Lifestyle

How does Karan Oberoi stay in shape? | Fitness Interview

Published

5 years ago

April 27, 2020

Amid this lockdown wellness and fitness is taking a whole new meaning while we all are forced to stay back our home and still remain fit. The pandemic that has led to a lockdown in many parts of the country has hit the fitness centers both big or small and it’s quite evident that gyms are not going to open soon. What does that mean? Yes, we all need to learn and understand different ways to stay in shape while being at home. All those people who were quite regular at the gym are facing the biggest concern of finding the equipment at home leading them frustrated for not being able to meet their fitness goals. Amid all this we had a word with ‘India’s top male model’; Karan Oberoi ‘KO’ on how to keep ourselves fit and achieve our fitness goals. Karan Oberoi ‘KO’ is both a fashion and a fitness model has also graced the cover of leading fitness magazines in India such as Men’s Health.

Michelle Langton – What fitness regime do you follow?

Karan Oberoi ‘KO’ – I keep changing my fitness routine be that diet or workout so that my body doesn’t get used to it and also so that the routine does not become monotonous.

Before the lockdown happened, this is what I followed: For three days in a week, I would go to the gym and do weight training, cardio and stretching. For the other three days, I would go for a run in the morning along with some body weight training and abs workout. I keep one day for rest.

Michelle – What’s the longest duration you have remained without exercising? Has this lockdown affected the routine?

KO – I can’t cut off myself from exercising or running. In last one decade I have never missed my work out for even a single day because I believe, even if you are super busy it’s all about keeping the workout short yet intense therefore taking out time every day. Because working out is a priority as other things in life are like sleeping and eating food. I was in Delhi when this lockdown occurred. I didn’t have single dumbbell back at my place to help me with workout. Every day since the lockdown I work out for 45 mins doing intense training that includes push ups for different muscle groups, stand ups, on spot jumps and short sprints at my home terrace.

Michelle – Do you believe in following diets?

KO – Yes, in fact it’s all in your diet. 70 percent depends what you eat that contributes in how you look. Looking fit doesn’t restrict to having muscles. When we talk about diet, it’s about eating food that are high in nutrition value. Discarding junk, eating wholesome food, green vegetables and citrus fruits in your diet. I think during this lockdown eating vegetables and avoiding junk has been easy for everyone as junk isn’t easily available.

Karan oberoi (KO) Indian model

Michelle – What is Model Karan Oberoi’s fitness mantra?

KO – Fitness is a lifestyle for me that revolves around eating right and being consistent with my workout routine. Eat right! Workout Right! And sleep right!!!

Michelle – Any fitness advice you have for aspiring fitness models or anyone who wants to have body like a male model?

KO – To have a body like a male model, it requires patience. Don’t go for short cuts. Slowly and gradually you will see the changes in your body and enjoy the journey. Keep a track of your workout, analyse what is working for your body and what is not. The trick lies in keep changing the workout routine as well as your diet. Eating right, working out everyday and sleeping for at least 8 hours can help you fetch best results. It is also imperative to stay away from all sort of addictions as they not only hamper the stamina but also takes away the charm.

Michelle – What is your daily diet routine?

KO – My daily diet includes high nutrition value foods, green leafy veggies and citrus fruits. But yes, while I am shooting this is following diet routine that helps me to look lean and muscular

Breakfast: His breakfast includes 6-7 white eggs, 4 slices of brown bread toast or porridge, some fruits such as apple and banana and one scoop of protein shake.

Lunch: spinach or boiled vegetables and one cup brown rice or quinoa and one piece of chicken breast.

Evening: Glass of orange juice with 6 eggs white or Protein Bar (when egg whites not available)

Dinner: Two slices of steamed fish and green raw salad. His dinner includes soup, salads, and veggies quite often.

Takes one scoop protein shake before sleeping.

Michelle – How do you stay motivated?

KO – The current times have been depressing for everyone, but being focussed is the key. I take it as a challenge and give myself daily/weekly goals, achieving these on regular basis feels like an achievement and hence motivates me to keep working out and eating right. Since I am at home, my mom keeps luring me with her new recipes, she tries to keep it healthy for me to stay fit but sometimes she goes overboard with her love resulting, me giving extra workout goals to self the next day.

