Let’s give it up for one of our favorite instructors, Tulika Balagopal! Tulika has been with BollyX since August 2014 and currently teaches classes at the University of Texas Health Recreation Center. Check out the Q & A below to learn more about this rockstar instructor!

Q: Tell us about yourself – what do you do for a living, what are you passionate about, and what do you like to do in your free time?

A: I work as an engineer at a medical device company, but my biggest passion is fitness! I teach several different fitness classes each week, and BollyX is one of them.

Q: How would you describe BollyX in one word?

A: FUN!

Q: What is your favorite part of BollyX class?

A: The performance section. I love that it is so “Bollywood,” but at the same time, the moves are easy enough for the students to follow. It’s also a plus that I tend to see some smiles from the students during that section smile emoticon

Q: How has working with BollyX changed you?

A: BollyX has given me a chance to learn more about various styles of Indian dance, and has equipped me with some great new dance moves!

By Anumita Das

This summer, we once again had the honor of attending the world’s largest fitness convention: IDEA World. Our appearance at IDEA in 2014 left us awe-struck and exhilarated and our time there this year was no less of a non-stop thrill. From the minute we set up our booth, the entire convention buzzed with the energy of 12,000 rockstars from all over the world. We can think of no other occasion that has the power to bring together such a diverse and talented cornucopia of fitness enthusiasts. And despite the countless hours of work that went into our week in Los Angeles, once we were there, the lines between “convention for fitness professionals” and “massive, week-long dance party” slowly began to blur. We were met with nothing but support and respect from everyone we met. The interactions between fitness companies were laced not with rivalry, but with a sense of camaraderie and mutual support, because we were all gathered there not only to educate, but to celebrate the power of fitness to change people’s lives and bring people together.

IDEA World 2015 was more than just an opportunity to show off BollyX; it was a reminder of the immeasurable value of community. We always strive to create a supportive family among our network of instructors, and our proud sea of yellow at IDEA was certainly a sign of that. But we did not just find community in fellow BollyX members–we found it when we were rocking out with U-Jam, Rizzmic, Bombay Jam, and Werq at the Reebok dance party, we found it when countless other fitness enthusiasts showed off their rockstar poses at our photobooth, and we found it whenever people eagerly tried the Bollywood workout for the first time. IDEA World served as a valuable reminder that no matter how diverse our interests are, when we take the time and energy to support one another, we all get the opportunity to learn and thrive. Watch our recap video above for a first-hand look into our incredible experience at IDEA World 2015.