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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Want to stay fit after 40? These 7 celebrity-approved fitness secrets might be the game-changer you need
Jessica Biel Melissa Fumero Live Events Kristen Bell Kerry Washington America Ferrera Khloé Kardashian Jessica Alba FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel These stars show that turning 40 doesn't mean you have to slow down. These celebrity workouts show that staying fit in your 40s can be empowering, energizing, and even such as Jessica Alba and Khloé Kardashian have been known to live a healthy lifestyle into their forties. They use a variety of fitness techniques, including Pilates and upper-body workouts, to maintain their appearance and fitness. These celebrities are proving that the 40s are the new 20s, and their fitness routines demonstrate their dedication to fitness, as per a report by Eat This, Not it comes to strengthening her abs, 43-year-old Jessica Biel finds Pilates to be the most effective form of exercise. The actress captioned an Instagram video in which she performed a rigorous Pilates Ab Fumero, 42, of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Grosse Pointe Garden Society discussed losing pregnancy weight on Instagram. She likes working with celebrity trainer Don Saladino.'Turns out you can't lose the 61 lbs you gained during pregnancy by just scrolling through instagram and wondering why you don't look like all the bikini models.'Kristen Bell, 44, keeps in shape in many ways. She told Shape that she works out for at least 30 minutes every day, either by running or lifting weights. She could sign up for a CrossFit class. She won't be hard on herself if she doesn't feel like it. As an alternative, she'll give herself ten minutes to meditate or watch a YouTube stretching order to maintain her fitness, Kerry Washington, 48, practices yoga. In an interview with Jay Shetty, the celebrity revealed, "One of the first tools that helped to bring me back to myself was yoga" . At the end of her first yoga class in high school, she revealed that she stood in Savasana and sobbed because she was so in tune with her 41-year-old America Ferrera, exercising entails doing what she can, when she can. She told others in an interview with TODAY to let go of the notion that a class must last an entire hour in order to be helpful. That has been useful to her because she then just show up for the things she can and let that be Kardashian has been in the best shape of her life since turning forty. She has been pursuing new career opportunities, which she calls "shedding," with the goal of closing chapters from her 30s and regaining energy. In her first year of 40, she is trying new things that she believes will make her 40s and beyond incorporates a variety of exercises into her weekly workout routine, including jumping rope, squats, pushups, mountain climbers, shadow boxing, dips, hip thrusts, planks, and back Alba, 44, works with trainer Ramona Braganza to stay fit. Alba prefers upper-body workouts to leg workouts, with a focus on overhead exercises that use resistance to increase bone density. Because of her bad knees, she also does time crunches on a treadmill, which allows her to run on an such as Jessica Biel and Kristen Bell keep things interesting and challenging in classes ranging from Pilates to and physical flexibility is the best celebrity fitness tip after 40. Many celebrities swear that doing what you can, when you can, and mixing it up helps them stay motivated.
