Mind, body and soul
by Nilma Dole
Losing weight is not all about
just exercise and video aerobics, it is about mental satisfaction and
balancing your equilibrium to an optimum level. “Nowadays people think
about gastric bypass surgery but Mother Nature has created us to adopt a
certain system so we should change it, rather balance it and even it
out” said Channa Dehigahawaththa, one of Sri Lanka’s best aerobics
experts.
 Channa is not just your average physical trainer, he is a Japanese
certified specialist trainer in mind, body and soul, so you know that if
you consult him, he knows what is appropriate for your body frame.
“Everyone is unique and we all have our own metabolism rates but if we
don’t exercise or eat according to our metabolism, then it would be
pointless in just going for an aerobics class” he said.
Excelling in the field of sports, Channa, has trained with many
famous karate senseis including Sensei Keerthi, Sensei Praja Nanayakkara
and Sensei Ono Tadashi, his gurus in martial arts.
In 1999, he graduated as a Grade One instructor in Ki-Science (mind
and body coordination) and physical training and development. He also
garnered a Black Belt in Ki Aikido (Shin-Shintoitsu) and mind and body
training at the Budo Cultural Research and Training Institute. He
acquired qualifications in Phillipine Kali, Tao of Jeet Kune do, and
wing Channg Kung Fu. He also excels in Japanese Archery and managed to
pass with flying colours in all his exams. “Ki is a science where you
have to be in tune with training, sort of like a meditation and yoga.
You have to have mind control and will power when you do anything and
this is the trick that I use in making people lose weight” he said.
Channa has done many corporate trainings where he has coupled the
benefits of exercise with the sheer concentration of will power and
human spirit. “If an employee isn’t satisfied and isn’t motivated to
work, employers won’t have the results they expect” he said. Hence,
Channa said that it is vital to maintain an optimum equilibrium to
handle the stress and pressure of day to day life which will put a smile
on your face. “There are different kinds of aerobics besides the average
video aerobics workouts, like Tae Bo, Latin aerobics and dance aerobics.
I offer mostly Tae Bo and regularly workouts that are rotated in
synchronisation so that a person is healed and relaxed after an
energetic workout session” he said. Channa currently conducts classes at
the Austasia Sports Club at Thalawathogoda, the Premadasa Riding School,
Vision Fitness Centre in Maharagama and Sapway Fitness Centre in
Moratuwa.
As for advice, Channa says, I can give exercises but I give a
customised tailormade package to all of my clients because it’s not just
exercising to lose weight but doing it to understand your body better
and make yourself happier. |
