The gymnasium culture has undergone a
sea change. It is no longer a hub for building those bulging muscles. Instead,
now it boasts of latest fashion and lifestyle statements. Sandeep Banerji brings
forth their new profile.
Allahabad: De-stress, stay in shape, or
simply hang out with buddies, whatever be the intention, the gym cult in
Allahabad is gaining new followers in droves by the day. Little doubt then that
the number of these fitness parlours have registered a steady increase over the
years.
“The gym is definitely a more casual place where people are
relaxed and more approachable. People tend to build friendships,” explains
Bhumika (21), an MBA aspirant and a regular gym goer.
“There are all
sorts of people with different personalities. Some are conservative, some
over-dressed, while some even come with fancy hairdos. Generally, most people
wear something acceptable and comfortable whereas a small group look freaky.
Although their grooming differs, they remain committed to maintaining a healthy
and beautiful appearance,” observes Shashank Tripathi, a gym owner in New
Katra.
Tripathi, a fitness freak himself, acknowledges that the
number of customers has increased indeed after the release of some Bollywood
flicks starring Shahrukh, Amir and Hritik, who started the wave six-pack
abs.
“Every other person is dressed in branded apparel, to the point
that it smacks of an obsession with a number of them. The styling of these sweat
wear leaves no doubt in the mind that the accent is on looking sexy rather than
making the workout functional,” feels Raju Jaiswal, in his forties, a hotelier
and a gym goer.
So the question then arises: When you put a bunch of
good-looking people together and create an environment that is sophisticated and
conducive, has the gym become a place for people looking to start a
relationship? Or is it the healthier alternative to clubbing, since all its
other ingredients are there – gyrating hips, swaying bodies and an ample
selection of music?
To learn more about this trend, The Times of
India spoke to a cross section of gym goers about their experiences at their
workout hangout. The results are not so much surprising as revealing. “Gone are
the days when a gymnasium was a place where fitness buffs, essentially males,
huffed and puffed away with an intimidating set of weights sweating those extra
calories out,” points out Praveen, a qualified physical fitness trainer who
imparts training in a number of gyms in the city besides giving special training
sessions to the officers and personnel at North Central Railway in Subedarganj.
Today, gym has become a lifestyle concept that blends fashion and music with
working out, where upwardly mobile Allahabadis flock to turn hip, cool and
sophisticated, he adds.
Says Suman Bhutani, a housewife, “In this age
of customer focus, every gym is distinguished by its choice of music channels
and aerobic classes conducted to a certain music genre.” She adds, “The music is
an important element as it keeps me motivated and gets me going, especially when
I’m drained.” Suman, a regular gym-goer, is accompanied by her five-year-old
daughter Mehak who performs light exercises as per the advice of the
trainers.
*Motivation is the key. Regardless of the aim, having the
right attitude also matters. It is important to enjoy your
exercise.
*Maintain a record of your exercises so that you can refer to
them in future as well.
*Try to keep a steady eating routine. It will throw
your body off if you skip a meal and starve yourself only to stuff your stomach
with food later.
*If you are already skinny and simply don’t have the
abdominal muscles that you want, passively exercising while doing other things
can help a great deal. If you spend a long time in a sitting position, try
continuously clenching your stomach you could be surprised at its
effectiveness.
*Always try stress relieving activities, such as yoga or
meditation as built-up stress, can increase your
weight.
*Some exercises are not recommended for people with
lower back problems.
*Focusing solely on abs can produce an imbalance in
the body and may cause back problems. As with any exercise programme, consult
your doctor before making major changes in your workout routine.
*Don’t
starve yourself. But don’t eat lot of fibres as it acts like a mild laxative. It
can also cause some gas and might result in digestive problems too.
*Avoid
eating high sugar snacks and instead eat healthy, low calorie snacks. *A good
way to prevent unhealthy snacking is to write down everything you eat in the
day.
*Never ignore warm up exercises or you may land yourself with pulled
muscles.