Time Business News
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Profitable Gym Franchise Models in 2025
The fitness industry in India is entering a golden phase, and 2025 looks even more promising. With increasing health awareness, urbanization, and digital access to fitness trends, gym franchises are booming. However, not all franchise models are equally profitable. If you're planning to invest in a gym business, it's crucial to evaluate the model that suits your market and goals. 1. Budget Gym Franchise Models These models target tier 2 and tier 3 cities where affordability is key. The investment is relatively low, ranging from ₹20 to ₹35 lakhs, and they offer basic strength and cardio setups. While margins might not be very high, volume compensates, especially with affordable memberships and low monthly maintenance costs. 2. Mid-Range Gym Franchises Ideal for metros and affluent urban neighborhoods, mid-range models require ₹40 to ₹60 lakhs in initial investment. These gyms typically include branded interiors, professional trainers, group classes, and value-added services like BMI scanning and personalized plans. ROI is faster in this category due to higher membership pricing and diversified income from personal training, merchandise, and dietary consultations. 3. Premium or Boutique Fitness Studios Catering to elite clientele, boutique gyms focus on specialized offerings like HIIT, CrossFit, MMA, or yoga fusion. The investment can go up to ₹1 crore, but the per-member value is also much higher. These are profitable when located in premium areas with demand for exclusivity. This model thrives on brand image, Instagram-worthy interiors, and community-driven fitness experiences. 4. Women-Only Gyms This niche model is rapidly growing. Women-focused spaces provide a comfortable and empowering environment for fitness. Startup costs are often moderate—₹25 to ₹40 lakhs—and the operational expenses are lean. Monthly retention rates are usually strong due to loyalty and trust. Including amenities like crèche facilities or female trainers can boost your value proposition in this segment. 5. 24/7 Gyms and Tech-Enabled Models With increasing demand for flexibility, 24/7 gyms are now gaining traction in metros. These models depend heavily on technology—automated check-ins, AI-driven workouts, CCTV access control, etc. While they require a higher initial tech investment (₹50–₹70 lakhs), operational efficiency is high due to limited staff. Appealing to millennials and Gen Z, these models bring in higher long-term profitability through memberships and digital upgrades. Which Franchise Model is Best for You? Your ideal model depends on:– City type and demographic– Your initial capital– Preferred customer base– Facility size and location Always research competitors in your area, assess demand, and talk to existing franchisees before making a decision. A successful gym isn't just about shiny equipment—it's about experience, retention, and customer trust. Why Plus Fitness is a Proven Profitable Model Plus Fitness has earned its reputation by offering scalable models—from compact setups to full-service fitness centers. The brand supports 24/7 models, low royalty structures, training, marketing, and even helps in location scouting. If you want a head start in 2025, Plus Fitness combines brand equity, tech-integration, and business support, making it one of the smartest gym franchise investments in India today. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
I tried swapping the gym for Pilates – and I was impressed with the results
Variety is the spice of life, and this applies to your exercise routine too. As a fitness writer, I like to think I practice what I preach here, but of late I've been training hard for a Hyrox and it's made my exercise plans a bit one-dimensional. So when I had the chance to add a Pilates class into my usual cocktail of lifting weights and running, I was excited to see what it had to offer. By the end of the hour-long session, I was impressed. Despite never lifting anything heavy and moving at a snail's pace throughout, my muscles had been recruited in a way my usual workouts overlooked. As a result, my aching abs and I were eager to have another go. In the months since, I've kept up Pilates classes once per week (albeit via an app) and found my body feels all the better for it – particularly my spine and hips. I've also been able to learn a few things from the practice, and apply these to my regular training to change it for the better. Below, I've attempted to distil my favourite takeaways so you can benefit from them too. The class A typical week for me is pretty active. I train at a CrossFit gym most days, covering strength training, gymnastics, Olympic weightlifting and HIIT-style workouts. Then I'll squeeze in a few runs, whatever other sports I can manage and umpteen dog walks around this. For the most part, the common denominator is intensity. I like things that challenge me and send my heart rate soaring, but tend to struggle to slow