Avi's fitness routine

Ashish Sharma: When I am really stressed, I love a great massage, followed by a long, leisurely nap

Actor Ashish Sharma talks about his fitness routine and idea of spirituality

As told to Purnima Goswami Sharma

Posted On Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Body
Fitness - "Fitness for me is looking and feeling healthy. I am quite disciplined when it comes to exercising but I vary my workouts. That way it does seem repetitive and my body responds effectively. I balance my gym workouts with outdoor activities like swimming, trekking, cycling, jogging and horse riding.

On weekdays, I go for a nice, long jog early in the morning before the gym. The first three days of the week I reserve for the gym while the rest of the days are solely meant for outdoor activities.

Diet - I think a balanced and nutritious diet is far better for the body than just avoiding certain kinds of food completely. I have adopted a diet which has a ratio of 40 per cent of proteins and carbohydrates each and 20 per cent of other nutrients.

I begin my day with a glass of warm water, followed by breakfast which is a glass of protein shake, a bowl of oatmeal with honey and some freshly cut fruits. In between I keep eating every two to three hours. It could be anything from fruits like papaya and apples to vegetable sandwiches or a fresh fruit juice.

For lunch, I usually have a portion of boiled chicken breast, chapattis, mixed vegetables and dal. I am fond of ghee, which is used liberally in my meals. And if I may add, it has never added to my weight. At times I don't mind eating chocolates, especially dark chocolate. My dinner comprises of salads. It could be either an egg, fish or chicken salad. Before going to bed, I have a glass of warm milk.

Mind
Stress cannot be completely avoided, especially if you are in showbiz, which involves hectic travelling and working at odd hours. This can leave you mentally and physically drained. Hence, when I am really stressed and tired I love a great massage, followed by a long, leisurely nap and then a great movie.

I also love to indulge in hobbies like sketching. By the time I am through with it, I am so completely relaxed that it's incredible. I also love to travel to places which are in the lap of nature, with lush greenery, wild life and waterfalls. And if that's not possible, a long walk on the beach also works does wonders.

Spirit
Spirituality to me means all the qualities that make you a great human being – humility, kindness, generosity, and love for everything and everyone around you. It also means the power of creativity. I am not a strict follower of rituals myself. For me, losing myself while listening to some great music is also a form of communion with the universal power.

My mother's inner strength has been an inspiration for me, especially whenever I feel low. I believe in doing the best in a given situation, learn from it and move ahead from there. I believe in living a good life wherein I hone my skills, make my passion my profession and be a good human being."