HYDERABAD: Physique Elite, as the name suggests, is an elite network of personal master trainers from all over the world. And Kumar Mannava from Hyderabad is the first trainer to proudly carry the Indian placard in the group.
Launched by celebrity trainers Kris Gethin, creator of the revolutionary fitness regimen Dramatic Transformation Principle (DTP), Neil Hill, creator of Y3T and Nick Orton, owner of the BodyPower Expo, the group helps raise the skill set of personal trainers all over the world.
Training for over 20 years, Mannava defines fitness as a ritual which has to be done with complete dedication. “Six pack abs is not the ultimate criteria for being fit and healthy. One can be healthy despite being little curvy or without six pack abs as long as they are able to do their daily chores with ease and still have energy for more. Nobody is perfect, it’s important to love what God gave us. It’s in our hands how we further enhance God’s gift. And this begins with loving ourselves. A good trainer’s job is to instil confidence into a client regarding their physical appearance,” says Mannava, who participated in BodyPower, India’s brand new fitness exhibition, in Mumbai in March this year.
Physique Elite has over 2,000 elite trainers globally and they aims to provide personal training and also train trainers to become transformation experts. And that’s what they’re doing in India too, where Kumar is the first master trainer they’ve trained. “The objective is to improve people’s overall fitness and lifestyle. We’re doing this by using our skills as transformation experts with high-profile individuals who influence everyday people,” says Mannava.
By qualification he is a Software Test Engineer. He trains the elite business people of Hyderabad and film stars from Tollywood including Mahesh Babu. The Telugu superstar says, “Mannava is at par with international trainers.”
“I never cease to learn. I happened to attend Physique Elite’s first seminar held in India and Kris Gethin and team discovered my potential there and the rest is history,” says Mannava.
Physique Elite’s training programme is about improving fitness and endurance. The 12-weeks programme is a lifestyle-changer. “During my training, I conceive an additional four-six weeks programme at my end in order to meet the target,” says Mannava, who is also an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified Personal Trainer and has trained in Los Angeles.
So what motivated this man to become one of India’s top personal trainers? “My dad was the reason I got into fitness. As a 14-year-old I started exercising with his bullwark that helped increase my biceps. There has been no looking back since then,” says the 35-year-old trainer. So, are there really exercises that are the most effective for someone as busy as a celebrity?
Mannava says there are. “I highly recommend DTP training. I love doing it because it tests the strength of my character. Would do it and make myself stronger, both physically and mentally. It can be done under 30 minutes. It’s intense on the musculoskeletal as well as the cardiovascular system,” he informs.
When asked what his favourite exercise is and how it can benefit everyone, he shares, “The best bet is to weight train three-four days and do cardio two-three days in a week. This way you get both the benefits even if you only have time to do one exercise a day.”
Talking about the recently concluded two-day Bodypower India Expo, Mannava says, “It’s a great platform to address escalating obesity crisis in the country by bringing together fitness industry experts, latest work out regimes and new fitness forms.”