down – previous attempts at meditation and yin yoga have proved less than successful, with my first Pilates class also marking a departure from the norm. The 60-minute mat-based class was provided by Reform Wellness studio on the Isle of Man, a short drive away from where Joseph Pilates created the practice of Pilates while being held at an internment camp during the First World War. I'd visited the island on my first wellness retreat keen to find out more about the birthplace of the method currently trending at the top of the fitness charts. The class catered to beginners with a mixture of exercises including variations of crunches, planks, boat pose, roll-ups and more. We worked our way slowly through each one, focussing on posture, control and time under tension. Throughout, the instructor provided clear cues on how to tweak our technique to get the most out of each move. Lesson one: Sweat isn't a sure-fire sign of a good workout As a fitness writer and coach, I've found people tend to conflate sweaty workouts with successful workouts – completing a circuit session that leaves you struggling to climb the stairs is often worn as a badge of honour. But rather than wondering if a workout is good, it's usually more appropriate to ask: 'Good for what?' My brow remained largely dry during this Pilates class, but it was still effective. This is because it wasn't designed to challenge my heart and lungs, but rather targeted improvements in other attributes such as my coordination, balance and mobility, as well as developing strength in smaller muscles around my joints and core. Take the Pilates roll-up for example – the act of moving from lying flat on your back to sitting upright. Unlike the sit-ups I might see in my usual workouts, where you power your torso forward to sit up quickly, I was instead asked to lift one vertebrae at a time away from my yoga mat over the course of a few seconds. Very soon, the abdominal muscles on the front of my stomach (the rectus abdominis) were shaking, and felt far more involved than they do during standard sit-ups. This trend continued throughout the class. By tasking my body to access a range of positions and exhibit control in each one, Pilates helped me develop usable strength which will translate nicely to both sport and everyday life, leading to improved performance and a reduced risk of injury. Lesson two: Move your body in a range of ways The body moves in three planes of motion. These are sagittal (up, down, forwards and backwards), frontal (side-to-side) and transverse (rotational). It also operates on a rough use it or lose it basis. The problem here is that most movements we do, both in and out of the gym, are heavily sagittal-dominant – think squats, press-ups and deadlifts. When we ignore the other two planes of motion, the nervous system sees them as surplus to requirements, allowing the strength of the muscles and other tissues involved to fade away. Then, when we do have to quickly twist to shut a door or grab something from a supermarket shelf, we at best feel tight, and at worst risk injury. My Pilates instructor sprinkled a healthy dose of bending and twisting movements into the class. Smaller supporting muscles which are often overlooked in the gym were given a starring role, and by the end my body felt strong and limber. Of course, it takes more than a one-off session for long-term physical effects to settle in: with any sort of training, consistency is key. But I was so impressed that I've since committed to regular online Pilates classes, and can subjectively say that my hips and spine appear to be reaping the rewards. Lesson three: A good workout doesn't need to be expensive One of the biggest barriers to entry for exercise is money, particularly when the modality is in vogue. This is currently the case with Pilates, and I've seen people report being priced out of (particularly reformer) classes which cost £50 or more. There needs to be a balance; a qualified instructor should value their product, while also considering the cost of expensive equipment such as reformer machines. However, I'm also a big proponent for the democratisation of fitness, and think fun, effective exercise should be accessible for all. The mat-based class I attended is available for £12, which felt reasonable to me. It didn't require me to own any specialist equipment either – the t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms I turned up in served me just fine. However, there are cheaper ways to try Pilates still. A decade ago, as a skint student, I found a guy on YouTube who did free follow-along videos from various fields. Sessions would take anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes, and he would allow me a much-needed breather whenever his dog interrupted an exercise – it was great, it was accessible, it was affordable, and it left my joints feeling enjoyably strong and mobile. But there's one major downside to this. Lesson four: In-person coaching elevates the experience I've actually done forms of