In living rooms, cafés, and weekend get-togethers, card games are quietly reshaping the social landscape in India. This past year has seen an influx of new designs — some built to test knowledge, others to fuel laughter or spark debate. From fitness challenges to fun drinking games, these decks have found a place in conversations and celebrations alike, reflecting a shift toward playful, interactive experiences. Card games are evolving into cultural snapshots, capturing the mood and humour of modern India. At first glance, a fitness community creating a card game might seem like an unlikely pairing, but for The Quad, a…

A group of women executing deadlifts as part of the International Women’s Day event held at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (March 8). Shot on OnePlus #FramesofIndia | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Last year exactly 18,887 crimes were reported against women in Kerala according to data collected from the Crime Records Bureau. A fitness club in Thiruvananthapuram that conducts deadlift events every Saturday at Manaveeyamveedhi made a difference this Women’s day by dedicating an open deadlift challenge titled ‘18,887’ only for women. Around 40 women joined the movement on Saturday morning and lifted their desired weights according to their abilities.…

In Shandur, Pakistan, home to the world’s highest polo field in the shadow of the snow-dusted Karakoram mountains is a plaque that reads “Let other people play at other things, the king of games is still the game of kings”. The words found an echo on a dark afternoon in Jaipur’s Rajasthan Polo Club (RPC) grounds recently when, despite slanting drops of rain slamming the sodden earth, players wielded mallets like sabres as they cannoned the ball towards the goals, drawing cheers from those in the stands. Sawai Padmanabh Singh takes a swing with his mallet at the Rajasthan Polo…

The endurance-testing Backyard Ultra format is coming to Coimbatore — and to South India — for the first time. The inaugural Coimbatore Backyard Ultra is organised by Prem SB and Nithin SS, the founders of the health and fitness startup, Battle Ground. It will take place on March 22, inside the Kumaraguru Institutions campus. With 58 participants, including ultra runners from across South India, this event aims to introduce the region’s running community to a format that pushes both physical and mental limits. Testing format The Backyard Ultra is unlike any other race. Participants must complete a 6.7-kilometre loop within…

Fit with Fab Farzana Begum walks into Fit with Fab every morning in Visakhapatnam, her hijab neatly tucked in place, a symbol of her identity. “My hijab is a part of me, just like my strength. It doesn’t limit me; it empowers me,” she says. In a field where women are often under-represented, she stands tall. “Fitness is for everyone, no matter what you wear. Strength comes from within,” she adds. When Farzana Begum lost her mother in 2014, she realised how often women’s health takes a backseat in families. Determined to change this, she began advocating for fitness among…

A snapshot from a previous edition of The Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon | Photo Credit: Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh Where the Greater Himalayas rise from the Indo-Gangetic plains to run along Pakistan and China lies a large salt lake on the roof of the world. The Pangong Tso in Ladakh, a sensitive border point at 13,862 feet with temperatures that plummet to -35 degree Celsius, is peopled only by a few locals, bar-headed geese, and crustaceans in its deep depths. The only constant that has survived for centuries in its thin air is Buddhism. On February 25, at this…

At a practice session of Japanese martial art form Kendo at Combat Kinetics, Teynampet in Chennai | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN A week since my first Kendo class with the Chennai Kendo Club, I find myself often zoning in and out of a larger cosmic zen. When things go wrong, I say ‘utsuke’ (meaning idiot) and when I wish to return to my quiet, I mutter ‘bushido’ (the way of the warrior) to centre myself. Elan Kathiravan, my sensi and the chief instructor of Aikido of Chennai, said that this is likely to be a consequence, now that I’m a…

Chennai’s interest in MMA catapulted with the popularity of UFC | Photo Credit: special arrangement Between many giggles, a couple of tiny wrestlers are warming up for the day at the 11-year-old Chennai MMA Academy in Nungambakkam. They sprint, do bear crawls, frog jumps and leech walks, and quickly move on to strengthening exercises without so much as breaking a sweat. I watch them in trepidation and awe. Until this momentous day, I am blissfully unaware of the sheer number of variations a warm-up ‘walk’ could have. I walk like a crab, crawl like a turtle, jump like a duck,…

Equestrian sports have long been associated with discipline, skill, and an unmatched bond between rider and horse. Unlike other athletic pursuits, horse riding requires an intricate understanding of movement, balance, and communication, making it one of the most unique and rewarding sports. While cities like Delhi and Bengaluru have well-established equestrian circuits, Coimbatore is steadily gaining momentum, with an increasing number of enthusiasts taking interest in the sport.  Among the drivers of this growth is Alexander Equestrian Club, which has been promoting horse riding in the region since 2013. Founded by Sakti Balaji in collaboration with the Martin Lottery Group,…

Anvitha Padamati | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “I value the journey as much as the summit. People assume mountaineering is a cakewalk for me, but I always remind them —and myself — that each mountain is different and must be respected,” says Anvitha Padamati, a 27-year-old mountaineer and trainer from Bhongir (Bhuvanagiri), Telangana. In January, she scaled Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in the Americas at 6,961 metres above sea level. Her previous expeditions include Mount Elbrus in Russia, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, and, closer to home, Everest, Manaslu, Rhenock, and Gori Chen. She now aims…

When celebrity fitness expert Namrata Purohit started her first Pilates studio in 2011, there were only a couple of studios in the country. “Only a few people seemed to be aware of Pilates. But we quickly saw footfalls increase,” she recalls. Since then, things have rapidly changed. Her brand, The Pilates Studio which she co-founded with her father Samir Purohit has 32 branches across the country at present. Among the thousands of clients she has worked with are a slew of actors including Kareena Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan, Ishaan Khatter and Arjun Kapoor.  A view of…

When four of Chennai’s leading club tennis players Vikram Seshasayee, Sooraj Viswanathan, G Rajesh and B Venkteshwar met up in November 2024, it was not to discuss tennis. The four of them were in final discussions about putting up Chennai Picklersss by Sports Den, a state of the art indoor Pickleball facility at Porur that would be open to the public round-the-clock. In recent years, a growing trend has emerged in the world of racquet sports. Tennis players, from professionals to recreational enthusiasts, are increasingly trading in their tennis rackets for pickleball paddles. One revealing statistic is that out of…

When four of Chennai’s leading club tennis players Vikram Seshasayee, Sooraj Viswanathan, G Rajesh and B Venkteshwar met up in November 2024, it was not to discuss tennis. The four of them were in final discussions about putting up Chennai Picklersss by Sports Den, a state of the art indoor Pickleball facility at Porur that would be open to the public round-the-clock. In recent years, a growing trend has emerged in the world of racquet sports. Tennis players, from professionals to recreational enthusiasts, are increasingly trading in their tennis rackets for pickleball paddles. One revealing statistic is that out of…

A fitness trainer at a gymnasium in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran Thiruvananthapuram’s rapidly growing network of upscale health clubs is emerging as a youngster’s mecca for employment. Hundreds of youth from struggling working-class families with an affinity for bodybuilding are becoming certified physical trainers to cash in on the fitness fad. Most seem driven by the desire to break free from the fettering grind of a ten-to-five job to pursue their studies and passion for fitness while supplementing the family income. Nevertheless, Justice Alexander Thomas, chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), recently heard that the stylishly…

Saurabh Bothra, 32, is everyone’s favourite ‘son’. Maybe that’s because he has mastered the ability to get even the most inactive women to exercise and feel better about themselves. He lives by the ‘yoga everyday’ motto printed on his white tee, showing up for them every single day since he launched his self-funded online yoga startup Habuild, days before the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. “If you are expecting someone else to be consistent, you have to be the epitome of that,” he says. His marketing team isn’t targeting that coveted 18-45 age group. Unlike most, he doesn’t invisibilise the…

An exclusive cycling competition will be conducted for kids in the age group of 8 to 12 in a safe environment | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Chennai Cycling Thiruvizha is a carnival dedicated to all things cycling. This annual event brings together cyclists, the general public, and businesses, creating a space to engage and learn.Organised by Chennai Cyclists, one of the largest cycling clubs in the city, the event highlights the benefits of cycling for health, fitness, and sustainable urban living. Chennai Cyclists was founded in 2012 by a small group of five to six enthusiasts. Today, the community…

