Getting to know your body

‘Lose 12 pounds in 12 weeks and take home Rs. 100,000’, the sign at ‘Body by Kris’ reads. If that isn’t motivating enough there are ample pictures and phrases posted all over the gym, a list of 120 reasons why exercise can enrich quality of life among them - urging people to get fit.

It is evident that motivation remains the key ingredient in Kris’s approach to get in shape. Among the 25 individuals who took part in the fitness challenge, six won, losing an average of 19 pounds each. Wasn’t it a loss to the gym? “I consider it a gain because people lost weight, felt good about it and most of all, it shows that our trainers and the concept of the gym works,” Kris Krishnaraja says.

Kris personally counsels every member, explaining how small changes in their lifestyles can help them achieve their fitness goals. The idea is to tell people that exercising three times a week and following a healthy eating plan will enable the kind of weight loss that can be retained.

“Every member is a challenge to me,” he smiles. Consequently, a training schedule is tailor-made for each member targeted to take him/her where they want to go. Moreover, on the premise that every individual is different with different energy levels, he personally demonstrates routines, provides tips, healthy diet counselling and supervises their regime, ensuring they do it right. “Everyone joins a gym to get into shape. But I want to ensure that they get much more.”

Sri Lankan-born Kris who grew up in Canada has been passionate about working out ever since he turned 18 and was able to enrol in a gym in Toronto. While at college, he simultaneously worked for his trainer’s certificate, wanting to make it his career. Thereafter, Kris was featured in multi-cultural TV shows in Toronto and in India on health and fitness programmes.

Coming home to Colombo in 2002, he was looking for places to work out but found that only 5 star hotels had such facilities. “The price and the product did not match,” he says recalling his disappointment. That’s when the idea of world class gym took shape. “I wanted to do it for my hometown.”

On his return to Canada, he set about making arrangements - buying state of the art equipment, creating the design. “Body by Kris’ opened in January 2005. “What we offer is a choice of exercises, equipment for cardio and weight training – that clients are comfortable doing, with lots of variation – that they do not get bored, all of which can be done in an atmosphere created just for exercise. By joining a gym one has already won the war on being healthy, Kris believes. However, it appears that well-being is not the only issue here. “We help clients achieve far superior goals - whether to lose weight, gain muscle or customise body (sculpt, tone and shape) according to individual requirements.” All this is done keeping within the necessary safety zone. “We want clients to understand their limitations and not get injured.”

Most popular is the Ladies Express Workout, a concept that was designed by the US firm, Curves. Targeting the modern, busy woman, the 30 minute workout strengthens the heart and skeletal muscles with a combination of aerobic and toning exercises. The Boot Camp on the other hand is a high impact training programme conducted by an American Marine. The military style workout for both men and women allows no excuses. Kris himself takes the Resist-A-Ball sessions that concentrates on the abs and lower back while strengthening and toning the entire body.

Today the gym has 400 members each of whom, according to Kris is a success story. “They are here and exercising and that is going to make a difference.” Modest about his achievement, he says, “We are still growing.” And to be making a living of something he enjoys he finds remarkable. “I never dreamt this would come true.”