Pilates on and off for the last 10 years, but never in a class setting. Instead, it's always been via apps, YouTube and online routines. There are some fantastic (and often free) resources out there, but they all share the same flaw: a lack of individualised feedback. During my first in-person class, the instructor was able to appraise my movements first-hand and suggest subtle technique tweaks which upped their effectiveness. Her physical and verbal cues were catered specifically to me, and if one of these didn't quite land then she would go back to the drawing board and try another one until I was performing a move correctly. Contrastingly, in a follow-along online class, all you can do is copy the instructor's form and try to take their verbal cues on board. If these miss the mark, you'll be left doing the move wrong for the foreseeable future, with no one to intervene or suggest otherwise. For this reason, I would always recommend beginners attend a class if they can. Here, you can be taught the foundational movements and principles of the practice, then apply these to online classes later down the line as a more cost-effective option if needs be. Even for more advanced exercisers, assuming a permanent student mindset is never a bad idea. Seek out top coaches, experience as many activities as you can, learn from each one, then use this knowledge to further your own fitness horizons. Lesson five: Betray your tribe The fitness world can be oddly tribal. This makes sense, given the importance of a sense of belonging and connection in forging an identity, as well as combatting conditions such as loneliness. Runners will only run, belittling the benefits of other aerobic activities, while ardent gym-goers claim there's no other effective way to build muscle. But I can't help feeling this is a somewhat limiting approach. Not only can opening up your exercise routine to new activities challenge you to move in different ways, paving the way for unexpected fitness perks, but it's also incredibly enjoyable. As long as you're steadily progressing the activities you're doing over time, good things are sure to follow. This was certainly something I found during the Pilates class. Swapping my usual Sunday CrossFit workout left me feeling fresh as I moved into the new week, and trying something new was undeniably fun. The verdict Nowadays, thanks in no small part to social media, everything and everyone in the fitness world has a label. This might be the proverbial 'Pilates princess', who spends their day wearing head-to-toe activewear while seeking out the latest wellness trends, or the 'hybrid athlete' with their uniform of running sunglasses, hydration vest and gels stashed in every pocket. I'm all for this – if you've found something you're passionate about, by all means pursue it. But I also want to point out that it's not the only way to exercise – something this Pilates class brought home to me. Did it persuade me to drop my beloved dumbbells, ditch strength training and sign up to seven sessions per week? No. But it did broaden my training horizons, provide an enjoyable alternative form of exercise and teach me lessons I can use in my wider exercise plans. Since the class, I've incorporated Pilates into my weekly routine. The resulting improvements in strength, stability and mobility around my hips and shoulders have improved my performance in other sports I enjoy like padel and Olympic weightlifting, and I find I now look forward to the change of pace once per week. Which leads me on to my two main takeaways. One: The best exercise routine is the one you enjoy, rather than one that fits a certain identity. Fun is the factor that will keep you coming back for more, and doing an activity consistently is the key to getting better at it. And two: Variety is, indeed, the spice of life. A varied exercise routine can not only boost enjoyment and keep you on your toes, but also blend the benefits of multiple activities to deliver some bonus mental and physical perks too.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scots Gladiator star reveals bizarre fan request that left her gobsmacked
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NOW the pugil sticks and the Travelator are packed away following another huge series of Gladiators, star Sabre is back to the day job as fitness instructor Sheli McCoy. The reboot, hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh on BBC One, drew in millions for its second season, so a third series is looking inevitable. 5 Sheli as Sabre from BBC smash Gladiators. 5 Sheli in the day job as co-owner of the Sweat Box gym in Dundee. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD 5 Cheeky Sheli gives the peace sign while Sun man Matt struggles to keep up. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD 5 Sun man Matt is full of smiles after he rings the bell following his first ever pull-up. