Rise and shine, for a happy, healthy self

Nagpur: Exercising in the morning is mantra for physical and mental fitness. Besides making a person feel elated, exercising helps build strength, tones muscles, burns fat, improves agility and infuses energy to take the day head-on. Exercising prevents illnesses as well as supports treatment for many chronic ailments like heart disease and diabetes. Above all, it gives a person a sense of well-being and fills up one with positivity.
“Any kind of exercise in the morning increases basic metabolic rate (BMR) of the body and remain higher than those who don’t exercise,” says Dr Rajesh Atal, physician and intensivist. “Calories are burned not only at the time of exercising but also throughout the day as the BMR remains elevated. In the long-term, exercising maintains agility of the body, improves cardiac status and helps reduce the blood pressure,” he said.

The physician further said that in diabetic patients morning exercise improves the sensitivity of insulin and hence improves its utilization. This in turn reduces the sugar levels. He advises 30 minutes of exercising for at least five days a week or 150 minutes in seven days with a gap of not more than 48 hours.

Senior physician Dr Ramesh Mundle says that morning exercise keeps all pains and aches at bay. Body releases certain hormones like endorphin in the morning which add a feel-good factor to the mind. Dr Ajay Kate, former president of Indian Medical Association and a surgeon, says that exercising in a group in the morning is more beneficial than doing it alone. “It is a kick to keep you active the whole day,” he said.

Their views are endorsed by Dr Rajesh Singhvi, a surgeon and fitness freak, who stresses that exercising in group has its own advantages. “Exercising together is more motivating,” he says.

Dr PP Joshi, head of medicine department at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College stresses that the fresh and clean air in the morning reduces blood pressure, strengthens the muscles and gives a feeling of elation.

For ENT specialist Dr Madan Kapre, exercising in the morning is a form of meditation. He explains that it gives a person time for oneself and improves biochemical activity of the body. “It gives you a high. This feeling keeps one going for the rest of the day. I cycle every day. Like other exercises, it is a mechanical and repetitive activity which one does without stressing the mind. Hence, it brings tranquillity of mind,” he says.

Morning exercise brings discipline in life and motivates one to maintain better diet and lifestyle, says Saurabh Mukherjee, a fitness expert. “Exercising removes lethargy from body and helps one focus on the job better by keeping the brain active,” he says.

According to fitness expert Ashish Agrawal who trains sportspersons, exercising in the morning improves capacity of the lungs. “Workouts give better results after eight hours of sleep or rest. “Body releases enkephalin and endorphins which increase the sense of well-being. It boosts muscles growth,” he says.

‘Happy Streets made people comfortable outside’

Kishore Thuteja | president of Laughter Club

The team of our laughter club is thrilled to be participating in the Happy Streets again, since last time we had such a blast. It was thrilling to see thousands of people willing to step out of their comfort zones on a Sunday when usually they would be tucked in snugly in the comfort of their blankets, and I am sure this time it will be an even bigger show. Happy Streets made everyone more comfortable outside.

Apart from the health benefits of absorbing vitamin D, I think people, especially children, connect with their elders very well because of all the different activities planned across. People from all ages — toddlers, youngsters, their grandparents — everyone can be seen laughing, having a gala time and it is quite endearing.

Of the whole experience, what stood out in the previous events was the warmth with which people were greeting each other. It was as if there were no strangers and everybody knew everyone. Participants had a twinkle in their eyes and everyone let their hair lose. Apart from this, Happy Streets also provided an amazing platform for youth to showcase their talents and get encouragement from a huge crowd; that too free of cost!

My team is certainly looking forward to being there on this Sunday. I hope such kind of events happen in our city more frequently as people nowadays need dose of some optimism, energy and laughter.