Raj Ganpath | Photo Credit: Johan Sathyadas In the introduction to his debut book, Simple, Not Easy, Raj Ganpath says that the book is an unusual mix of science, reason and positivity meant to provide clarity and inspiration. There is a consistent reference to the word ‘simple’ all through his book. It makes sense if you have worked out with Raj at The Quad, a Chennai-based new age functional fitness bootcamp he co-founded in 2011. Or if you have seen him on Instagram where he posts short videos every single day about strength training, lifestyle changes, nutrition, fitness myths and…

At 66 years, K Selvanayagam is of the firm belief that running is in everyone’s blood. “If you decide to run and have the resolve to see this through, the rest of your life — your schedule will automatically fall into place,” he says. This is definitely the case for the Chennai resident, whose day usually begins at 4 am, with a 90-minute run on one of the city’s many flyovers. K Selvanayagam during a marathon Selvanayagam is among the city’s hordes of runners, and at 60, has seen the evolution of running in the city — right from the…

Amitash says his life is now scheduled keeping in mind his pickleball game time in the evenings.  “Three to four days a week, I get together with a large group to play and we have at least one court booked in advance for the month. I much prefer getting my cardio outdoors, and through a sport which pickleball has made possible,” says the Chennai-based actor, who has been playing sport all his life. “We have over 10 great courts to pick from, and clubs in the city have been generous enough to add a pickleball court. The community might be…

Hyrox races are a spectator sport with the audience following athletes from start to finish | Photo Credit: Special arrangement They travel the world to pant and sweat through floodlit stadiums, lugging kettle bells and pounding race tracks. What is this new-age race that has men and women lace up their shoes to alternate between running and lunging, burpees and rowing? Launched in 2017 in Germany by Christian Toetzke, an international race organiser, and Moritz Furste, a field hockey player and Olympian who has also played for the Hockey India League, Hyrox is a series of fitness races that addresses…

There is a certain level of madness to those who dedicate their lives to high-endurance events. After all, there is no glittering cash prize awaiting them at the finish line, no international medal bringing fame. Most often, they get a certificate and a medal or shield commemorating their feat. And yet, these individuals wake up at unholy hours, run excruciating distances, and train relentlessly for years just to participate in events that push the very boundaries of human endurance. They do this because, as they often say, “It’s not about the external prizes; it’s about the internal satisfaction. That’s the…

Watch: Fitness coaches are now swinging Hanuman gadas | Video Credit: The Hindu Akharas, a place of practice for Indian martial arts, are not for everyone. Traditionally a macho, male domain, they demand years of determination, sweat and perseverance. “Boys must start with rope climbing, swimming and Indian burpees. Only after three to four years can you swing the gada, then wrestle,” says says Gyanshankul Singh, who began when he was 14. Yet, around the world, workouts built around ancient Indian fitness equipment, originally created for warriors and then wrestlers, are now being embraced by a cross-section of people in gyms,…

Watch: Fitness coaches are now swinging Hanuman gadas | Video Credit: The Hindu Akharas, a place of practice for Indian martial arts, are not for everyone. Traditionally a macho, male domain, they demand years of determination, sweat and perseverance. “Boys must start with rope climbing, swimming and Indian burpees. Only after three to four years can you swing the gada, then wrestle,” says says Gyanshankul Singh, who began when he was 14. Yet, around the world, workouts built around ancient Indian fitness equipment, originally created for warriors and then wrestlers, are now being embraced by a cross-section of people in gyms,…

“I will not sell to a man with a big belly,” declares Gyanshankul Singh. As multifaceted as he is opinionated, Singh teaches wrestlers at the 490-year-old Swaminathan Akhara in Varanasi, in addition to being a certified strength coach, an arm wrestler and a self-confessed poet. He also makes traditional wooden fitness equipment that Indian wrestlers train with, like the mudgar, Hanuman gada, jori and sumtola. However, he is insistent that his “equipment is only for people who are into fitness. I take a lot of time to make each piece. The wood takes time”. Similarly, akharas (a place of practice for Indian martial arts) are not for…

As the marathon season approaches, the running community of Visakhapatnam is in full gear, preparing with vigour and discipline. Various running groups in the city have embraced a structured approach to training, with emphasis on injury prevention, fitness and fostering camaraderie among runners. For many, these activities are a mix of disciplined preparation, community support, and a commitment to encouraging newcomers to take their first strides towards marathon success. Vizag Runners Society, a dedicated collective, has been encouraging runners to focus on gradual endurance building. The emphasis is on long runs over the weekends, complemented by midweek strength training and…

A still from the previous edition of the race. | Photo Credit: NEERAJ DEV VARMA The earliest known set of obstacle course races (OCR) were created by armies to test the endurance of soldiers in hostile battlegrounds. To run with steady feet, climb with strength, and lunge forth with brute force, were essential in the survival and protection of their people. Centuries later, the modern iteration of this race invites participants who wish to challenge their strength, without the pressure of an impending life-or-death combat. “If I wereto ask you, who the strongest athlete out there is, you would tell…

Na Murali at his gym, Fitzone in Chennai | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B Na Murali’s tryst with fitness began during his teenage years, when he got fascinated with judo, a Japanese martial art. His coach would teach him the basics , but that seemed insufficient for him. As a restless and enthusiastic 17 year old, he was desperate to get access to a gym, which he could not afford to back then. It was then that a friend requested him to take charge of his gym in the evening , and he grabbed the opportunity. “Though I was not…

Tarakesh Kolli performing at a dapostar workshop in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Visakhapatnam will experience a new wave of creative expression with the city’s first dapostar workshop. Scheduled to take place this weekend at the VUDA Park, the event will introduce participants to dapostar, a type of flow art — a vibrant fusion of movement and object manipulation that has captivated audiences worldwide. Organised by Local Hungama, this workshop is designed to bring together beginners, enthusiasts, and experienced practitioners for an immersive experience in dapostar, that combines spinning, dance, and martial arts. The event will be led by…

The tide is high. Lean waves lap against the curved shoreline of Kovalam. P Harish, all of seven, has caught sight of a promising wave. He chases after it, and in a quick swerve, tames the to-be giant. His surfboard is easily twice his size.   Watch: Meet Tamil Nadu’s next generation of champion surfers | Video Credit: Thamodaran B. Not too far away, in an endearing show of fine sportsmanship, Saanvi Hegde takes her opponent Kamali Moorthy on a piggyback ride to the shore. The latter has injured her ankle. The little surfers — giants when it comes to balancing…

Participants ahead of the Sari Marathon on Sunday | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN Weekends  are never dull or quiet near Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School, a stretch that sees marathons, walks and rallies in quick succession. When we head there early on Sunday, one side of the road has been taken over by a large group of students in matching white tees. On the other, a large group of women wait for a checkered flag to announce the start of their marathon. Every woman there was in a saree – in different weaves and colours, and draped in different styles. …

Reshma Valliappan, 40, hopes to create the world’s largest art piece that spreads out across the 180 yards x 150 yards of the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Motera Stadium in Gujarat. Called the Shared Consciousness Project, she describes it as “a search for human connection through art”. Reshma, who has battled several medical problems, including Reye’s syndrome at a year and a half, being diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22, and with scar epilepsy caused by a meningioma (a tumour) in 2011. “In 2011, it was operated upon, but then it came back in September 2019,” she says, adding that…

Contrary to the message drilled into us in 2020, I touch my face. I am trying to count exactly how many dry patches I have and whether or not they are larger than coins — questions I had never given thought to, before trying out SkinKraft’s questionnaire. This is a skin analysis, based on which the Telangana-based company curates customised skincare products. The personalised beauty industry is finding a market in India with homegrown brands such as SkinKraft, Bare Anatomy, Freewill, Vedix and Forest Essentials dipping into the waters. The way these bespoke skincare and haircare brands operate is more…

A couple of days ago I watched a young boy, perhaps no more than five years of age, break a biscuit he was holding in his hand and pass half of it to his possibly, younger sister, who I imagined, must have been around three years old. The girl looked at her brother and beamed, while the brother acknowledged and reciprocated with an equally endearing look. Watching this from near, I felt extremely joyful and realised that when I have been able to share, whatever it be, material or otherwise, I have always felt satisfied. Sharing seems so joyful. A…

Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art that originated in peninsular India as a part of military training for warriors. Kalaripayattu is derived from the words ‘Kalari,’ which means “a place, threshing floor, or battlefield,” and ‘Payattu,’ which means to “exercise in arms or practice.” It is today used for everything from self-defence and becoming self-aware and alert, to a way of losing weight and flexibility training. The martial art form is seeing a resurgence through Zoom classes, while its Instagram-worthy visuals and fitness aspects will only grow its popularity. Read more here: Kalari, the new yoga?