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD Sheli has not quit her day job, where for the past six years she has been the co-owner of gym Sweatbox Dundee in her home — but the show has a funny way of following her back there. Sheli says: 'I get sent cards and posters that kids have drawn for me, which is really nice. They're just addressed to, 'Sabre, Sweatbox, Dundee'. 'But the most common thing is wives messaging me for signed pictures for their partners, saying things like, 'My husband absolutely loves you'. 'They don't seem to mind and say things like, 'I'm fine he has a crush on you because I actually think you're really nice too'. 'But one wife wanted to create an entire wall of images of me in her husband's office. She even asked if there were life-size cardboard cut-outs of me. 'I was like, 'Woah, this is intense'.' Raised in Fife, Sheli, 36, has a master's degree in health science from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. But 'overweight' for her 5ft 7in frame, she then decided to get fit — really fit. She explains: 'Right now I am 68kilos (10st 10lbs) which is my competitive weight. 'But I was a size 16 and weighed the back end of 80kilos (12st 8lbs). Physically and mentally I feel a totally different person. I was a shadow of who I am now.' Gladiator Sabre's 'steamy' moment with Apollo in locker room Sweatbox is affiliated with CrossFit, which combines gymnastics, weightlifting and varied exercises performed at high intensity to build strength and endurance. It is why Sheli is the only female Gladiator to tackle 'contenders' across every obstacle course, including Duel and Powerball. She says: 'The amazing thing about CrossFit is that it trains every single muscle group. 'It focuses on the ten components of fitness from strength, speed, agility, balance, cardiovascular and muscular, basically to build the perfect human. 'I like to think of it as the Vitruvian man. CrossFit asks you to be good in every direction and with every force. 'So when Gladiators came up and we did our fitness tests, I scored really highly because there were 12 fitness tests, all totally varied, which is just CrossFit. 'On the show I can tell which contenders are CrossFit athletes as they withstand the games far better than the rest. Amanda Wah, who won the women's competition this year, is a CrossFit athlete.' Sabre has become a firm favourite with viewers and even cheekily gave winner Amanda a wink before pummelling her with the pugil sticks. But she says that is Sabre, not Sheli, explaining: 'We were to bring our personality, but turn it way up, and stick some bells and whistles on it. 'So the competitive element of Sabre is actually me. Obstacles like The Edge are so exhilarating. It's high. It's scary. It's rickety and when I get up there, my adrenaline is flowing. SHELI JOINS THE SCOTTISH SUN SHELI McCoy will be writing a new wellness and fitness column exclusively online for The Scottish Sun from this weekend. The gym owner promises to offer tips and suggestions for people of all ages and from all walks of life to help them: 'Live stronger, live longer.' Sheli says: 'I am so glad I have been given this opportunity to write for The Scottish Sun. 'My column is going to be helpful, with useful hints and tips on health, fitness and wellness. 'I'm really looking forward to offering my Health Science education and experience to help you.' 'When I come for you up there you better be ready to fly off The Edge because if I'm going down, you're coming with me.' She adds: 'But ultimately, I feel like my biggest gift is to encourage you to bring your best self for your own good. 'If you beat me, I am so happy for you, because that's not an easy thing to do — it doesn't happen very often.' Back at home, her gym is a far cry from the Gladiators arena. On the day Sheli invited The Scottish Sun along, a young mum was working out beside a pram with her sleeping baby, while a middle-aged bloke in old beach wear was weightlifting. She says: 'You may notice that there are no mirrors in here, which is unusual for a gym. 'That's because we're not here to be looking at ourselves or posing like that old gym culture where everyone thinks their sports kit has to match and they have to look a certain way. 'This is a training space where you should just be able to sweat terribly, probably not looking your best and feel comfortable doing that.' SHELI GIVES MATT A GLADIATOR WORKOUT SHELI may be a fearsome sight for contestants as Sabre, but in her gym she's a totally different person. For starters Sheli says we're not here to compete with each other, because 'You would only lose' - of that I have no doubt. Instead she wants me to leave Sweatbox having achieved something I have never done before. She chooses pull-ups for me, which builds upper body strength in the back, shoulders and arms using nothing but your own bodyweight and a bar. Sheli says: 'The perfect shape for a man is a Dorito - wide shoulders, narrow waist.' I'm more of a Hula Hoop around the middle thanks to hitting my fattening fifties. After an extensive warm-up with rubber bands then some stretches, Sheli shows me how it's done. She powders her hands then uses an overhand grip to lift her lean frame effortlessly until her chin is well above the bar, repeating the process several times. Sheli says: 'My record is 21 in a row.' which is no surprise looking at her bulging forearms and biceps. I attempt to mimic her, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot raise my chin above that bloody bar. 