Sarah's Return to the Studio after Great Loss

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A dear student of mine, Sarah, returned back to Masala Bhangra after a 5 year hiatus. As soon as I saw her, my heart gushed with so much love! I was so happy she took out some time to come attend class. That evening she wrote me an email and with her permission, I am sharing it with you. If you are going through grief, loss of a loved one, or just loneliness, her message will resonate with you.

Class Etiquette From a Fitness Instructor’s Perspective

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There’s no excuse not to workout and take steps to a better healthier version of you. I have been teaching fitness for over 27 years now. I see things that happen in a fitness class and never wrote about it. I thought I would share a few things that I get to see that you may not. There are a few things you need to know before entering into a classroom, as a common courtesy to the other people in the class with you! No need to worry thought as we all are guilty of workout slip-ups from time to time! When you take one of my fitness classes, I want it to be an inclusive space where everyone feels comfortable. I love teaching and throughout my years of being an instructor, I have worked with all different personalities, body types, and level of fitness ability.

Reasons I LOVE My Annual Spring Dance Show

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Masala Bhangra is very obviously and proudly influenced by Indian culture dancing and music and as a lot of you know, I created Masala Bhangra in honor of my father.

Growing up my father wanted to pass down our Indian roots and have my sister and I respect and appreciate the beautiful country our family is from. I wear my Indian heritage with pride and I am so grateful to be able to share it with not only Indian people but people of all different races, shapes, sizes, and ages.

Show Me Your City!

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In honor of Masala Bhangra’s upcoming 20th anniversary, I want to celebrate with all of you, since these past 20 years would be nothing without you!

Over the past 20 years, I have enjoyed sharing my culture and I would love to travel the United States to see all of you and learn about you and your city. Because there is nothing better than the connections you can make with people and the experiences you have when you travel. I think this will be a fun and unique experience that everyone involved will always cherish, interested? Read on!

Celebrating Mundan!

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My Indian heritage has always been SO important to me, especially keeping the traditions of the Indian culture alive in my family. I want both my daughters to grow up learning and respecting the culture and knowing where their family came from. Even though I grew up in America and my children will do the same, I want my girls to realize the importance of tradition, not letting it die and to instill these morals so that they can pass it down to their children. If you have read my blog “fall madly in love with yourself” then you might remember that for a short period in my life I was embarrassed to be Indian.

Why Education Is Important To Me & My Family

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Education was always a priority in my family. Now that I’m a mother, I’m so grateful that my family took it so seriously. Education is always on my mind and I’m happy to pass along the same values to my two beautiful girls. I want to make sure they have the best chances to be successful in life. I want to be able to give my kids all the education possible — in life, in school, in dance & fitness.

An Exercise to Train Myself To Believe In Myself

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I always have a bubbly, happy personality and I find that having a sunny outlook can help you with your resolutions and goals. In fact, my friend Lauren jokes that I’m so positive and happy that even a rock can fall in love with me! Lately, I’ve had to train myself again to think positive and have a brighter outlook. Getting married and having kids can definitely jade your vision. I know this is temporary, but in that state, I have to remind myself that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

My Love Letter To Jane Fonda

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You motivated me to come up with my own program and workout videos after my father passed away to a massive cardiac arrest. When I started Masala Bhangra, it was a joke to many people. However, it was my calling and my purpose. I can say proudly, that today, I have 15 workout videos under my belt, and I'm the first to bring Indian dance to the fitness industry at a global level! Just like you made a difference to all those ladies in the 90’s, I am proud to be making a difference to my community.

4 Secrets To Being A Successful Entrepreneur

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Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of ups and downs. Like any other business, it was not easy for me to start Masala Bhangra. It started out as an idea of using Indian dance as a workout for years. But it was my father’s sudden death at a young age to massive cardiac arrest that gave me the motivation to get everyone up and moving. After all these years, I’m still on that mission. It’s my drive and passion for fitness and dance that has helped me to continue on this entrepreneurial journey. I’m sure every entrepreneur has days when they just want to quit and do something else.

Fall Madly In Love With Yourself

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Growing up, I was questioned a lot, especially when going to school. My classmates would ask questions about my culture. They’d ask about the Indian red dot (bindi) and why we worshipped cows. I was happy to answer questions but always felt like I was being judged because I didn’t talk a certain way or because of my race. But my family taught me to never be ashamed to be an Indian American woman.

How I Met My Husband

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If I wasn’t proactive and serious about meeting the one, I wouldn’t have met my husband. My 3-year anniversary is tomorrow (Nov 27)! I want to celebrate by sharing my story of how I met him and to also inspire you to find your life partner. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, getting married wasn’t my only priority in life. My first goal was always to build my business, Masala Bhangra. It’s my baby! With that said, I also wanted to meet someone wonderful, fall in love and start a family with the right person. And that wasn’t going to happen if I sat on my couch every night. Mr. Right wasn’t going to walk into my living room. Well, actually, in my case he did (keep reading)!

Perfect Age To Get Married? There’s No Such Thing!

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There is no such thing as the perfect age to get married. As women, especially, we get a lot of comments about our singleness and get defined by age. Some people view marriage as it being the only goal in life and put high expectations on us. In the Indian culture, getting married at a late age isn’t exactly socially appealing. And as an Indian woman who waited to get married later in life, I’ve heard it all when I was single.

Indian Food & Drink Traditions That’ll Never Go Out Of Style

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Growing up as an Indian American, it was very important to my family that I didn’t forget my Indian culture. I had a strong a community to lean on and my cultural traditions are very close to my heart. I quickly learned from my family and role models that tradition matters. It brings us a sense of comfort. It also brings people together. Today, I wear my Indian heritage with pride everywhere I go, which includes my business, Masala Bhangra. I want everyone I meet and invite into my life to experience a piece of Indian culture.