A gamer holding a controller The lockdown and the launches of gaming smartphones and the new Xbox and PlayStation consoles saw a groundswell of new and/or returning gamers. The immersive past-time became an outlet for many in a time of loneliness and distancing but it also brought an unhealthy product of its own: simulation or simulator sickness, a type of ‘cybersickness’. Often coming in around 30 minutes into focussed game-play, the symptoms are similar to that of motion sickness: fatigue, uneasiness, dizziness, headaches and, if it gets worse, vomiting and subsequent weakness. The irony here is that unlike motion sickness,…

Srinivas Oblum’s dedicated time at the gym is not very common for an average 56-year-old. The businessman — also a Harley Davidson rider- —- starts his day at the gym with his trainer. He surprised his family and himself (to some extent) when he decided to enter a bodybuilding competition and came fifth in an open championship the past weekend. “It was more of a pleasant surprise for all. My family is aware of my time at the gym and dedication towards my body and health. But they did not expect me to enter a competition. Nor did I,” says…

‘Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain At Any Age’ Dr Sanjay Gupta, Hachette India This is a book, both for the young and the old, who want to protect their brain from decline and keep it young, healthy, and sharp. The science-driven guide by Atlanta-based neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, also includes a 12-week plan that consists of daily practice strategies. The author provides insights from top scientists all over the world to debunk myths and help readers maintain cognitive health. For instance, he explores and explains in detail the efficacy of so-called best diets or exercise regimes for the brain. He…

The pandemic and the lifestyle changes made our sleep deficit worse. Enter sleep aids that claim to help us with the process. A study done by the market research company P&S Intelligence shows the global sleeping aids market worth USD 79 billion in 2019 is predicted to reach USD 163billion by 2030. “These sleeping aids can be used along with maintaining good sleep hygiene. While aids have been found useful, their effects can vary from person to person,” says Dr Nileena NKM, psychiatrist and fellow in sleep medicine at Nithra Institute Of Sleep Sciences, Chennai. If you are looking for…

The right way to clean our teeth The FDI World Dental Federation tells us that 2.3 billion people across the world suffer from tooth caries of permanent teeth. “One of the most important reasons for this is not cleaning our teeth properly. This can lead to the formation of a sticky layer called plaque in which bacteria called Streptococcus mutans proliferate. It produces an acid that demineralises our teeth, which in turn leads to cavities, gum problems, and eventually loss of teeth,” explains Dr K Abhirami, orthodontist and associate professor, Department of Dental Surgery, PSGIMSR, Coimbatore. When should we clean…

A swimming pool run by Nishal Millet, where there’s strict lane adherence Pools are opening up across the country, and while many doctors say they are best avoided because of crowds and the looming second wave of infections, it is not the water itself that is the problem. The US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that it “is not aware of any scientific reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in pools…” However, it is best to be cautious, check pool protocol, and always maintain physical distance in the water, on the…

In 2017, two social scientists from Stanford University, Lauren Howe and Benoit Monin, wanted to find out how to make health messages from physicians more effective. For decades, marketing firms have relied on the popular idea that medical experts are the most influential people for spreading health-and-lifestyle changes. If a physician wants you to try a new diet, they would be most convincing if they were to model that behaviour themselves. But for an obese patient, a healthy physician who advertises the merits of exercise by discussing their personal routine is not in fact likely to be an effective source…

Suniel Shetty posted a nostalgic tweet on March 31, which marked the 21st anniversary of Hera Pheri ’s release. Sharing a still from the film, he said, “No wonder we underestimate how quickly time flies. It seems I blinked, and 21 years went by. What a film we made.” The slapstick comedy by Priyadarshan is among his finest films in a career spanning close to three decades. But the veteran actor makes an admission: “I got a break in films due to my action and not due to my acting.” Also Read | Get ‘First Day First Show’, our weekly…

The push-up is an upper-body exercise that works on the pectoral muscles on our chest and triceps on our legs. “It is done keeping your head to toe in a straight line and primarily moving the elbow. Anyone who can hold a plank for a minute can easily start on a push-up,” says Arvind Ashok, co-founder, The Quad, Chennai. Getting the technique right is important for its efficacy. To do a standard push up, start by lying face down on the floor with hands slightly wider than shoulder-width. Raise your body off the floor by extending your arms. Make sure…

Abbas Ali, a fitness trainer who has trained Shilpa Shetty, Sonakshi Sinha, and Shahid Kapoor in the past, remembers the whey supplements of the early 2000s. “Strawberry was the tastiest flavour; chocolate was the worst, but on the whole, they all tasted bad,” he says, of the days when a box of 42 sachets would cost ₹7,000 to ₹12,000. “If you were having two or three a day, you were really wealthy.” Those were the nascent days of gym training, when fitness instructors, most often high school graduates, advised their clients on supplements. Their inspiration: beefed up Bollywood men. “We…

In shirodhara, a combination of ksheerabala oil is poured onto the forehead and then massaged to keep the stress away | Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M Karkidakam, the darkest month marked by heavy rains in the Malayalam calendar that falls between July and August, brings about a complete shift in culinary practices. Oushada kanji or marunnu kanji, a traditional dish believed to boost immunity during the rainy season, becomes popular during the month, and it happens to be a preferred month to indulge in soothing ayurvedic massages to rejuvenate body and mind. “Because of the change in weather, immunity is low…

Sabita Mahto and Shruti Rawat are on the Trans Himalayan Cycling Tour for the One Billion Rising campaign Some time in March, feminist-activist Kamla Bhasin posted a Facebook message saying she had bought a cycle in time for her 75th birthday. She was looking for women her age to bike, and the group would be called Cycling Feminist Aunties in their Seventies. She also asked Hero Cycles to start a brand called Shero Cycles, which led to the message getting shared around social media, with over 400 comments just on her post. “It was a joke,” she says, though she…

Young Woman working out at home in modern flat watching helpful video on lap top The past year has seen several gyms shut and indoor workouts becoming the norm. Along with Zoom sessions with workout buddies and Facebook lives with trainers, app-based fitness programmes also became popular. These are workouts by celebrities that you can try. Jennis Jennis This app allows training with UK’s Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill. She offers workouts and nutritional advice to suit beginners, intermediate and expert fitness levels. Her sessions vary from five to 29 minutes and she has workouts for general fitness, expecting and…

When Anju Kushan’s husband, Kushan Prakashan, VFX and animation expert, recovered from COVID-19 in October 2020, she remembered something she had heard in the film Virus . “Fumigation — they mention how it works against the virus. It stuck in my mind. When both Kushan, and his brother Lavan, recovered we got it done at our homes and office,” says the Kochi-based film subtitler. At the time there were few agencies in Kochi offering the service; they turned to Peepal Oxycare, a Kochi-based company that supplies oxygen concentrators, nebulisers, ventilators and similar equipment. “Sanitisation and disinfection are not our core…

Lavanya Narain and Gladston P Since 2020, hitting the gym has not been possible for everyone. So, what better than working out in the comfort of your home with your partner? Here are a few couples who bonded, and fell in love, over a shared interest in fitness and health. Lavanya Narain and P Gladston It was in 2001 that Bharatanatyam dancer Lavanya Narain (44) decided to learn a new art form. She wanted something more challenging and ultimately took up kalaripayattu. She enrolled under coach Shaji John at Besant Nagar, Chennai for her training. It was there that she…