'Just give it more beans,' Sheli says with gentle encouragement. With one last mighty pull, my chin finally clears the bar, with Sheli shouting, 'You've done it - now go ring the bell.' I do as told and everyone in the gym claps. Sure, I won't be competing on Gladiators any time soon, but just as Sheli promised, I did leave having achieved something new. Earlier this year, Sheli proved she had brains as well as brawn, winning a Gladiators special of BBC quiz The Weakest Link, hosted by Romesh Ranganathan. And she is in hot demand for other shows, recently filming an episode of Robson Green's Weekend Escapes, where she went paddleboarding on the River Tay with the Soldier Soldier star. She says: 'I've also had the opportunity to go on The Wheel with Michael McIntyre. 'I'm also doing House Of Games with Richard Osman and Bridge Of Lies with Ross Kemp which comes out soon.' And Sheli is determined to use her new platform for the greater good and to help people get fitter. She says: 'I'm now the patron of Women's Aid in Dundee and I do a lot of work with schools and colleges. 'So while it's great I get to do some really cool TV stuff it has allowed me to be a big sister to help people. 'Our ethos at Sweatbox is 'Live stronger, live longer' and maybe get fitter and lose a little weight in the process, just like I did. 'It was the graft that the overweight Sheli put in which has given me all these amazing opportunities today. 'If I can do it, anyone can.' *For more information on Sheli's gym go to
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Christchurch teenager wins fitness competition Torian Pro
Tahlia Vosaki, 14, will represent New Zealand at the global teenage CrossFit Games. Photo: Tahlia Vosaki A rigourous CrossFit training schedule continues to propel Christchurch teenager Tahlia Vosaki to new levels of success. The 14-year-old won the teen individual female 14-15 division at the Torian Pro 2025 in Brisbane over the weekend, which is considered the top CrossFit competition in Oceania. Vosaki won three of her five events and finished second and third in the other two events to give her a significant 74-point winning margin over her closest competitor. She won the Alfred, made up of three rounds of one kilometre row, 20 chest to bar (pull-ups) and 10 cyclone sandbag squats. In the Clean Complex, made up of one clean, one hang clean and one jerk, Vosaki lifted a total of 230 pounds (104kg) - which was the most by any female or male competitor in her age-group. Vosaki also won the Double Isabel, made up of 150 double unders on the rope, followed by 30 snatches of a barbell, followed by 150 more double unders. She finished second in the Move It or Lose It IV which involved a mix of a calorie ski, dumbbell snatches and burpee box jump overs in a three minute rotation. The Hann, involving a 100ft handstand walk, 100ft walking dumbbell lunge, six legless rope climbs 12ft, 100ft handstand walk, 100ft walking dumbbell lunge, four legless rope climbs 12ft, 100ft handstand walk, 100ft walking dumbbell lunge, three legless rope climbs 12ft, was the event Vosaki finished third in. Vosaki is working towards proving she is the strongest teenager in the world at the global teenage CrossFit Games in the United States in August, where she will compete against the top 30 fittest teenagers in her age group. Tahlia Vosaki. Photo: Supplied / Morgan and Kaden Gibbons Following her success in her first major competition in Brisbane, her coach Justin Cotler reflected on the teenager's work ethic on social media. "In May of last year, I got an email from a 13-year-old named Tahlia Vosaki," Cotler wrote. "She told me it had been her dream since she was eight years old to compete at the CrossFit Games as a teen. "She didn't ask for shortcuts. She asked for coaching and ever since that day, she's shown up with discipline, heart, humility, grit, and desire… every single session." Cotler looks forward to what Vosaki can achieve at the CrossFit Games in the United States. "Tahlia is everything that's right about this sport," he wrote. "Hard-working. Coachable. Grounded. No drama. "She's earned every bit of this moment-and it's just the beginning." Vosaki told RNZ last month she trains five days a week, up to four-and-half hours a day around homeschooling. "On my training days I train once in the morning, which would be about one-and-a-half to two hours, then I go home and do my schoolwork, and then in the afternoon I would go back to the gym and have a two to two-and-a-half-hour session," she told RNZ's Afternoons. She said she got into CrossFit through her parents. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
