Wed Dec 31 10:35:48 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
Headline: Indian Musicians Strike a Chord with Holistic Fitness for the New Year
Chennai, India – As 2026 dawns, Indian classical musicians are demonstrating a growing commitment to fitness, not just for physical stamina but for mental well-being and artistic performance. A The Hindu MetroPlus feature highlights the fitness regimes of prominent Carnatic musicians who are balancing rigorous concert schedules with holistic practices.
The article profiles Carnatic vocalist Sudha Ragunathan, who emphasizes varied training incorporating meditation, yoga, strength exercises, treadmill workouts and walking in nature. Ragunathan, who has incorporated fitness into her lifestyle since her mid-30s, finds that overall fitness contributes to stamina, energy levels and vocal hygiene. She stresses the importance of quieting the mind with meditation, positive affirmations and music, and to remove the mind off music, she watches films.
Instrumentalist Vishnu R., a frequent traveler, prioritizes daily yoga, pranayama, and meditation. Vishnu, along with his wife, have completed physically demanding activities such as the Thorong La Pass trek and the Grand Canyon hike. Vishnu also highlighted his intermittent fasting practices. He stresses the importance of workouts that don’t hamper his performance, and pranayama to address mental fatigue from demanding social situations.
Musician Vandana Srinivasan has integrated fitness into her routine over the past 20 years. She works out four to five times a week and is mindful of her diet and the need for voice rest, especially during the hectic concert season. She reduces the intensity of exercise on concert days and opts for increased focus on breath work. Srinivasan’s regimens helped her cope with the erratic schedules of the film industry.
Mridangam artiste Praveen Sparsh underscores the importance of fitness for instrumentalists’ posture and breathwork. He emphasizes stretching and breathing exercises and enjoying activities like badminton, trekking, cycling, and walking. He does not do the same workout every day to avoid boredom and eats in moderation. Sparsh, who used to perform four concerts a day, has reduced the number of concerts to two to promote balance.
These musicians demonstrate that fitness isn’t just a New Year’s resolution, but an integral part of their artistic lives, enhancing their physical and mental capabilities for sustained performance. They all wish to focus on their health in the new year.
First Piper 