It’s been over a month since Tanya Goenka embarked on a fitness routine. “I had an active childhood — swimming, dancing, karate and Taekwondo,” says the 18-year-old from Hyderabad. The rigours of high school forced a slowdown, and the onset of the pandemic in 2020 paused many of her activities. Being homebound and glued to online classes for hours led to a change in eating habits; lethargy set in. With school behind her, and looking forward to heading to the US for college in Fall 2021, she hopes to prioritise health and fitness. She enrolled for personal training with fitness…

Vinay Menon had never really watched a football match — live or on television — till he found himself at the Stamford Bridge stadium in 2009, watching Chelsea play. He did not need tickets: Because this 46-year-old from India is the football team’s wellness consultant. Now, during season, he spends his days training with the team, and watching their multiple matches. “Cherai to Chelsea” is how he likes to describe his story. Incidentally, that is also the name of the biography his wife, Flomny Menon, wrote, which was published last year. “Cherai is a small village near Kochi in Kerala.…

Six women, belonging to the fishing community from Deepor Beel (a permanent freshwater lake in Guwahati, Assam), have worked together to create biodegradable and compostable yoga mats that reflect their community’s beliefs in biodiversity, conservation and cultural continuity. After working on it for a year, the mat made of natural materials — mostly water hyacinths — is ready to be launched. As a tribute to the place they come from, the mat is named after the Purple Moorhen ( Kaam Sorai in Assamese), a migratory bird that is unique to the beel (lake). The design and process of dyeing and…

iOS 15 brings secure sharing and new insights for users within the Health app. This year’s Apple Worldwide Developer Conference brimmed with announcements for just the Health app alone. One of its new features is a new Sharing tab in the native Health app letting users privately share their data with a trusted partner or caregiver. This is indeed part of the company’s long-term journey to become synonymous with health-tech. (Subscribe to our Today’s Cache newsletter for a quick snapshot of top 5 tech stories. Click here to subscribe for free.) The Sharing feature seems to be a ‘data engager’,…

That lifestyle diseases are prevalent more among those who follow a sedentary lifestyle than those who are physically active is a given. But their incidence is 62% and 9%, respectively, as per the results of a survey carried out in Palakkad and Malappuram districts, and could be some food for thought. The survey titled ‘Prevalence of lifestyle diseases: Comparison with respect to gender, locale, age and lifestyle’ was done by V. Nandya, an assistant professor with the Department of Physical Education, University of Calicut. The sample size was 200 people. Data collection was done between 2018 and 2019 from hospitals…

When 28-year-old Noor Shukla (name changed to protect privacy) decided to deal with her Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), one of her extended family members ushered her to an acquaintance who was an Ayurvedic specialist. Instead of offering empathy and holistic guidance, he told Noor that she was ‘disgusting’, ‘fat’, that she ‘has no shame’, and that she ‘better help herself.’ Eleven months later, Noor tells MetroPlus she is far too traumatised to speak openly about PCOS. “I had already been to a couple of doctors at that point and I experienced very little empathy or understanding. People do not understand…

Last week, Moser & Cie’s Edouard Meylan completed the Jungfrau Marathon 2021 with his brother, Bertrand (also the CEO of quirky watch brand, Hautlence). ‘‘That’s 42 km with 2000m ascent’’ Edouard posted on Instagram. The Swiss CEO, 44, has been working towards this feat for months, cheered on by the Moser community that follows him on social media. The marathon was part of a fundraiser with RoomtoRead, a non-profit that is focussed on girls’ education and children’s literacy in Asia and Africa. Meylan, who believes that “everything starts with education” told The Hindu Weekend in an interview earlier this month,…

There are two things R Manikandan lives for: the chain of Toneez Fitness Centres he established as a 23-year-old, and bodybuilding. Over the past month, he has been consumed by both. After opening three stores of Toneez Wellness in Chennai and Hyderabad, he is now in Uzbekistan, representing India at the 12th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship, which begins today. This is the third time he will be taking part in this competition, having won the Mr World title twice: gold in 2017 and silver in 2018. “I want Indians to treat bodybuilding like the challenging sport it is,”…

Choreographer Anusha Swamy tests out the Sthenos fitness pole at a workshop in Chetpet EcoPark The air at Mannurpet’s network of streets is punctuated by sounds of machining: of steel hitting steel, metal drilling into slabs of concrete, and the sparks of welding. At the periphery of Ambattur Industrial Estate, these streets are lined with small-scale shops involved in the production of automobile components for companies such as TVS, BharatBenz, Nissan and Hyundai. Criss-crossing these lanes on their bikes, Mathew Fernandes and Prasanna Perumal say that this mecca of automobile manufacturing is the base for their fitness startup, Sthenos. Along…

Rohit Rao starts gasping for air. He is 6000 metres above sea level. The Dzo Jongo peak (6240 metres) in July while still accessible, is not easily scalable. Rohit made it to the base camp at 5,800 metres after six days of ascent. He is tantalisingly close to the top. As the air gets thinner, the summit seems to get farther. It is dark, too. He left base camp at around 9.30 pm; it is about 2 am now. Or maybe 3 am. After a point, he does not know what time it is, where he is or where he…

Runners from Visakhapatnam have been busy concocting the perfect challenge. This December they will host the Ultribe-Paderu — the first ever ultra trail running event of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, set to be held in the Eastern Ghats. An ultra marathon is all about ultimate endurance and regular training; running more than 42.2 kilometres is no mean task. The run also takes participants to some of the world’s most idyllic locations, where terrain and environment together pose a bracing challenge. Ultribe-Paderu, organised by the Visakha Trail Running Association (VTRA), promises to have a trail for everyone, from beginners to endurance…

Smartwatches have found a new appeal. Driven by a pandemic-induced shift in consumer awareness about health and fitness, smartwatches are seeing tremendous growth in India. Shipments surged fourfold to a record in the July-September quarter. “The third quarter of 2021 was the biggest quarter for smartwatches,” said Anshika Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint. “We have seen that because of COVID-19, there has been a change in customer preferences. People are shifting to smartwatches from traditional watches. They are looking for health-related features such as tracking steps, SPO2 level, heart rate or their sleep pattern on an ongoing basis… this…

A treadmill test at AGs Master Healthcare Check Up Centre in Coimbatore “Did you know that every fourth woman in Coimbatore is prone to diabetes?” asks Dr Adityan Guhan, a diabetologist in the city, quoting the National Health Survey report 2021 (fifth edition). “It’s a worrying trend,” he adds. As for the nutritional status of women in the age group of 15 to 49, the findings further indicate that about 50% of them are overweight or obese with a BMI exceeding 25. Sedentary lifestyle “Every second women is obese. And, their blood sugar levels are on the higher side. Women,…

Caught in a plateauing third wave, Chennai is cautious once more. But this time, the focus is more on deep breathing than turmeric shots. This pivot towards being hyper aware of one’s health began in early 2020, as people began to isolate following the odd, untimely sniffle. If early-2020 saw an unhealthy obsession with immunity boosters and quick fixes, now, after two pandemic-shaped years, there is a more scientific, practical approach to staying healthy. Despite the rise of ‘fitspo’ created by a growing tribe of influencers, rather than being shredded, the 2022 approach to fitness seems to be the healthiest…

“Let me confide the best part,” laughs 66-year-old Rita Mathur, her voice ringing with childlike enthusiasm as she describes her first trek to Everest Base Camp (5,364 metres) in October 2021. “A lot of young trekkers stopped to ask my age and take a picture to show their mothers and grandmothers.” Though she may have been an older than the typical Everest trekker, Rita’s story is not unusual anymore . “I notice more and more senior citizens going for these trips,” says Rahul Ogra, founder, Mystic Himalayan Trails, who recently accompanied a group of senior citizens to Ladakh in freezing…

The display on Apple Watch Series 7 has a unique refractive edge that makes full-screen watch faces and apps appear to seamlessly connect with the curvature of the case. | Photo Credit: Apple Inc When Apple launched the Watch Series 7 in October 2021, many expected the smartwatch to have a host of new health-tech features for the user to enjoy. Watch Series 5 introduced an electrocardiogram (ECG) while the Watch Series 6 added a blood-oxygen monitor or pulse oximeter, the latter a fitting feature in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  But when Apple revealed the hook of…

