts are a thing to aspire to. The latter admits that with her frame resembling that of her older sister, she finds in her an image of what she could be if she “pushed harder". “She is someone who can show me what I can become. She shows me how I can bridge the gap between who I am and my ideal self. Having a friend or sibling back you during a workout can be helpful because, unlike a trainer, they know how to reach out to you based on your [temperament]."
While their svelte frame may suggest that the family paid heed to healthy eating from the onset, the trio admits that tweaking the family's habit has been a work in progress. It was they who egged their parents to adopt better eating habits, and new mother Neeti says she's “proud of the fact that smarter food choices are part of both my households today". Even while Mukti teases that Shakti “only sniffs food", the dancer says watching what she eats is tougher in her line of work, where her colleagues are not necessarily mindful of their choices. “If you are around people who eat healthy, their choices influence you too. But if you are the only one eating a salad while others binge on pizzas, or pick vegetarian meals because you are sensitive towards animals, while others consume non-vegetarian meals, it's tougher to manage."
Simple tricks, however, have seen them through. Neeti loves to eat her meals at home before turning up for a wedding dinner, only choosing to indulge in desserts at the venue. Mukti follows suit. Neeti commences her day with a workout, regardless of where she is. “Consistency really matters," she says. As for her food, she advocates consuming local fruits. Shakti does a 45-minute warm-up ahead of every dance performance. “Also, mental health is really important. Whatever we eat, or however we train, we must enjoy it so that our body can receive it with love."
Exercises that Neeti recommends for singers
For live shows, your stamina matters. Your breath is your biggest power and must be in your control, especially if you are a musician, and a singer. We need to cover distance on stage, right from one end to the other. Often, we need to do this in heels, and in the midst of a performance. To pull this off, you need to be fit. So, working on the breath is vital. I practice yoga, and would do so for 90 minutes during the pandemic. Pranayam has helped me. I also recommend taking to cardiovascular work. I walk a lot.
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Exercises Mukti recommends for actors
The forms that I was exposed to during my acting training, like kalaripayattu and chhau, helped me find my voice. We were taught our ancient art forms that train you to exhaust the body and use the lungs. Until then, I had a tendency to modulate my voice. But after learning about the breath work, I was taught to find my own voice. Chhau teaches you a lot about the different gaits of animals, and opens the body out. That is essential for an actor. It helps you stay on the edge, and be agile and ready at all times. I would recommend that actors take to any form of martial arts. Also, I find running powerful. It increases your endurance capacity manifold.
Exercises Shakti suggests for dancers
CrossFit is something that I really enjoy. I emphasise on the importance of body conditioning. When you learn to do squats and lift in the gym, you realise how your jumps and plies [dance movement] improve. This has helped me strengthen my body, overall, and I think my performance has improved. Even if I don't dance every day, when I return to the studio, I can notice that my body is still active and strong, and I have better lung capacity.
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