Taking a step towards fitness

Satinder Kaur

Following in the footsteps of the City Beautiful, Mohali has also set up open-air gyms for its residents. The initiative, taken a few months ago, has gone down well with the residents as increasing number of people are visiting the gyms every day.

All of a sudden, residents have turned into fitness freaks. It is touching the lives of many as people from all age groups — from children to teenagers, from housewives to professionals and even retired persons — can be seen working out at the gyms. Rich or poor, all have a new fitness mantra.

The revolutionary step of the Municipal Corporation has thrown gyms open to the masses, which before were considered a luxury. There was a time when it was only the youngsters who went to the gyms. They were considered beyond the reach of women, especially married, who didn’t have time and courage visit the indoor gyms, leaving their families/kids behind. The elderly, too, never thought of joining a gym and professionals were too busy to take time out for exercise. But now, everyone with a desire to keep themselves fit can walk into free-for-all open-air gyms and reap their benefits.

The reasons why these gyms are catching up fast with the city residents are many. First and the foremost is free membership. Second, the gyms are open day and night and there are no restrictions of any kind on using the equipment. Third, there is no need to get oneself registered to a particular gym. One can walk into any park with a gym nearby irrespective of their area of residence.

Also, at the indoor gyms, it is mandatory to pay fee at the beginning of the month even when you don’t avail of the facility. But this is not the case with the open-air gyms set up in city parks. The gyms also provide a chance to people to socialise and make new friends. People look forward to each other’s company as they exercise and discuss a wide range of issues concerning their families, kids, jobs and the country’s politics. They share their exercising experiences, discuss their problems, suggest solutions, home remedies for various diseases and what not!

“The gym near my home helps me exercise regularly and has also curtailed my screen time to a great extent as now, I spend my free time at the gym which otherwise I would have given to WhatsApp or TV,’ said a student who is a regular visitor to a gym in Phase 3A.

“I had never thought of going to a gym in my life as I was always busy looking after my family, but the MC has now brought the gym to my doorstep. I can go to the gym any time for workout,” said a retired teacher.

“Apart from providing us with an opportunity to keep fit, these gyms have given us a chance to make new friends. I look forward to meeting them every day,” said a retiree.

A homemaker said: “There is a gym close to the bus stop where my daughter boards her school bus. So, I intentionally drop her five to 10 minutes before and get to exercise my muscles while my daughter waits for the bus.”

The initiative is undoubtedly innovative, but there are still miles to go. If the gyms remain intact and are maintained properly, the health indicators of the residents will surely look up and the ‘city health index’ will get a boost.

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