Shormistha Mukherjee | Photo Credit: Special arrangement There’s nothing funny about cancer yet you cannot help but grin while reading Shormistha Mukherjee’s book Cancer, you picked the wrong girl – a true story. The author shares her “no-holds-barred account of her journey navigating a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment”. Despite knowing what is coming, the part where the author gets her tests done and goes to collect her reports sets your heart pounding. Shormistha’s story could be the story of thousands of women in similar situations. What makes the book endearing and unputdownable is the candour with which she tells…

Zeenath Shihab learned to cycle when she turned 44. A mother of two 20-year-olds, she overcame family reservations and enrolled in Cochin Corporation’s ‘Cycle With Kochi’ programme.  “I feel thrilled at realising my childhood dreams. Today my family is proud of me and my parents are pleased,” says Zeenath. She is from the first batch of 160 women who are being trained to bicycle under the project that strives to empower economically weaker women and high school girls in Kochi.   Aimed at moulding a generation of cyclists that will change the environment and eco system of the city in…

When fuel prices are on the rise, employees of the Manali plant of Kothari Petrochemicals could not have asked for a better gift from their employer. The company recently surprised its employees by gifting them a bicycle each. The message was loud and clear: stay fit and do your bit for the environment. The plant has 142 employees on its rolls, and right from those at the leadership level to the attender all get the same bike – a Hercules. “We have already distributed 100 bicycles and are waiting for the next lot to arrive,” says V Murugeswaran, senior manager…

Members of Tower Twisters togged up in ethnic wear. Photo: Special Arrangement Imagine a Zoom session on pure mathematics by college professors being interspersed every now and again with a raucous recital of the first ten numbers by kindergarteners. Though both exercises deal with maths, throwing them together is an incongruity. Tower Twisters, a chapter of Chennai Runners, spotted a similar mismatch with the result that it now operates with four official WhatsApp groups. Vikram Mohan, one of Tower Twisters’ founding-members, notes that one WhatsApp group hosts those members with a blinkered vision, being fixated only on running. The group…

An aerial yoga class in progress at Loving Earth Yoga and Wellness Studio in Fort Kochi  I make my way to Bree Mcilroy’s Loving Earth Yoga and Wellness Studio in Fort Kochi to explore Aerial Yoga. The New Zealander has recently added this Americanized version of calisthenics to the different Yoga versions she offers.  Aerial Yoga combines Pilates, dance and Yoga. Earlier Bree had introduced vegan fare to the city and with it a lifestyle of slow food and mindful fitness. The studio’s white walls and baby blue doors and windows are inviting. Bright daylight drops in strands from glass…

Anurag Nallavelli during his mountaineering expedition to scale Dhaulagiri, Nepal | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT On April 9, Anurag Nallavelli summited Dhaulagiri mountain range in Nepal, the seventh highest mountain in the world at 8167 metres above sea level. In September 2021, he summited Manaslu peak, 8163 metres above sea level. The Hyderabadi completed both expeditions without using supplemental oxygen. As a note of caution, it is imperative to add that this requires research and training to understand how one responds to high altitudes without supplemental oxygen. Anurag’s motivation to not rely on supplementary oxygen came when he read the…

Aishwarya Rai at the 75th Cannes film festival. | Photo Credit: REUTERS “It is uncool to fat shame any one,” tweeted Malaika Arora Khan last week after her sister Amrita was body-shamed for gaining weight. The trolls, of course, did what they best do. After her red carpet appearance at Cannes last month, Aishwarya Rai was at the receiving end for her ‘botox looks’. The trolls labelled her ‘buddhi’ (old) and aunty and said the fillers treatment went wrong for her and as a result she’s lost her charm. Amrita instagrammed a befitting reply: “Got a lot of hate on…

Women participating in the Handloom Sari Walk on the beach road in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: V RAJU Visakhapatnam is set to host a vibrant celebration with a three-kilometre sari walk along Beach Road, ahead of National Handloom Day (August 7). The second edition of the event organised by The Spirit of Vizag Society aims to honour India’s rich handloom heritage while promoting walking among women. The event is open for women of all ages who can don their handloom sari and join the walk that will begin at 6am from opposite Viswapriya Function Hall. The objective is to not…

Yamini Muthanna | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The book, Yoga for Children, A Step-By-Step Guide, written by Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, and yoga practitioner, Yamini Muthanna, will be available on Amazon from June 21 as part of World Yoga Day celebrations. The book, published by Om Books International, features 108 asanas and is targeted at the 10 to 20 age group. Yamini, who is a Yogacharaya and Natyacharya has been running a Yogasthala (a dedicated Yoga Institute) and Kalasincham Nrityalaya (a Bharatanatyam learning center) for the more than three decades in Indiranagar, Bengaluru.  Yoga for Children is Yamini’s second book, following The Power of Yoga, which…

Close-up Of a young athlete wearing smart watch and holding kettle bell In the gym | Photo Credit: AndreyPopov Digital wearables, smartwatches and fitness trackers pose unique threats to the security and privacy of customer data, warned the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a global outfit for technical professionals. “By connecting a wearable to an extended ecosystem, one is exposing a larger attack surface,” cautioned Aiyappan Pillai, IEEE Senior Member. “Cybersecurity experts look at this as a supply chain that includes a data generator, an analytics engine and a service provider. Each link in the chain, including the connecting…

Photographer Kunal Daswani and his friends used to be regulars at Chennai’s Presidency Club. Clutching cue sticks, they would chat around the snooker table, with the sharp taps of the coloured balls punctuating the conversation. When the pandemic forced pretty much every place in India to shut down for several months, since March 2020, Kunal missed two things: a sport he liked to play and a social circle. Both, during the lockdowns, were essential — for physical and mental health — yet difficult to engage in. That’s when he did something that changed his life: he rode his brother’s bike.…

A little after dawn breaks over Elliots beach, there are cones being placed on the sand to demarcate areas to play on. A group of children take on an equally motley crew of teens, passing a frisbee and blocking their opponents, running and jumping across the sand. All around, similar pockets have matches going on, with a mix of cheering players and a gaggle of onlookers keenly observing from the sidelines.  Over the weekends in particular, it is not rare to see discs flying up in the air as Chennai’s many Ultimate teams take to the city’s beaches. The many…

Milind Soman with mother Usha and wife Ankita Konwar | Photo Credit: Special arrangement This past spring, Milind Soman and wife Ankita Konwar matched step-for-step running the breadth of Europe. They are back now in Lower Parel, Mumbai, dialling in for a video call along with Usha Soman, Milind’s 84-year-old mother, a retired Biochemistry lecturer, to discuss Keep Moving (published by Juggernaut). The book written with well-known author Roopa Pai (The Gita for Children and Milind Soman’s memoir Made in India are by her) is a part-biography, part-fitness journey of the trio that arguably makes up India’s first family of…

In the silence of the music and the stillness of the movement , the expansive space of objectivity unfolds while I dance. In this space, everything seems leisurely, there is no urgency in the unfolding of characters and no visible end to this state of awareness. But as the muktayam plays, the awareness and objectivity diminish to a barely recognisable, miniscule presence within me, and I quickly emerge again with my name, my titles and roles, fully intact. As a dancer who loved movement, the stillness of the physical practice of yoga was not very pleasurable as a teenager. I…

Mind Muscle Connection “Fitness is not weight loss,” personal fitness trainer V Manokaran busts the myth as we enter his training studio, Mind Muscle Connection in Avaramaplayam. One you walk past the gleaming rows of kettle bells and dumbbells, what greets you is an array of customised fitness equipment built from scratch by Manokaran, who is a mechanical engineer. For example, he customised the Reverse Hyper Extension equipment by mimicking the design invented by Louie Simmons, American powerlifter and strength coach. City Police Commissioner V Balakrishnan IPS at the fitness studio | Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M “The advantage of the…

With road safety awareness in mind, Mumbai cyclist Vijay Malhotra turns into a bell bike man