Staying Fit While Pregnant: Advice From A Fitness Instructor

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There are so many opinions out there on what to do and not to do during pregnancy. As a pregnant fitness instructor, I get a lot of “looks” and questions like “should you be doing that?” Sometimes people consider pregnancy as a disease and are afraid to move at all. In reality, taking action steps to stay fit throughout your pregnancy has many benefits for both you and the baby. It can ease any discomfort or pain you may experience, give you more energy and prepare you for a successful delivery. From one pregnant woman to another, here are a few important tips to keep in mind. Please note that I am not a doctor. It’s recommended to always check with your OB/GYN before starting or continuing any program or making adjustments to your diet.

Making a Difference: A new Ambassador Introduces Masala Bhangra to At-Risk Youth in NYC

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When did you discover MB and what were your first impressions?
I started taking cardio classes at Alvin Ailey in an attempt to lose weight. My first MB class, a recommendation from the staff, I found really challenging. I retreated to the back of the room to rest and Sarina called me out to say there was no break or something to that effect! So I said okay, you’re not ready just yet. I attended a few other classes at Ailey to build up to be able to go back to MB. The intensity of the class left an impression on me. I was determined to be able to survive a full class. While you could take it slower, there was always a higher goal you can set for yourself like do I start with low impact and then go crazy at the end, or can I jump a little higher this time, etc.

Get to Know Master Trainer Tomoe Kaneko and How Masala Bhangra Entered Japan

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When did you discover Masala Bhangra and what were your first impressions or thoughts about the workout? It was 2007 or 2008 at very first ZUMBA convention. Sarina presented her session and I was there. I have never seen Bhangra before that. I didn’t understand what should I move because I didn’t know the Indian culture. However, it was so much fun and I got a great workout. I wanted to know the formula of this workout and the culture.

Meet Master Trainer Shalini Bhargava Keeping Workouts Fresh and New

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When did you discover MB and what were your first impressions? I discovered MB about 10 years back at the IDEA World fitness convention. I was curious as to what a fellow Indian was doing and what was MB all about. So I took Sarina's session and was completely blown away. Here was a dance fitness program which not only was fun, effective as a cardio routine, but was heartfelt above all. No doubt I was proud of the program as it was Indian and came to me very naturally.

Meet Ambassador Seema Tatla: Building Community in North Carolina, USA

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When did you discover Masala Bhangra and what were your first impressions?
I remember way back when MB first came out, I thought what a good idea!! I even bought a couple of videos. Bhangra has always been my passion, so anything to do with Bhangra - I LOVE!!

Meet Master Trainer Deborah Kahan Kolb, Promoting Health, Developing Friendships and Creating Poetry!

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When did you discover Masala Bhangra and what were your first impressions?
I first discovered MB in 2008 at Alvin Ailey. I’d recently given birth and was experimenting with a number of different dance classes in an attempt to “lose the baby weight” and also find some time for myself outside of my responsibilities as a mom. I’d been taking samba and Zumba classes pretty regularly at Ailey when I found myself peeking through the window of one of the studios, drawn to this compelling, rhythmic, exciting music I heard through the doorway. I glimpsed Sarina teaching the class and observed her captivating energy and passion. I was hooked immediately, although I was unable to attend MB classes regularly for a number of years, until 2013.

Meet Ambassador Mimi Stella, Dancing Her Way Through Life

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Masala Bhangra Ambassadors have a unique perspective on Masala Bhangra, as they are both teachers and students. We thought it’d be helpful to share American Mimi Stella’s experience with the workout and the successes and challenges she faced as a new instructor. ~ Sarina Jain

When/How to pursue time in your life?

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It is incredibly easy to feel consumed by your workload. I know the feeling all too well. At one point in time, even after hours of teaching, I would still come home to a stack of paperwork and a string of pending emails and phone calls. I found myself wondering, where is the time to pursue my personal life? And how important is doing so? I had thoroughly convinced myself that my schedule was packed as is, and there was absolutely no room—anywhere—to fit in an extra hour or so to socialize. But I think my life as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur has allowed me to master the art of finding the time. I came to accept the fact that there really was no immediate way to minimize my workload (and in no way am I complaining because I love what I do); I would need to just prioritize keeping in touch with the people that mean so much to me.

Masala Bhangra Performing at the Alvin Ailey World Dance Showcase

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This year was the first time I was able to work around my schedule to attend the show that I had heard so much about. I was excited tobe on the other end of a dance show as an audience member. Moreover, I knew there had to be something very special in Masala Bhangra’sability to convince the average person, someone who doesn’t dance on a regular basis, that he / she is very capable of performing. I booked a red-eye flight and managed to make it to the first production.

Successes and Setbacks

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I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is the importance of taking risks. Everyone is constantly faced with a multitude of choices, and it is up to you to decide what defines a success versus a supposed failure. People perceive a successful entrepreneur to be someone distinguished by fame and money, but to me, success is making a difference in someone’s life.

The Power of Dance

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I grew up with the culture of both Bollywood and Bhangra dance, as my father had always stressed the importance of holding onto our Indian heritage. His passing away was an eye opener for me, and it catalyzed the birth of my company, Masala Bhangra.

No Excuses

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Throughout my twenty five years of intense training as a fitness instructor, it was always clear to me that I wanted a family. Today our daughter, Sahana Jain, is two months old, and it's crazy to think about how the lifestyle I was so accustomed to has changed so rapidly. My everyday routine consists of the expected diaper changes, feeding, and naps--yet I love every minute of being a mom and spending time with my daughter.