Pranayama gets Pragya Jaiswal's attention

Pragya Jaiswal says she’s still trying to come to terms about being busy during the second wave of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, even as she points out what she considers a vast difference in the mind-set between the two lockdowns.

“Last year’s lockdown was about waiting for things to get better; the current lockdown is about getting vaccinated and making the time productive,” says Pragya, who got vaccinated last week with her parents. “I feel that getting vaccinated is the only way we can prevent the spread of contagion. The vaccination may reduce the severity of the infection even if one contracts the virus,” the actress says.

Fit for health

Still following all the health protocols despite getting vaccinated, Pragya — a fitness enthusiast — has been working at keeping herself physically and mentally fit. She elaborates her love for working out by sharing that workouts are her biggest stressbusters, which also keep her mind active.

“I’m a morning person and have never exercised in the evenings. By the time I come back from the shooting, I am exhausted. I also need 5–6 hours of sleep, and sometimes need more if I’ve done night shoots. But now because of the pandemic, I’ve made time for exercising in the evenings,” she says.

Pragya Jaiswal with her mother

However, Pragya doesn’t shy of admitting that it is not easy to stay positive during these pressing times. “News about infected people suffering and dying affects us. So while I am aware of what’s happening around me, I try to avoid tuning into it as much as I can,” she states.

Mum knows best

The actress, who was last seen in the 2018-film Achari America Yatra, tells us that when she decided to stay with her parents in Mumbai, and as a precautionary measure, she isolated herself after returning home from her shoots.

“My mother then asked me why I didn’t do pranayama. It was challenging in the beginning, but soon I realised it was an amazing thing; it calms me and reduces my anxiety,” she explains. Since her mum’s advice, Pragya has also recently started practicing yoga and breathing exercises. “It was my mother who taught me and made me practice these things for an hour and it leaves me feeling very positive and energetic,” the actress adds.

Being adventurous

Recently, just before the second wave of pandemic triggered, Pragya had to head to the jungles of Dandeli, Karnataka, to shoot her upcoming film, Akandha, which also stars Balakrishna. The actress made the most of her trip during the days she was off from shooting, as she indulged in many activities including forest bathing and river rafting, trekking and jungle safari.

Pragya Jaiswal enjoying her time in the forest