Garba Is Pune’s new fun way to fitness

As the music starts on the trending Dholida track, feet begin to tap, hands clap — and soon, a cheerful chaos takes over the studio. Just when it seems like a dance circle, the instructor calls out, “Squat, twirl, repeat — set two!” The line between exercise and celebration fades.

Zumba instructor and fitness trainer Poonam Jain from Fit Stories has been blending Zumba and Garba for years, and her Navratri specials are always packed. “Garba is cardio in disguise,” she says with a smile. “The claps, twirls, and spins elevate your heart rate, but since it feels festive, people forget they’re exercising. In an hour, they easily burn 400–500 calories — all while smiling.”

She conducts batches across the city, where gym wear often meets sequin dupattas and flowy skirts. “It instantly lifts the festive mood,” she adds. “I tweak my Zumba routines to match the beats and add Garba-style twists to the moves.”

Bench aerobics trainer Sayali Deodhar has introduced Garbarobics — a high-energy fusion of desi beats and cardio. The format combines step aerobics with dandia-inspired movements, integrating squats, side jumps, and the use of dupattas or sticks as props. Designed to deliver an intense workout that feels festive rather than strenuous, her classes attract a diverse group of participants — from men who enjoy dance-based workouts to women seeking a safe, indoor way to celebrate. By the end of each session, participants are seen sweating, laughing, and recharged — embodying the balance between fun and fitness that Garbarobics aims to achieve.

For Alpa Shah, a Bharatnatyam dancer who conducts Garba workshops for women over 40, the focus remains on tradition and accessibility.

“Garba itself is a complete workout,” she says. “Forty minutes of non-stop dancing builds stamina, improves balance, and works every muscle group.” Her sessions emphasise posture and traditional dance steps. “We keep steps that are easy to follow and the choreography is also done keeping in mind the age of the participants”.

She adds that many women join to refresh their Garba technique before stepping onto larger dance floors. “They come to learn traditional steps and end up realising how good a workout it actually is,” she says smiling.

For participants, these classes are more than just exercise — they’re a way to rediscover joy, community, and movement. Nikita Jain, 40, who joined a Garba class with friends, says, “It’s fun first, fitness later. We sweat buckets, but it never feels like exercise — it feels like a celebration.”

Rohan Shah, 38, an IT professional, agrees. “I’ve stopped going to crowded grounds. Here, I get the same festive energy without the chaos. My trainer keeps me on my toes — literally.”

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Nidhi, another participant, says the fusion workouts are giving a modern twist to her favourite dance form. “I’ve done Garba since childhood, but now I’m learning squats, lunges, and arm moves with it. It’s like tradition got a fitness remix. My body aches, but my steps are sharper.”

Whether it’s Zumba, Garbarobics, or classic Garba workshops, trainers agree that Navratri is when fitness feels effortless. As Poonam laughs,

“When the music is this infectious, you don’t count reps — you count taali beats.”

As the festival unfolds, fitness floors have become a fun stage to burn calories — where twirls, claps, and dance moves do all the work.

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