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City folks in ‘ship shape’ mode
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People are into fitness now, not merely exercises done at home. Priyadershini S. meets a few fitness freaks to find out what’s new in the field
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Photo: Vipin Chandran
Fitness and fun City folks are into fitness training now, not just aerobics or plain old exercises
No, it’s not SRK’s six pack abs that made citywallahs jump into the fitness, ‘looking good’ mode. Slowly and silently the fitness fever has been rising in Kochi , and you cannot but notice the change. As a been-there, done-th
at lady said, “Kochiites are dressing better, looking better, looking fitter than ever before.” She went on to bemoan the fact that in her times, the Kochi of the seventies was not so savvy when it came to fitness.
“Why go to the seventies, even as recent as three to four years ago, Kochi was not happening as far as fitness goes,” says Tissy Thomas, 28, who works out at the gym five times a week.
Anuja Kohli Mariwala, who set up Zest for Life, one of the earliest centres in the city, also feels there has been a dramatic change in the perception of people here. “Do you know, nobody wanted to lift weights then. And women into fitness was news.
Dramatic change
But things have changed, she says. “There has been a tremendous change from aerobics to machine based training. You know I closed down my place because I had a hard time getting certified trainers. I don’t think that’s the case now”
Zest for life had introduced Pilates, (pronounced ‘Pih lah teez’) in Kochi. Says Anuja, “Pilates is using the mind to control the muscles, a mind-body connection. At that time people wanted to do just ‘dhoom, dhaam’ exercises. They just wanted to get tired and feel that they were getting fitter. But fitness is not just aerobics. The best cardio-exercises are sport or dance. We used to do a combination of exercises. Newness is important for muscles and mind. Our focus was not on becoming ‘thin’. Today I feel too much focus is on thinness.”
Jessica Rana, a naval wife who teaches at Talwalkar fitness centre and to a number of groups in the city, uses new and different fitness methods to keep the interest going. She makes a group of ladies do pool aerobics which, according to one from the group, is great fun. “I was diffident and unsure in the beginning but I have not enjoyed myself like this ever before,” said Liza. Now the group looks forward to the days in the swimming pool. Rana uses medicine balls and the band too for exercising. “Medicine balls are of the size of a football. They help strengthen your lower back. Bands are used to stretch the whole body. It helps the spine. All these fitness objects are available in local sports stores,” says Jessica.
Jessica who knows the pulse of the present fitness wave sweeping the city has a few simple rules that she adheres to. “It is advisable to exercise five days a week and at the same time everyday. One day the body should get complete rest.” She also advocates an early dinner, a must breakfast, moderate lunch and dinner. What she stresses on, unequivocally is, “One must leave home, business, children and take an hour out for oneself. Be selfish when it comes to health and fitness.”
Explaining the fitness evolution, says Tissy, “In the seventies we were all into resistance training: weights, push and pull ups, bull worker (remember it?). In the eighties came the Cardios, the range of vigorous exercising, Jane Fonda et al. But in the eighties we also discovered that only resistance training is not the key. The Cardio-grown generation ended with injuries and so by nineties everybody was evolving a combination for themselves. Yoga, meditation and Pilates are the latest in the fitness routine. I do a combination of all three and that works out best for me.”
Says VLCC, manager, Rita Mathew, “Today everyone wants a Shilpa Shetty figure. We find that from teenage overweight girls to guys coming from Thrissur, all want to look good. Of course health issues are related in very many cases.” She explains that despite VLCC being a luxury product, with each package coming at a price of Rs.10,000 -15,000, they have had an excellent response from citywallahs. “ We have two methods of weight loss. One is to lose kilograms and the other in inches. But our USP is the body firming machine that tones and tautens the sagging skin, a fallout of weight loss. But then, is fitness about weight loss and vice versa?
Says Dr. A.G. Unnikrishnan, endocrinologist at the Amrita Instirtute of Medical Sciences, “Turning fat is inversely proportional to fitness. For us obesity is a medical problem more than a cosmetic problem. Urban society has a lifestyle that needs fitness.” And so what should be the mantra for this society struck by fitness fad? “To incorporate exercise into daily life, even while working.” So shape up to a healthier lifestyle.
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