Yes, I have been regularly working-out
for over 4 months now; cycling, swimming, treadmill or yoga. I started all this
so as to reduce that little extra flab on the waist, more importantly because I
was having too much of access to delicious food & delicious food has always
been my weakness.
Gradually it became a routine. I
stopped giving myself reasons like “today I’m on tour, I can’t work-out”, “its
too cold outside, the warm bed is too good to leave”, “let me cuddle with wife
darling for some more time”, “It was late when I slept yesterday; I deserve
some more rest”..
Once on, nothing could stop me: not
the cold misty mornings, ice cold water of the swimming pool, wife going for a
jog in the morning (we have a kid to take care of)... Somehow I could manage
one of the four options.
And no, I did not have to go any extra
mile for accomplishing any of the above: I did not enrol into any gym or club,
I went swimming at hotel where I stayed. If there was no pool, I’d go to the
gym there. If there was no gym I’d practice yoga. I did not join any expensive
yoga class, I downloaded Shilpa Shetty’s yoga for free. (Some of my colleagues
still doubt that they can practice yoga watching Shilpa & her curves). I
did not buy a sports cycle, I used the normal cycle which we got so that we
could take our kid for a fun ride.
All I had to invest was that extra bit
of interest to stick to the regime. And it was not difficult ‘ços I started
loving it – the fresh morning air, the cool water, the well sculpted Shilpa,
loud music on the ipod..
Well, I’m not the kind of person who
dresses up for occasions or is bothered by the way I look. I’m exactly opposite
to my wife or any lady for that matter in this regard. But last week after a
shower when I stood naked before the bathroom mirror, I somehow liked the looks
- the ups & downs of my physique were becoming admirable. I had also
noticed that I could do the padahasthasana
(standing erect & then bending forward to touch your toes) with ease
& for a long duration at that.
So I decided to try the yogamudra (sitting in padmasama – cross
legged – with your hands clasped behind your back & bending forward so that
your forehead touches the ground), which I, till then, believed justifies the
definition of yoga to be twisting your body into impossible postures. But then
I could accomplish it that day!
Today, as my cycle was borrowed by my
wife’s friend, I had to settle for a jog. I could have gone ahead with yoga,
but of late I had developed the thrill in fighting the winter morning chill
with my sweat. That followed by a cold shower was like enlightenment. I had
read somewhere that yogi’s in
Himalayas took cold showers – it supposingly develops their mental strength. And
I’m more obsessed with the mind than the body. So…
I did not have any particular target
in mind. When I’m on the treadmill, I generally do 3 km in 30 min, after
touching a high of 12 kmph for a while. That makes me totally wet. But today I
just went on & on. Not that I was in a good mood, neither was I totally
rested – I had slept only 3 hrs the previous night & got up to honor my 0600
hrs commitment. Although the air was freezing when I stepped out of the house,
within 30 min I was sweating. The sweat was pouring into my eyes causing
irritation.
Strangely I didn’t hit the wall (Wall
is a term used in marathon for the feeling that you can’t go any further). My
thighs threatened to get cramped. But I regulated the pace & advised them
otherwise. And they obliged…
When I finally reached my apartment I
had clocked almost 10 kms! That is my personal best! I climbed to the terrace
& stretched for 15 min to make sure there were no cramps. Within 75 min I
was back home for the refreshing cold shower. One hour later I was out for
office.
So guys, there’s no miracle to it. It
only takes a little bit of fine tuning inside your skull. “Exercise is beyond
me” is only a self-created hurdle in your mind. Like all those dumb people who
believe liquor is the only means of happiness. Pity, they have to get out of
their senses to experience happiness. Likewise, pity if you couldn't trigger
the spark in you..
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