Sets Appeal

In a city like Mumbai, running on the roads or the beach is not always possible. It’s also not exactly refreshing early in the morning, so a treadmill more than compensates.

Koena Mitra
dumb-bells

I LIKE to work my upper body—I find leg workouts too tiring, and I hate cardio because I don’t like to run. Dumb-bells are my most-loved pieces of gym equipment. When you use them, there’s no scope for cheating. With machines, you workout both arms at once, so you can unconsciously push more with one arm than the other. Most trainers also recommend free weights, not machines.

Kim Sharma
squat rod

SQUATS are my favourite exercise, so the squat rod would have to be my most-used piece of equipment. Squats are great for shaping the glutes, hips and legs and it’s one of the exercises that promotes maximum weight loss. The squat rod is nothing more than a long pole with weights on either side—kind of like a bar bell. You put it on your shoulders while squatting and lift yourself up.

Ashmit Patel
leg press machine

I HAVE strong legs and I love working on them. This machine helps develop the legs and burn calories. And what makes it even more fun is the surprise on people’s faces when they see me lift 1,000 or 1,200 pounds, because my legs are deceptively thin. I work on the leg press once a week, because according to my regime, every body part gets a weekly workout.

Upen Patel
dumb-bells

I DON’T use machines in the gym. I prefer free weights and dumb-bells have got to be my favourite. There’s so much freedom with them—you can workout everything from your shoulders, chest and back to your biceps and triceps. Also, seven to eight different movements are possible, which a machine can’t really give you. I use weights ranging from 30 to 90 pounds.

Rahul Dev
pull-up bar

THIS one works out your whole upper body, including your arms, shoulders and back, while using your own body weight. I love doing pull-ups and do 120 every day.

If used correctly, the pull-up bar can keep everyone guessing whether you workout with weights or machines. This machine is so simple—it’s just a rod, but one can even use a ledge or a piece of equipment in a children’s playground.

Aftab Shivdasani
free weights

THE most versatile of all workout equipment is free weights. Not only do they occupy very little space, but you can also workout almost every part of the body with them. I use them very often, but I prefer to do more repetitions of light weights as opposed to heavy weights. I’m going to convert one of my rooms into an exercise spot with free weights.