Right, Lift, Right

An investment banker turned trainer, Narinder Bhasin aka Nandy has a unique vision when it comes to training. He believes in debunking every myth that shrouds the fitness industry, be it regarding vegetarians building body or the role of supplements. Having trained people for over a decade—models, actors, hoteliers—Nandy feels it’s time the spotlight is on Indian trainers and body builders.

How did you get into the business of fitness?

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It was sheer chance and also some cajoling from my father. I was an investment banker and was working in Dubai for Royal Bank of Scotland for seven years. But fitness was always a passion. I never really left working out even if my work schedule was pretty hectic. I decided to come back to India to take care of my parents. Once back, I was looking fo a good opportunity to come by. Once my father remarked that he always sees me with a gun bag or a protein shaker. He suggested that I should try getting into a field where my passion lies. I joined Gold’s Gym in East of Kailash as a sales manager. Working there for eight months, I could see the other side of the fitness business. I was always fascinated by how supplements work for body. After calling it quits at Gold’s Gym, I got into supplement retail. There was no looking back after that.

Being in retail business, how did you steered towards training?

It was funny how I would always end up suggesting and guiding my customers, not just about supplements but also about the right way to balance food and supplements, training techniques that would work for them. Since I have been training from the age of 18, I had a fair knowledge of the dos and don’ts. But, when the customers kept coming back not just for supplements but also for my advice, often recommending their friends and family, I started giving training a serious thought.

What do you think clicked with all these people about your counselling style?

I think my holistic approach. People who are into fitness and body building love to give random suggestions that may cause harm. I never suggested anything without discussing their complete medical history, their dietary preferences, their work-life balance, even allergies. I still do that with the people I train, a bit more meticulous and exhaustive now.

Do you get weird requests from those training under you?

A lot (laughs)! Once a young guy came to me asking if he can achieve a body like Hrithik Roshan. I did not discourage him but understanding his background and fitness level, I gave him the real picture. Everyone needs to understand that film stars have different lifestyle. A lot is at stake for them and this is why they spend a bomb on getting a dream-like physique. Actors train very hard for years. Hrithik Roshan has been training since 2003. He is extremely disciplined and focused.

Don’t you think it’s not a great business strategy?

I know. Trainers promise unattainable things to their clients that backfires later. I like to keep it transparent. It might not be a great business strategy, l as you said, but I will not give someone false hope. I do start out by setting goals but not an unrealistic one. It works out at the end.

How do you begin training someone generally?

It all starts from setting a goal and then upping the fitness level. Once the fitness level is up to the mark, then the gaining muscles becomes the next step. I also educate them about the limitations and strengths of their bodies. What works for me in terms of training and technique won’t work for you. I customise the training process for each one along with making a dietary chart that they can follow.

What are the myths about supplements that you would like to debunk?

The biggest myth perhaps is that all supplements are the same. The truth is that different supplements work differently for different people. Another myth is that more supplement you take, the better muscle you can gain. This is not only untrue but also can cause havoc with your system. If you keep taking multiple heap of supplements, chances of having an upset stomach and other problems. The truth about supplement is hidden in its name. It’s a support to your diet, supplementary to it. It cannot be the main diet. Let’s take a simple example. As kids, we had main course book and some supplementary books. They both have their own functions and cannot take each other’s spot. Parents actually thought supplementary books to be bad. Similarly, a lot of people also think supplements are not good for your body. Even if someone is trying to gain beef up, 70 per cent of their protein must come from diet. Rest could be supplemented. Only excess of it is bad.

We have often heard people say that it is a lot of difficult for vegetarians to gain muscle. Is it true?

It is nothing like that. There are vegetables with high protein content like broccoli and asparagus. Diary products like cottage cheese (paneer) and tofu are also good sources. There are a lot of vegetarian body builders that I know of. The trick is to have more casein, a kind of protein which is absorbed slowly, increasing but not spiking amino acid levels in blood. Yoghurt and Greek yoghurt are good source of protein too. John Abraham is a flexitarian, who does not take meat, although he takes eggs and fish. One has to create the right balance.

How do you plan to create that balance?

By taking the plunge myself! There are a lot of personal blogs, YouTube channels and websites by trainers. I want to start an online platform that will integrate the trainer community of India. These trainers will be then put in touch directly with those who want to be trained. Apart from this, it is will work as an informative platform that will not only educate people, but also help them make right choices about exercise, equipments, diet and supplement. It will be customised for different body types, age groups and fitness goals. Also, people are choosing international trainers over Indian ones. I have nothing against international trainers but I think it’s high time that we promote the talent we have in India. More often than not, people are fleeced off lakhs of rupees to train. There is an imbalance in terms of revenue flow too. I want to create a balanced ratio there too. If better training and better results can be achieved at an affordable cost, why not promote that?

So, what else is keeping you busy days?

As of now, I am working on the online platform that I plan to launch it by the end of this year. A lot of research and legwork is going into this. Apart from this, I am working on launching a fitness apparel brand with someone who has the right expertise. The range will be affordable, comfortable and functional. I will begin with an online store and move to retail.

From the March 2019 issue of FHM India.