People enjoying at the newly opened trampoline park and soft play area at Port Stadium in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak If you are looking for high-flying, gravity-defying fun in Visakhapatnam, the newly-opened trampoline park at Vishwanadh Sports Club, Port Stadium, has a lot to offer. The indoor entertainment zone has exhilarating activities for adrenaline lovers of all ages, and is a great way to spend these sweltering summer days. With attractions like wall climb, foam pit, Ninja warrior obstacle courses, basketball with dunking and a soft play area, it is a place where you can jump, scream, play…

Children practicing karra Samu, a traditional martial arts sport of Andhra Pradesh, at VMRDA Central Park in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak A sudden burst of energy fills the air one evening at VMRDA Central Park. With sticks in hand, a team consisting of people of a mixed age group, launches into action. Eyes locked in concentration, their hands move with precision, executing intricate strikes and blocks with effortless grace. The movements flow seamlessly from one technique to another, showcasing the beauty of the martial art form of karrasamu (stick fencing). This traditional martial art form of Andhra Pradesh…

Children participating at the summer camp by Vishwanadh Sports Club at Port Stadium in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Whether your child loves to kick the football, revels at archery or is a budding artist at heart, here is a summer camp that has a plethora of options under one roof. Learn a new sport, unleash creativity, or hone your musical talent at this mix of outdoor and indoor summer camp being hosted at the Port Stadium, Akkayapalem, by Vishwanadh Sports Club. Set to begin from April 29, the camp offers a six-week extravaganza filled with activities for children…

At 6am, when much of Chennai experiences its last few REM cycles, a handful of rowers at the Madras Boat Club (MBC) can be seen dragging their boats out of the dock and entering the Adyar river. In twos, fours, eights and sometimes the rare single scull, they splice through the ripples of the once-sedate waterbody with a gentle ease and unwavering focus. Everything is quiet except for the bird calls and the rippling water underneath. The only interruptions are the occasional instructions to steer the boat right; and the consistent thump of moving oars. “When the boat cuts through…

The Jungly Glow Up has various wellness sessions scheduled for attendees. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement As the pandemic continues to reshape our priorities, the spotlight is on health and wellness. Recognising the need to make wellness enjoyable and accessible, Ananya Bhandare and Pratishtha Rawat, certified health practitioners, have teamed up to introduce Jungly Glow Up — a wellness festival on Sunday. It promises to redefine the way we approach self-care. Jungly Glow Up has a fun matcha session for the attendees. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “Health and wellness should be fun and inclusive,” says Ananya, Founder of Jungly…

Pilots from Indigo dip their feet as they sail at the Chennai Harbour. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement At the Spring Haven Wharf where Chennai’s violent summer sun has settled comfortably in the sky, a group of pilots, accustomed to navigating the clouds, is making its way to J80 class sailboats (racing keelboats) at the Harbour, hoping to try their hand at controlling the waves. For many, who are still in their stiff white and blue uniform, it is their first time onboard a sailboat. “I have lived in Chennai all my life but have never been to sailing in…

Participants at pervious editions of the WCCG Aalam Deepam Duathlon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When the fourth edition of WCCG’s (Chennai Cycling Group) Aalam Deepam Duathlon took place in 2023, the city was still reeling from the grips of the pandemic. Participants who had registered for this event, raced virtually and solitarily to the whirr of their cycle chain. They sped down familiar lanes, huffing and puffing to finish the first leg — the run, and eventually completed with what they did best — cycle. “One could’ve been in Timbaktoo and participated in the race. All they would’ve had…

Dr Umesh Bhammarkar at Pangong | Photo Credit: Special arrangement This month (February 2024), Dr Umesh Bhammarkar from Hyderabad ran one of the most difficult marathons. He ran on the frozen Pangong Lake (world’s highest saltwater lake) in Leh Ladakh. The lake is located at an altitude of 14,272 feet and around 120 athletes from around the world participated in this marathon organised by Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh with the support of the Administration Union Territory of Ladakh and 14 corps of the Indian Army. The World’s Highest Frozen Lake Marathon-2024 is officially registered in the Guinness Book of World…

At the beginning of every year, a wave of zealous resolutions emerge. Reading, travelling, prioritising mental health, fitness, and weight loss seem to make it to the top of everyone’s list. Motivation peaks and gyms invariably witness a surge in memberships. Promises of a healthier lifestyle, chiselled physique, and gym-honed resilience are etched into the collective consciousness.  Training at simpleSTRONG | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement However, beneath the neon glow of fitness ambitions lies a phenomenon — inevitable waning consistency. Come February, gyms that once buzzed with January’s fervour fall silent, as resolutions shift from commitment to quiet echoes of…

Chennai’s brief yet wonderful winter mornings are upon us and the streets are teeming with walkers, runners and cyclists, keen to begin or uphold their tryst with good health. It would be a crime to waste this time indoors. If you are looking to ditch the gym and get a breath of fresh air, here are four mostly traffic-free stretches that have emerged as a paradise for walkers amidst the concrete shackles that make the city.  Velachery People walking and jogging in the early morning at Velachery. | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ_B A snug, little freeway between Perungudi MRTS and…

What is pickleball? It’s a question that K Mohit Kumar gets often. It’s a question he loves answering. Even as he skilfully chops the ball on a windy Saturday morning at the recently-held South India Pickleball Premier League at Hotfut SPR Sports in Perambur, Mohit answers questions from curious onlookers. He was introduced to the sport in 2019 through a family friend visiting from the US, where it’s a fast-growing sport, and has been playing it since. For the uninitiated, pickleball combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. Played both indoors and outdoors with a paddle and a ball,…

Come mid-July, the skies in Kerala turn grey, the temperature drops and the rain falls without respite. It is the start of Karkkadakam, the last month of the Malayalam calendar. With farming coming to a halt and people forced indoors, the time is traditionally used to rejuvenate the body and mind. Many traditional customs are associated with this period, like reading the Ramayana daily and following a strict diet. But the one ritual that Asha Devi Varma, a former agriculture officer and a member of the Poonjar Royal family recalls with much nostalgia is the Karkkadaka kuli or the ceremonial…

A file photo of a gym. Gym users consume protein powders as dietary supplements to gain muscle mass. | Photo Credit: Representational photo Karnataka Government would launch a special drive to create awareness among fitness enthusiasts who frequent gyms about the side-effects of unmonitored and unsafe consumption of protein powders, Law and Parliamentary Minister J.C. Madhuswamy and Health Minister K. Sudhakar informed the Legislative Assembly. In response to a question by Sathish Reddy (BJP) during zero hour, the Minister said steps would be taken to check illegal sale of protein powders in gyms. Gym users consume powders as dietary supplements…

A collage of the authors who contributed to ‘Talking Fingers’ | Photo Credit: Special arrangement In my mind, I’m hopeful that in times to come I’ll be able to control my thoughts. I can’t control my movements always, so others may think that I don’t know things. Suppose you ask me to bring something; despite knowing exactly what is being asked, sometimes my body does not obey my command. This is 21-year-old Aratrik Dey, a non-speaking youngster in the autism spectrum expressing himself in the book Talking Fingers – Voices of Indian Non-Speaking Autistics. While Aratrik’s father Malay Kanti Dey,…

Bikers at Nandi Hills | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Bengaluru’s ‘bicycle mayor’ Sathya Sankaran reckons the bicycling community here is no less vibrant than the ones in other cities. As a hobby, biking has been fast-growing in Bengaluru especially since the pandemic. If you recently started biking and are wondering where to ride, we got you covered. We asked Bengaluru’s expert bikers to suggest their favourite destinations in and around the city. Hessarghatta Road The Hessarghatta Road in the North-West of Bengaluru is one of my go-to routes for riding. Once or twice a month, on a Saturday or Sunday,…

Dr Raghuram | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Picture this: According to a study by Globocon 2020, In India, every four minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. With some 1,78,000 new cases being diagnosed every year, the incidence of breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer to become the most common cancer in Indian women. What is more alarming is that it is being increasingly diagnosed at a younger age (a decade earlier) in India compared to the West. With 90,000 deaths per annum, tragically, a woman loses her life to breast cancer every eight minutes in the country. For…

