Vinod Channa (Celebrity Fitness Trainer)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Vinod Channa

• He grew up in a poor family.

• He had a habit of skipping meals which resulted in him staying very weak throughout his childhood. Due to his poor nutritional habits and weak immune system, he would often fall sick while growing up.

• He first began working out in the gym after completing high school.

• In an interview, he stated that he got taunted by several people during his childhood due to his thin physique which motivated him to become a bodybuilder.

  

• After his mother and his brother taunted him for not working and providing nothing for the family, he started to look for jobs that could provide him money quickly.

• He started working in a housekeeping job but quit after 3 months as the payment was insufficient.

• He then began working as a security guard and would often feel embarrassed when his friends or relatives would recognize him.

• He was fired from his job as a security guard after he failed to salute his employer.

• After trying several jobs and not being able to stay in one for a long time, he finally gave in to his passion and decided to become a full-time bodybuilder.

• He worked at a local gym for 3 years while also working as a part-time society manager.

• Due to the lack of any proper guidance and training, he failed to develop his desired physique and was a bit disappointed with the results of his training.

• He then joined the R.M. Bhatt High School and Junior College in Parel and studied in the night classes while also enrolling in the college gym.

• While working out in the college gym, he met a few Indian Railways employees who were also bodybuilders and helped him with proper training and nutrition.

• He would use the major part of his salary for his nutrition while only giving a very small portion of his salary to his family, which often left them disappointed.

• By the end of the month, he was often left empty-handed due to no money.

• Seeing his poor conditions, his family would often ask him to find a job which could provide him with a regular salary.

• He would often visit the Siddhivinayak temple to find peace and motivation.

• He started competing in bodybuilding competitions in 1994.

  

• His first job as a fitness trainer was at the Talwalkars Health Club where he earned Rs. 4000 per month.

• After some time, he moved to Bandra because there were more opportunities for personal training, and he started working as a freelance personal trainer in the Sykz gym there.

• While working there, one of his clients recommended him to actor Riteish Deshmukh who hired him to prepare for his film, Housefull (2010).

  

• Satisfied with his training, Riteish recommended him to the whole film crew for personal training. He even took Vinod on a world tour with him for constant training.

• After the Sykz gym at Bandra closed down, he started freelance personal training at a Gold’s Gym.

• He would travel 8 hours a day on his bike while working in the Gold’s Gym which resulted in a slipped disc.

• Due to the misbehaviour of the management he was forced to leave the Gold’s Gym.

• In 2016, he successfully helped Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani‘s son, Anant Ambani, lose 108 kg in 18 months.

  

• Throughout his career, he has helped several celebrities including John Abraham, Shilpa Shetty, Shamita Shetty, Genelia D’Souza, and Harshvardhan Rane among many others in their fitness journeys and prepare for their acting roles.

  

• He is also a personal trainer to famous business personalities including Raj Kundra, Isha Ambani, Nita Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and Ananya Birla.

• On 22 April 2018, he completed the Level 1 certification course in Stick Mobility.

  

• In September 2018, he served as a jury member of the Annapoorna Retail Food Awards.

• In October 2018, he held an opening ceremony for his VC Fitness gym in Bandra.