World Health Day will see Hyderabadis sweating it out doing surya namaskars, cycling away to picturesque locales in the city and going off on adventurous treks.
This World Health Day, which falls on Sunday, many biryani-loving Hyderabadis have good reason to cheer. ‘Cos Sundays in our city are no longer about sleeping in late, waking up for a sluggish brunch, and lounging around all day. If the growing number of fitness-related events and outdoor activities in the city are anything to go by, it seems like Hyderabadis have shrugged off their lazy ol’ habits and bucked up to get healthy.
In fact, this Sunday will see at least hundred-odd fitness enthusiasts gather at a resort in Shamirpet for a ‘mass surya namaskar drive’. The idea is to promote the health benefits of surya namaskar and one of the most effective series of asanas in yoga, which gives you a full body workout, says Pratibha Aggarwal, a yoga expert who is the brain behind this effort. “We wanted people to know more about the health benefits of yoga, which heals both mind and body. The participants at the ‘108 surya namaskar’ will be encouraged to push themselves as much as they can.” Talking about the popularity of yoga these days, Aggarwal says, “While earlier it was only the middle-aged group that tried out yoga, these days several youngsters are drawn to it. It is a good outlet for stress and to connect with their inner self.” While there was a similar event held in October, Aggarwal says that the number of participants has doubled this time around. Priti Sen, a freelance travel writer who is an enthusiastic yoga practioner says she learnt yoga, ironically, during her stay in Singapore. “Yoga is addictive. It is more refreshing when compared to working out at the gym, as gymming gets mundane with the same routines,” explains Sen,who plans to attend the surya namaskar session with her husband.
Meanwhile, some Hyderabadis like to rough it out in the outdoors. Several adventure and outdoor sports clubs have been actively conducting outdoor events for its participants. The Hyderabad Bicycling Club which has recently launched ‘picturesque rides’ says cyclists queue up at day break on weekends to cycle together to places outside the city limits and the recent one being Ananthagiri Hills. Arvind Chenji, one of the active members of the club says, “It was a huge group of almost 50 people and it was a lot of fun. On each of our trips, we find more number of people coming forward to participate. I find that the previous generation missed out on outdoor activities, but thankfully, people now are finally getting back to it.”
Diyanat Ali, founder of GHAC too feels that people are now enjoying their connection with nature more than ever. “When you go out on a trek or participate in some adventure sport, there is a change in environment and you connect with nature.” Interestingly, he adds that there are almost 20 people who make calls to join GHAC everyday!
Suresh Kochattil, another member of GHAC adds that the lure of simply picking up a pair of shoes and going off on for a trek is what attracts many youngsters. “It’s quite hassle-free. All you need is a good pair of shoes and you’re set to trek amidst nature and get fit at the same time,” says Suresh.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Life & Style> Health & Fitness / by Afrin Humayon / TNN / April 06th, 2013