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Workout to stay fit

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Sweat it out A youngster working out at a fitness gym

Tight time schedules, high-pressure jobs, junk food and adding to all these factors is the mental stress from recession. Considering all these aspects, the personal health takes a beating. In such a scenario the best way to keep fit is to visit a gym, either on a daily basis or at least four times a week.

While there are many forms of exercise, a workout in a gym stands out over the rest.

“Various forms of exercise have different uses. While most of them focuses on the cardio aspect, a workout in a gym can be termed as the holistic form of exercise. The entire body gets toned. If one intends to stay fit and stay in shape then a good gym is the place that he or she should get enrolled,” says Girish the chief trainer of Talwalkars.

The concept of gyms has changed over the years. Today, gyms are no longer viewed as ‘akhadas’ or body building clubs. Even when Vishnu Talwalkar started his first gym in Mumbai in 1932, the focus was on body-building and the gyms were restricted area for the fair sex.

“At present gym’s are considered to be fitness clubs and are open to all. The concept has undergone a total transformation. A modern upscale gym is not only loaded with different equipment for exercise, but has qualified trainers, doctors, physiotherapists and dieticians. We prescribe the exercise routine according to the person’s requirement,” says Gurumurthy Nayak, the Manager of Talwalkars.

The Talwalkars have got about 22 centres in Mumbai and about 70 across the country.

The trainer points out that exercise does not only mean burning calories. “Apart from calorie burning, the body needs to be conditioned. The weaker muscles need to be strengthened and the stronger ones need to be toned. Toning and conditioning does not mean pumping weights, there are various forms of exercise, exclusively dedicated for muscle toning,” says Girish.

Gyms like Talwalkars specialise in weight loss and weight gain. The exercise schedules are planned as per the person’s health condition, age and food habits. “Considering a person’s health condition and age the trainers prepare a schedule in consultation with a doctor and dietician. A person with diabetes will have a different schedule compared to a person with cardiac problem or arthritis ailment,” says Nayak.

Similarly, the exercise scheme for a person above 35 years of age would be different from a teenager. The chief trainer says that the fat burning capacity reduces with the upper age limits. “A middle-aged person would like to stay fit, rather than build six packs or biceps. The schedule is set to suit the age,” says he.

Diet plays an important role in the workout schedule. The effectiveness of going to a gym will be seen only when one follows a strict diet plan. A good diet plan in combination with at least 45 minutes of workout in a gym would give the desired results.

Dedication is another important aspect that would help in ringing in the desired results. “One has to take things seriously with dedication. For light takers, the effect will not be as desired,” says Girish.

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