Fitness great, don’t overdo it

The refreshing and rejuvenating benefits of a fitness regimen are accepted universally. No matter how a person keeps fit, the end result is a fitter person is a better person as physical exercise also leads to being mentally more active. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to make a fetish of his fitness routine and promotes it to inspire the public. His indifference to sleep and extended working hours are legendary, not to mention long flights putting his body in different time zones. If the PM’s video with its five-elements yoga routine proves motivational enough for a large number to seek fitness and thus reduce dependence on doctors/medicines, the nation will be a better place.

The counterpoint about the fitness challenge based on home-made motivational fitness videos is that they can’t be politicised. The way in which Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy was assailed over his fitness is in bad taste as no one is aware of his health issues and what kind of fitness regime will suit him. And while it may be desirable to have the entire police force aspire to fitness — the phenomenal number of protruding bellies is ample reason — let not the challenge turn into having to measure each one’s BMI, or chest or belly, in some bizarre competition. Be it tai chi or taekwondo, mallakhamb or secular yoga, gym workouts or running or walking, each person has his own way of keeping fit and staying in good health. The important message is: try your hand at any fitness routine that grabs your fancy, and don’t be challenged by extreme fitness levels of sportsmen like Virat Kohli.