| Plus |
|
|||
|
Walking their way to fitness By Ruwanthi
Herat Gunaratne and Ishani Ranasinghe Mrs. S. Weerasekera
has been jogging in the Parliament grounds since she came to live
in the Battaramulla area, six years ago. "Before I was not
that committed, but now I don't feel good if I miss a single day."
She admits that earlier she did it to slim down a little but now
it's mainly to keep fit. "Imagine if the lift in your office is not functioning and you can't even climb a few flights of stairs without feeling short of breath," says another walker Nirmalie laughing. "At 52,
I am fit as I can ever be," says S. Gunathilaka. "The walking
makes me high," laughs T. Devaraj, who's been a regular at
the breezy Marine Drive for the past five years. Mr. Devaraj walks
in a group down Marine Drive. N. Nadaraja is another member of the
group. "I've been walking for the past 40 years," he says.
"It's most relaxing and if I miss even a day I feel uncomfortable
and can't sleep at night." This group
has even initiated a "Walkers Club" for the Marine Drive
walkers. "There are around 200 to 300 people who walk here
every day, and it's not only those who live around the area." Commuting every
morning from Polhengoda in time for the walk is rugby coach Y. C.
Chang. "I walk only on the beach, mainly because there is 20%
more oxygen in the atmosphere close to the sea," he says. But with so many gyms popping up in and around town, why walk? "I have some equipment at home, but I still believe that walking is the best method of staying fit. " Claudia Dharmatilleke
was asked by her doctor to take up walking as she had arthritis.
"I used to walk some time ago, but when my doctor recommended
it, I revived the habit," she says. "It's the same whatever
you do, you've got to make a commitment to yourself," says
Sarojini Arasalingam. She's proof that one does not need fancy garb
to walk as she does so in a saree. "I finish up all my work
and only then do I make my way to the beach." It's eight o'clock and most of the walkers are hurrying back to get ready for work. The two of us meanwhile, are on the beach, feeling quite exhausted and wondering who would be willing to give us a ride back home. The look good, feel good attitude More and more
Lankans today are conscious about looking good and keeping fit.
You switch on a T.V and what do you see? Fitness programmes... The
look good, feel good attitude is what it's all about. Early morning
or late evening, it is hard to miss all these fitness fanatics jogging,
walking, cycling... And if you
don't fancy these, there are the many gyms that have sprung up all
over town, not to mention the range of fitness machines available
for those who want do their daily fitness training in the comfort
of their home. Firms like
Himalaya Impex market a comprehensive array of fitness equipment.
" We are known to be the one-stop health shop," says Sunil
Shamdasani, Managing Director. "Soap operas such as 'The Bold
and the Beautiful' have had an impact on people's attitudes"
he explains. "They realise that looking good and keeping fit
requires regular exercise and a proper diet. A person who
is fit can think more clearly, is more confident and alert, and
less stressed out," he adds. There are exercise bikes, body-sculpting machines, and gravity boots and roller blades to anything you can possibly think of in the fitness equipment section with prices ranging from Rs. 400 up to Rs. 160,000. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
There
are no age, gender, race or religious barriers in this group. There
are ladies young and old and men of all shapes and sizes. Everyone
walks. 
