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METRO WORKOUT

Cue to fitness

Pocket your health Billiards requires mental and physical stamina

In these health conscious times, indulging in activities that help us remain fit and fine is becoming a fad. The latest fad to hit the fitness circles is billiards or snooker. This indoor activity that was relatively unknown is now gaining popularity and acceptance as a daily workout option. So if you are on the look-out for an activity that will help you in your attempts at fitness, take a cue!

A game for all reasons, seasons and ages, billiards and snooker is one game that you should take a shot at now. The Trivandrum Club already has ardent fans that visit the Billiards room every day to play the game.

Take for instance Aswin, who is doing his pilot training course at the Trivandrum Flying Club, who says: “Billiards is an addiction. Once you get tuned to the game, you cannot miss a day playing it.”

Seemingly a non-athletic sport, it still requires a lot of mental and physical stamina to master its strokes. Says K. Thankappan Nair, Billiards Marker at the Trivandrum Club, who has been teaching interested cueists for 53 years: “Billiards is a subtle exercise option. You wouldn’t be aware that you have exerted yourself. All the bending, stretching, walking, gyrating around the pool table takes up your physical stamina while the soul of the game tests your mental stamina.”

So whether it’s a cut shot or a kiss shot that you aim at, billiards exercises your body well. Body parts that are best exercised through this game are, wrists, arms, shoulder, stomach, spine, back and even your legs!

Billiards is also about focus, concentration and observation. Elaborating further is Ratheesh, who is also a Billiards Marker at Trivandrum Club: “What billiards and snooker helps improve is your focus and concentration. To play this game, one has to literally put off all worries, tensions and thoughts out of the mind before the game begins. It’s hard to play when your mind is elsewhere. That’s why we encourage a pre-shot routine that helps you stay focussed on the shot and helps you re-route your mind to the game.”

Agrees Aswin who says, “There are many distractions on and off the table while playing but you can’t afford to be caught up with them. This game calls for utmost attention and gives you the competitive advantage.”

This is how you learn to stay calm, collected and focussed over these sometimes frustrating little spheres. You can carry off this same composed state even in life’s many spherical mazes! A game that can be as relaxing or competitive as you want to make it, billiards is a great way to relax and unwind, and shouldn’t be something that you get stressed about. As with many things in life, practice makes perfect. So ready to take a shot?

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