Actor Ramya Subramanian | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Mozhi actor Ramya Subramanian, who made her debut as an anchor at the age of 15, says she faced body shaming that forced her to resort to extreme measures, from cutting back drastically on food to working out constantly to hide her “flaws”. Popularly known as VJ Ramya, she is now also a health coach, and has just launched Stop Weighting, (published by Penguin), a book that pivots on her own journey to fitness. “This book is about my story, my journey, and I have put forth everything, including the mistakes I…

Padmavathi Pottabathini | Photo Credit: Special arrangement A journey that started as a search to find her feet steered her towards becoming a support to people with special needs. Set to receive the national award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2022 under the category Sarvshreshth Divyangan on December 3 from the President of India, Padmavathi, a third-time awardee, says the recognition is a reminder to stay committed to her efforts in supporting differently-abled people. As a one-year-old toddler, Padmavathi had barely started taking baby steps when she fell ill with polio and spine scoliosis that…

Latha Srinivasan: Dream Run At this year’s National Masters Athletics Championships, Latha Srinivasan, 62, won three silver medals — in 5K, 1500m, and 800m. She finished her first marathon last year. At an age when most people retire from sports and athletics, she has just begun.  Until four years ago, her exposure to sports was limited to the occasional Olympics and Wimbledon-watching on TV.  “Then, in 2018, I saw an article by Pankaja Srinivasan in The Hindu Metroplus regarding an upcoming marathon in Coimbatore. It kindled an interest within me. So, I contacted a local runners group and joined them,”…

Sakshi Malik, first Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics My Resolution: As a sportsperson I am physically fit as I train throughout the year and eat right. This year, to further enhance my physical and mental wellbeing I am adding yoga to my schedule, and plan to focus more on it. My workout schedule varies everyday. I do weight training twice a week, thrice a week I do wrestling matches, speed training… The duration of my training is usually two-and-a-half to three hours in the morning and evening.  Do you want to get fitter this year? It is…

When many men his age struggle to walk without support, Air Marshal P. V. Iyer (retired), goes for a run every morning. At 93, he stands ramrod straight and gives a firm handshake to send across a message. Age is truly just a number in his case. Celebrated Japanese writer Haruki Murakami’s book What I Talk About when I Talk About Running has attracted thousands to take to running but Iyer had fallen in `love’ with this daily routine much earlier. Author of Fit At Any Age, he won praise from Amitabh Bachchan for his bestselling book. “If you are…

Ride the waves Vipin Chourey glides and then flies over the backwaters making it look like a miracle. But he is actually on an eFoil board, slicing through the waters. A new introduction to Chennai’s water sport scene, eFoiling is like surfing. However, the board is powered by a battery and also comes with a motor, foil, mast, and propeller. It is remote controlled and the wireless technology for the same is concealed within the five feet board.  “The eFoil helps elevate the board above water and this is why it looks like a mix of surfing and flying. These…

My kidney has won!” Anil Srivatsa mouthed that wacky line, one certain to have struck a ludicruous note anywhere else, but not on that day in Newcastle. He could expect only smiling acknowledgements from every direction. At this games which provoked that rather off-the-wall celebration, every participant was one of two things — either an organ donor or a recipient. When his neurosurgeon-brother Dr Arjun Srivatsa (56 now) struck gold in the golf tournament at the World Transplant Games (WTG) in Newcastle in 2019 — Anil (55 now) drew those words out of his heart to celebrate his sibling’s victory.…

A panoramic image of the Old Course at St. Andrew’s, Scotland is plastered across the putting green | Photo Credit: Preethi Ajit As the golf ball rolls, its pace resembles the slow inertia of the sport. Usually played over four days, golf has not quite qualified as a sport that animates people when broadcast. But this mini golf arena in Alwarpet changes that with breezy solutions. Golfer’s Edge Chennai (GEC) is a place where one can learn the sport, miss umpteen shots, order in finger food and invite friends to play simulated games like zombie golf, soccer golf and many more. This…

Early risers and morning joggers along the ECR are used to a fluorescent green helmet gliding down every day at 4am. Wearing it is Priya D, a member of WCCG (Chennai Cycling Group started by Divagaran Thiyagarajan), who cycles every morning down that stretch to the music of Sia’s ‘Unstoppable’ playing from the speaker attached to the cycle. Of late, the cyclist is more determined to put in extra kilometres as she trains for the Chennai Cyclists Aalam Deepam Duathlon organised by Aalam, the philanthropic wing of WCCG. .  Just like Priya there are a number of other enthusiasts across…

Sailboats taking part in the Unifi Capital Offshore Regatta 2023 It has only been half an hour since the last of the sailboats has arrived at Chennai harbour after the finals of the second edition of the Unifi Capital Offshore Regatta on April 7. The famished participants who have been at sea for over 10 hours are drinking tea at the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC). Among them are Praveen Kumar (29) from Rajasthan and Imo Lemnok (25) from Nagaland. They come from states in India that do not have massive water bodies, but are among those with the best…

CBD oil in tea | Photo Credit: iStock images Access to the city’s first medical cannabis clinic is via a steep, winding staircase, leading from a busy tattoo studio. It feels appropriately niche, given the tumultuous history and notoriety of marijuana in India. However, Cansaa, which its CEO Naveen Kumar calls “India’s first integrative healing clinic”, since it combines functional medicine, Ayurveda, acupuncture and medical cannabis, is attempting to change how doctors and patients use what is often dismissed as just a recreational drug, although it is a legal and even ancient form of therapy in India. In fact, manufacturers…

Clockwise from bottom left: Binu Harikumar, Usha Mohan, Radhika Mijulal and Lakshmi Vishwanathan, dancers at Dharani School of Performing Arts in Kochi, Kerala | Photo Credit: Special arrangement “The moment of seniors taking to dance has come,” says Geetha Mathen. In 2006 she founded Natya Vyayaama in Kochi to encourage older women to dance and exercise. “It was ahead of its time then,” she says. In 1998 she had informally started teaching dance to seniors but found few takers. Post the pandemic Geetha is relaunching the classes in May, exclusively for women above 50 and has already received invitations from two apartment…

Dawn is breaking on Shangumukham beach in Thiruvananthapuram. Emil Thomas Sony launches a frisbee into one of his trademark long throws to his team’s cutter Madhav Dev, who runs and dives into the end zone of the field to catch the flying disc and gain a valuable point for his team. Grammar of the Game There are two basic positions in Ultimate Frisbee: handlers and cutters Handler Someone who has good disc skills, and will be responsible for fielding the pull, keeping possession of the disc, and running the offense. Cutter A player who usually plays downfield of the disc…

Manoj Sakunthalan, 24, is Tamil Nadu state medallist in Karate. He started learning karate at the age of five from his father and brother, both of whom are national medallists. From Madurai, Manoj now teaches more than 30 students in the 4 to 40 age group. He says the martial art has taught him self-confidence, discipline and instilled a competitive spirit in him. Doing it every day – even through the lockdown – keeps him fit and gives him energy, enhances his stamina and calms his mind. | Photo Credit: ASHOK R There’s some good news from the pandemic after…

We’ve entered a post-COVID world, but one that has left India’s youth with a set of health challenges in its wake. A generation of under-25s saw major milestones through the pandemic: some became adults over the last three years, some graduated, some got their first jobs. Health, both mental and physical became a priority in a way it hadn’t been before, with a rising awareness of its importance and much more access to information – some legit, some hearsay.  Hear four people tell us how the pandemic made them mindful of their health and shift to positive lifestyles. Disrupted sleep patterns   …

Kerala Ultimate practise session at Kochi as they prepare for the Bharat Tournament scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from June 2 to June 4 | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT A team of 26 players is set to represent Kerala at Ultimate Frisbee, an inter-State flying disc tournament scheduled in Hyderabad from June 2-4. Preparations have included practice sessions held at training camps at Kolenchery, Chalakudy and Kochi, on weekdays and a few weekends over the past month and a half. The flying disc game known as Ultimate has found many fans in Kerala, especially over the past couple of…

