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A woman body builder muscles her way into ‘men’s territory’
Gurgaon: Her bulging biceps, toned and muscular body are what most men would dream to have. Gurgaon-based Yashmeen Manak, who was recently adjudged Miss India 2016 at a bodybuilding competition, has now set her sights on winning international titles.
Manak, 37, won gold in both the Women’s Fitness and Women’s Physique category at a competition organised by the Indian Body Building and Fitness Federation (IBBFF).
In a conversation with IANS, Manak spoke about the odds she encountered on her path to make it big in the world of bodybuilding — a ‘men’s territory’ — and eventually shattered a series of stereotypes.
“I still don’t consider myself a celebrity,” said Manak, adding that she feels “overwhelmed by all the love and attention” she is receiving these days.
Manak, who runs Sculpt Gym in Sector-14, Gurgaon, is also an avid biker and rides the Royal Enfield Desert Storm 500.
She forayed into the world of fitness 20 years back when after an illness she put on a lot of weight. The taunts from friends and relatives prompted her to get back into shape with a vengeance.
“Those comments pierced me deep inside and I felt bad. I realised that I was losing shape,” Manak said.
She joined the gym at the age of 17 and stated with cardio workouts. “There was no awareness about fitness back then, especially with regard to women.”
“Initially, I did not know that even women can lift weights. I got a bit of an idea on this from a professional bodybuilder and I started weight training. But I had no plans to get into bodybuilding,” she said.
So what made her get serious about bodybuilding?
“When I realised that cardio sessions were gradually eating up my muscle mass, I decided to shape up my body in a certain way that would make me look curvy as well as strong.
“Five-six years back, I started lifting very heavy weights. My coach taught me all the basics, all the right techniques of heavy lifting. I was completely into power-lifting and bodybuilding,” Manak, who weighs 66 kg, said.
Manak asserts that like men, women can also lift heavy weights.
“Women can lift like men, it is just that women are not that strong; but once into weight-lifting, a woman can get stronger than the average man,” she said.
On the negative comments she faces, Manak said she has to deal with remarks like “You look like a man, you should look like a woman, do what women are supposed to do…”
“Initially, those angered me but I eventually realised that such men could not attain the level of fitness they desired. They could not digest the fact that a woman has succeeded in shaping up her physique, and the remarks reflected their frustration,” she added.
On the controversial subject of the usage of performance enhancing steroids, Manak said: “There is a lot of misinformation about steroids. Many people misuse it and suffer harmful side effects due to which some countries have banned its usage.”
“It is still a very debatable topic in which people stay mum and don’t want to talk about it…Even if someone is taking steroids, he or she has to work very hard and eat clean. You need to lead a very disciplined lifestyle. You can’t just take steroids, sit at home and see the results,” she said.
Manak revealed that she intends to compete in international arenas in future.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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