Michelle – How are you spending your days during this lockdown period?

KO – I usually spend my day sleeping and working out. First half usually passes by helping the family do the chores, sanitising the house, groceries. In the free time, I listen to motivation videos on YouTube, listen to music, binge watch on Netflix. Some days the time flies and some days it stands still.

Lifestyle

The Future of Social Dancing: How Latin Dance is Adapting to a New Generation

Published

6 days ago

August 21, 2025

Michelle Langton

Latin dance thrives on connection. The music, the partner, and the crowd all feed one another.

Today, that connection is shaped by a younger, digitally fluent generation, and few understand the shift better than Damian Guzman, founder of Bachata Sensual America (BSA). From prize-winning festivals to late-night socials, Guzman and BSA show how the scene is evolving without losing its roots.

Streaming steps, viral beats

A decade ago, beginners to Latin dance hunted for grainy DVD tutorials; now they unlock entire combinations on their phones. TikTok loops, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels have compressed learning into snack-sized bursts.

Many of the artists signed on with Bachata Sensual America meet dancers where they scroll, posting slow-motion breakdowns and “follow-along” drills that rack up thousands of views. This approach addresses two key Gen Z demands: instant access and a clear path from screen to floor.

By allowing newcomers to practice at home before facing a packed room, the online channel lowers the fear barrier while seeding a desire for in-person connection.

Festivals as entry points, not finish lines

Digital discovery is only the first act. For many people, their real baptism happens at multi-day events where practice hours blur into sunrise socials.

BSA’s flagship Houston Bachata Sensual Festival returned on May 2^nd, 2025, with a follow-up week slated for Bachata Sensual Festival Chicago, September 4^th-9^th, 2025. Both weekends pair technique labs with mental-wellness talks and DJs specializing in bachata, mirroring the playlists in dancers’ earbuds.

That balance of skills and community is why independent reviewers named BSA one of the “Top Latin Dance Festivals in the United States” for 2025. Yet, for Damian, awards matter less than the message: a festival can feel world-class without pricing out college students. He keeps passes tiered, encourages volunteer shifts that offset costs, and prepares bootcamps for absolute beginners, ensuring the dance floor reflects the same diversity he sees online.

Teaching culture, not just choreography

Bachata’s recent boom owes much to its European reinvention. Damian experienced that surge firsthand while earning one of the first U.S. instructor certifications in the Bachata Sensual style. He returned determined to give American dancers the same blend of precision and musicality he had experienced abroad.

BSA classes devote equal time to connection cues, body mechanics, and the genre’s Dominican roots. That trifecta resonates with younger students who want authenticity, not just a viral dip.

“In class I tell people, ‘Technique is how you respect your partner; musicality is how you respect the song,’” Guzman said during a recent podcast. The line distills his mission: elevate standards while keeping the dance welcoming.

Building inclusive, mindful spaces

Generation Z brings new expectations around consent, identity, and mental health. BSA’s code of conduct spells out everything from appropriate touch to gender-neutral role selection. Security staff mediate conflicts quickly, and workshop leaders open sessions with grounding exercises to calm nerves. These actions might sound small, yet they remove friction that once pushed many newcomers away.

Damian argues that such policies go beyond ethics; they future-proof the scene. Normalizing role fluidity in Latin dance widens its talent pool and invites richer musical interpretations. By acknowledging anxiety and overstimulation — common concerns for digital natives — events can retain dancers who might otherwise retreat after their first crowded social.

Latin dance has never stood still, and its next evolution is already spinning under disco lights from Houston to Helsinki. With a phone in every pocket and a festival on every calendar, the gap between discovery and mastery keeps shrinking.

Damian Guzman and Bachata Sensual America illustrate what happens when tradition listens, adapts, and leads with purpose. The result is a scene ready for whatever beat the next generation drops — and a future where social dancing feels more connected, inclusive, and alive than ever.