“The secret to multitasking is that it isn’t actually multitasking. It’s just extreme focus and organization.” This quote by Joss Whedon makes sense looking at the multitasking ability of Arvind Krishna who is a prominent name in South Cinema and also a Pro Basketball player! It is certainly not an easy task to manage two different streams that are both equally demanding. Despite all the odds, how he is managing both the careers simultaneously is admirable. Soon to be seen as a superhero in an upcoming movie 'A Masterpiece', Arvind has made a big name in the industry with his skills as an actor and cinematographer. Besides, he recently received accolades at the international Basketball league hosted by 3BL Japan.
In an exclusive conversation with Arvind, we got to know some inside scoop about his lifestyle that can be an interesting read for you.
30+ Years of Playing Basketball
Arvind started playing basketball when he was 9 years old. He grew up in the US so he played there and played for India after he moved back. Now he is an international player where he plays with a 3X3 format professional team. This is a new format which is similar to basketball as what T20 is to cricket. Being an actor, he was able to bring a lot of fans to the stadium.
Fitness Regime
Since being a sportsperson requires a lot of effort and a disciplined routine, Arvind’s fitness regime is an inspiration to many. While managing his erratic and unpredictable shoot timing, he manages to get time to focus on health and fitness.
His sports routine generally includes going to the basketball training in the morning for about an hour or two and then later in the evening, do weight training.
Arvind’s TIP: “Balance is very important, the balance of stability and strength. And today injury management and injury prevention are a huge part of an athlete's life. So a lot of training is tempered around that.”
His regular workout session involves:
- stretching exercises for improved flexibility
- Speed training, plyometric and jump ability
- Strength training
- Balance and core workout
Also Read: Common Weaknesses To Watch Out For During Workouts And How To Overcome Them
View this post on Instagram
“PRP Treatment Helped Me Bounce Back After A Severe Knee Injury”
For an athlete, fitness is of paramount importance. Arvind recently suffered a meniscus tear and an ACL injury in his left knee while playing basketball that left him in the rest & recovery mode for over 9 months.
Sharing about the injury and treatments he underwent for faster recovery, Arvind says, “It was one of the hardest injuries that I've ever had to cope with. I got PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma treatment done which has amazing benefits, especially when you have meniscus tears. It is proven to be a very good mode of treatment along with physiotherapy to regain movement.”
Arvind also shares how the shooting of the upcoming movie ‘A Masterpiece’ where he is playing a superhero had to be halted because of a pending action scene. Now that he is almost fit, he might shoot that fight sequence and we will get to see the movie in theatres soon!
Tackling Physical, Mental and Emotional Issues During The Recovery Period
Nine months is a long period and can take a toll on a person’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Reminiscing about this tough time, Arvind shares how he kept himself sane while dealing with all the frustration. “ I have a slight spiritual inclination so a lot of meditation really helps me. In addition, I also do this thing called stream of consciousness writing, which I've been doing for many years. So whatever thoughts I have, I write them on the paper without even judging what I'm writing. A lot of frustration tends to come out when you write in this new consciousness mode.”
The biggest cheerleader for him through this tough period was his 3-year-old son. “The silver lining was that I got to spend so much time with him which was not feasible otherwise. Being with him helped me be focused, centered and deal with this pain and angst in a very different way,” shares Arvind.
Also Read: How Writing Can Help Deal With Mental Health Issues
View this post on Instagram
“Balancing Basketball and Acting is physically and mentally taxing but as long as you enjoy, it is worth doing”
Arvind believes in “One life, one opportunity”. Balancing between these two fields is tough but having known of schedules in advance, management becomes a bit easier.
“I know well in advance of when the key tournaments are or when my shoot schedules are, accordingly, I have a balance sheet. And sometimes it happens where I was shooting for a film and immediately next week I had gone to Japan for a tournament. This is very challenging but I really want to push and be able to do both as well as I can,” shares Arvind.
#VeganAthlete: Arvind’s Secret To Holistic Wellness is Vegan Diet
Arvind Krishana believes that fitness and diet, both go hand in hand, and are pillars for holistic Wellness. Speaking of his diet, he follows veganism and is awarded ‘Vegan Voice of India’ for this year.
“I've been vegan for the last six years and I also don't have any gluten. And I have noticed that since I've cut out dairy and gluten from my diet, my inflammation has drastically reduced. And whenever there's reduced inflammation in your body, your body functions better, your body recovers better,” shares Arvind.
“My diet is simple which includes foods that are holistic and easy on the gut. I take all macros whether carbs, fats or proteins. I supplement with the vegan protein shake, creatine and a few other supplements that help me.,” he adds.
Also Read: Plant Based Diet: Health Benefits of a Well-Balanced Vegan Lifestyle
View this post on Instagram
5 Health Tips by Arvind
Here are top five health and wellness tips by actor, athlete and entrepreneur Arvind Krishna:
1. Train to have a good and longer life and a higher quality of life.
Training is not just about building and muscle looking places, it's about having a higher quality of life. So you know, the training should be very functional. Not everyone needs to be an athlete.
2. You are what you eat. Be very circumspect about what you consume.
Whatever you consume has a direct impact on your mindset, on your body, on your gut. Everything is interconnected and related. So please don't disregard that aspect. Treat your body like with the temple, you know, and you respect your body and respect you back.
3. Don't shy away from your problems, whether they are mental or emotional or physical.
There are a lot of experts today who can help you out. More often than not, people stigmatize reaching out for help. You know, it could be something that you're suffering at a mental level. Don't brush it under the carpet. Reach out to an expert.
4. Don’t get influenced by people. What worked for them might not work for you
When it comes to your own health and body, what might have worked for somebody else may not work for you. So be very, very particular that it's working for you. Don't get influenced by people that you see. Everything that you see on social media is the way it is. Social media is amazing for many things, but be mindful of what you're consuming, even in terms of data and content. And know that not everything you see is as it is.
5. Be in the world, but don't let the world be in you.
It's a little bit of a spiritual thing, but it's very, very connected to your health. And know that you have a very, very unique relationship with the world, with the universe, with your body. And, be very mindful of all that. So whatever you consume across cases, be very, very careful about, be very mindful about and you know, whatever you're blessed with in terms of your, your talents is God.