This week’s Instructor of the Week is none other than Manisha Anantharaman! She is currently a PhD Student in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management – one smart cookie! Check out this short interview, where she shares her love for BollyX, and shows us a glimpse of her inner Bollywood rockstar.

Q:Which Bollywood song best describes your personality?
A: Chammak Challo- the song has an amazing energy, and Akon knocks it out of the park. Plus, being South Indian, I love the Tamil touches.

Q:How does it feel to teach BollyX within a University setting?
A: You really have to bring it! I’m teaching to students who have high expectations both from the workout and from the choreography. That is really energizing and makes me excited for every class

Q: Why did you decide to teach BollyX?
A: Its the perfect balance to my day-job as PhD candidate and Graduate Instructor. I love teaching, I love dancing- BollyX is a great way to bring it together.

Happy Tuesday! This week we’re featuring Fen Tung as our instructor of the week! Fen currently teaches the wildly popular Monday night classes at the Dance Complex in Boston. She is also certified with ISCA (Master Trainer), Les Mills, NASM Personal Training, AFAA Group Ex, STOTT Pilates, Zumba, Totalbarre, Bokwa, and probably a few others since we wrote this post. Check out what inspires Fen to be the fitness rockstar she is!

Q: What made you join BollyX?
A: I joined BollyX because it combined my love for Bollywood music and dance with my love for fitness. I’ve been teaching Zumba for over 3 years, while taking some Bollywood instructional classes on the side because it’s the international genre I love the most. BollyX is perfect because it combines the awesome Bollywood choreography I love from the instructional classes and pairs it with the best music so you can get an intense cardio workout – the best of both worlds. It’s exactly what I was looking to add to my teaching repertoire.

Q: What inspires you to stay fit?
A: I am extremely appreciative and thankful for my health and for what my body is capable of doing. I never take dancing, moving, or exercising for granted. Everyone who takes a class of mine inspires me. They’ve made the time and commitment to spend an hour of their busy lives with me, so I want to be ready to give them the best class experience possible.

Q: How do you keep your students engaged and motivated throughout such an intense workout?
A: The BollyX music and dance moves are so fun that it makes people just want to let go and dance! Even if participants start to get tired, they won’t quit because they don’t want to miss out. I love fitness and teaching fitness so I can’t help but transfer that energy and passion to everyone in the room. Creating that atmosphere of “we’re all performing in the same Bollywood movie together” makes everyone dance like a rockstar!

For those of you who haven’t already been to one of her classes, be sure to sign up and unleash your inner swagger with Fen Tung!

Let’s meet Lisa Levitin Sandvig and hear about how she channels her inner Bollywood swagger with BollyX. Lisa is the Group Exercise Director at the Gold’s Gym Westend in Richmond, VA.

Q: What other classes are you certified to teach other than BOLLYX?
A: I teach Spinning, BODYPUMP, BODYSTEP, Sh’Bam, HIT classes and pilates. I am also an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Q: What is your favorite part of a BOLLYX class and why?
A: I love following an Eastern track with a Western track using the same choreography. It’s as if the Eastern song is practice, preparing everyone with the technique and movements, and participants really lets loose when they do the same moves to a song they recognize!

Q: Which Bollywood song best describes showcases your personality?
A: “Turn up the Music” and “Go Go Govinda” probably show off my personality the best.

For those of you who can take Lisa’s classes – lucky you! Check out Richmond classes here on the BollyX website: https://bollyx.com/classes/richmond/