Sweat it out this summer with martial arts, kick-boxing, yoga

Children can choose from a host of sports and athletic activities at summer camps

NAVI MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year when children can indulge in sports and fitness activities without the burden of classes and homework. Yes, summer vacations are here.

For all the sport enthusiasts, the city has a number of sports camps on offer throughout the vacations.

Vashi- based Navi Mumbai Sports Association ( NMSA) is organising its 20th annual sports camp from April 10 to May 15. Around 10 . sports and fitness activities will be a part of the camp. Activities such as athletics, basketball, cricket, table tennis and yoga are on the cards.

“We will also organise health camps with special lectures on diet and nutrition, sporting injuries, first- aid and motivational training to inculcate sportsmanship among children,” said a coordinator of the camp.

In Belapur, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) has some exciting activities to look forward to in their summer camp calendar. Roller skating, karate, Taekwondo, badminton, and aerobics are some of the activities on offer. “The camps, starting from April 11 to May 31, have been divided into different batches on the basis of age groups,” said Leo Sallins, senior secretary of YMCA, Belapur.

Vazirani National Sports Academy in Nerul has planned five sports — table tennis, lawn tennis, ring football, basketball and karate — in its summer camps. “There will be t wo camps from April 15 to May 14 and May 15 to June 14 and children above four years can join,” Jaydeep Vazirani, incharge of Vazirani National Sports Academy.

However, if your child is interested in martial arts or kick- boxing, a 15- day camp from April 15 at the Gujuryu Kenwakai Japan Karate Do Association is a must for you. The sessions will be held at Nerul, Seawoods and Belapur for children above five years.

“While t he f ocus of t he workshop is on martial arts, we will also teach kho-kho and kabaddi, so that children can participate in school competi- tions and pursue them in the future. Those who perform well will be admitted in our academy,” said Shirish Talekar, instructor at the association.

If your child had a stressful academic year and wants to relax, yoga is what you are looking for. Apart from calming the nerves, yoga also prepares children to concentrate better in the upcoming academic year.

Yoga Vidya Niketan in Vashi is conducting two sessions in April and May. The first session is for children between six to 12 years from April 13 to April 23. The second is a month-long course from May 1 to 31 for anyone who is 13 years and above.

“In the first workshop, we will teach basics like suryanamaskar, shloka recitations, reading and meditation activities. The second workshop will an advanced one in which we will teach more asanas, mudras, pranayam and breath- ing exercises,” said Jayashree Chitnis, yoga instructor and co- ordinator of Yoga Vidya Niketan, Vashi.

The camps, starting from April 11 to May 31, have been divided into different batches on the basis of age groups. LEO SALLINS, senior secretary of YMCA Belapur