Vehicles parked on designated cycle tracks, painted green by CSML, on the Rajendra Maidan-Abraham Madamakkal Road corridor, leave no space for cyclists. | Photo Credit: H. Vibhu The United Nations declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day to acknowledge the bicycle’s importance as a means of transport. Even as more people have embraced cycling in Kochi, it continues to be more a source of exercise or a leisure activity rather than serve a functional purpose as conveyance.  A factor is the absence of cyclist-friendly roads, which makes it an unsafe mode of transport during rush hour traffic on the city’s…

 Inmates of Sri Chitra Home in Thiruvananthapuram learn how to ride a bicycle | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT As always Prakash P Gopinath, Bicycle Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, has several plans to encourage more people to enjoy the ride, on a bicycle. On the occasion of World Bicycle Day today (June 3), Prakash plans to scale up Indus Cycling Embassy’s (ICE) SheCycling campaign to empower women by teaching them to ride a bicycle. Prakash, founder of ICE, says that as of now they have taught more than 400 women in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi to ride a bicycle. From May 22 to…

Naveen wearing his medals and holding the Indian flag Each time athlete and entrepreneur Percival Naveen Howie enters the field, he enters with a yearning to inspire his sons. So, when he picked up the shot put at the 2023 Asia Pacific Master’s meet in South Korea between May 12 and 20, he took with him his yearning, and the words of his father who wanted people to remember his son’s name. In the process, Naveen clinched three gold medals in shotput, discus and javelin throw. An abiding memory from Naveen’s childhood is the moments he spent training with his father,…

N Muthamizh Selvi at the Everest summit | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement At 12.20 a.m. on May 23, N Muthamizh Selvi, a teacher of Japanese from Tamil Nadu, was among the first people to summit Mount Everest for the day. Nobody scales the peak during this hour though. Summit ascents usually occur at three and four in the morning after mountaineers begin from the fourth camp at Everest about 12 hours before. “I had no choice. We were running out of oxygen in my cylinder and the cold winds were relentless. I had to begin summiting and head back down…

Madhuri Palli, the first female runner from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to have completed the grueling Comrades Marathon in South Africa. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “The atmosphere during the run was electrifying with people of all age groups cheering us all along the route. The energy kept me going. I was running with a clear mind without the pressure of a set goal. I could sprint in the last few hundred metres and that was a great feeling,” says Madhuri Palli, a Visakhapatnam-based radiologist and founder of Vizag Runners Society. The 46-year-old runner completed the Comrades Marathon held on…

LuLu Hypermarket | Photo Credit: Siva Saravanan S The first impression takes your breath away. Day two at the newly-opened LuLu Hypermarket, located at Lakshmi Mills Compound on Avinashi Road is nothing short of a celebration. It’s 6pm and the massive corridor at the mall is packed with shoppers in thousands across sections featuring a vibrant line up of fruits and vegetables, beauty and wellness products, mobile phones, laptops, toys, and more. Cheerful shoppers fill their carts with goodies, stop by to click selfies, share the experience over video chats, and giggle away. Minister for Industries, Investment and Commerce TRB…

(From Right) Erika Patel, Chandrasekhar G, Vasu Rangachary, Dharmendar Bafna, Rose Naidu, Yasmin Gulab The road to success at the gruelling Comrades Marathon in South Africa is pock-marked with perseverance, sweat, and tireless hours of running. People from around the world begin preparing at least five months ahead, running nearly 100 kilometres each week, to ensure they can tackle this challenging 96-year-old race. The 87.7 kilometres marathon from Pietermaritzburg to the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban needs to be completed within 12 hours — with runners having to meet the time-based cut-offs at six locations to ensure that they qualify and…

Minutes before getting dropped off mid-ocean at Kovalam (Covelong) for our first open water swimming lesson, Murthy Megavan, the founder of Murthy Surf School, tells me that I am to strap on my life jacket and wait at a spot 100 metres from the shore, marked only by random bobbing waves. “Just relax and talk to Syed,” he says, asking one of his instructors lounging on a surfboard, to accompany me. So I follow instructions, speaking to Syed about job losses, the post-COVID economy, and why I chose to do journalism, somewhere around 20-feet above the ocean bed. I am…

Visakhapatnam girls Dontara Greeshma and Akula Sai Samhitha who will be representing India at the Asian Games in the free style artistic skating event to be held in China. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement It’s a sunny morning at Dhelpur, a suburb in Mohali, where a team of skaters is practising under the watchful eyes of its coaches. There is no scope for mistakes as they glide gracefully. Among them are Akula Sai Samhitha and Dontara Greeshma who will be representing India at the Asian Games in the free style artistic skating event to be held in China in September…

As I inched closer to the top of the 10-foot high climbing wall at the Bounce indoor adventure park, a scene from The Dark Knight Rises came to mind, where Bruce Wayne escapes an underground prison with a death-defying leap. As I recall the scene, my instructor, Nidhi Paradkar, shouts, “Sir, you just need to kick the wall and the harness rope will bring you down safely.” I look down. My heart pounds like a sledgehammer trying to break free from my chest. “Just kick the wall, sir.” My legs tremble. “You just need to let go.” BOUNCE indoor adventure…

At 6.45am on an uneventful day in July, seven trekkers and I wished each other cheery ‘good mornings’ at our campsite in Trunkhol, Kashmir, some 3,500 metres above sea level. Amidst idyllic rolling green meadows where horses grazed, we sat chomping down a hearty breakfast of omelette, buttered toast, Maggi and kahwa, at the foot of Mount Harmukh (5,142 metres), part of the expansive Himalayan range. We were mustering energy for our summit climb to Gangabal lake, a turquoise glacier-fed waterbody about seven kilometres from our camp. Our 20-litre trekking backpacks would have to be left behind. As I packed…

R Muthukutti who won the Palk Bay Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) championship. R Muthukutti, V Muthumariammal and R Ramalakshmi have never lived by the sea. Two out of them do not swim and have barely had the chance to encounter large water bodies. A regular day in their life consists of a morning routine involving studying before heading to work at Loyal Mills, Kovilpatti. They piece together shirts, pants and other garments between 8.45am and 5.30pm. Right after, they head off to work on their language skills, brush up on home economics and play sports at the mill’s learning…

On the first trip to a bouldering gym, apprehension takes over. As you step into your shoes and warm up for your first climb, the feeling persists. But once you conquer your first boulder, the feeling of accomplishment leaves you wanting more. Indoor bouldering, which is beginner-friendly and easily accessible, is finding more takers as climbing gyms become more common in the country. “A lot of people are getting into fitness post-COVID and there is an interesting trend of many moving towards movement training including climbing in addition to regular gyms. Bouldering is a fun way to stay fit and…

Reeni Tharakan power lifting at Ulaanbaataar | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT When Reeni Tharakan hit the gym 10 years ago, at 53, it was driven by a desire to lose weight and stay healthy. The last thing on her mind was powerlifting, let alone winning gold medals at international powerlifting competitions. She won four gold medals in her category at the recently concluded International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic & Equipped Masters Powerlifting Championships at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.  Gymming was a new experience for Reeni who confesses to not having seen the inside of a gym until then: “I did not…

There is a steady drizzle at 6.30am and when I look up, the skies are ominous. I am standing at the corner of Besant Avenue road, next to Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Park. There is a new addition to that corner — a towering arch in green and orange. A well-lit sign declares — ‘Healthwalk Start’ and on either side are silhouettes of two runners. One of Chennai’s most idyllic stretches that delights pedestrians and motorists alike with a canopy of trees — Besant Avenue Road — is now part of a designated stretch for an eight kilometre Health Walk, an…

They may be called India’s late bloomers in the world of sports. It makes them more inspiring. These confident women have displayed skill, grit and determination, practising all year round to win District, State and National-level sporting competitions. All to enter the international area and bring home the gold. Their statement is loud and clear : age is just a number. Reeni Tharakan, 63 years old ’Powerlifting means heavy muscle, and you’ll end up looking like male bodybuilders’ is the biggest misconception women have with regard to powerlifting. This is not true. Women do not have the same kind of…