BHUBANESWAR: Fitness concerns suddenly seemed to have engulfed people as soon as the lockdown was announced. With residents confined to their homes, many woke up to the need to exercise regularly.
Be it homemakers or office-goers, the only exercise people were getting was the quick trip to the market or medicine store. Gym rats had to shift their elaborate exercise regimen home, and make do with equipment available at hand. Newbies took to trying out freestyle exercises in their terrace. Yoga mats, skipping ropes and basic exercise equipment like dumbbells saw higher sales once online shopping was allowed.
Fitness centre owner Nihar Mallick said after gyms reopened in August last year, many regular gym visitors had gained weight and had to be guided on how to cut down on the flab. “We didn’t have such complaints of sudden weight gain earlier. Since people’s routine was badly affected, such complaints became common,” he said.
Cyclists were at an advantage. “We cycled regularly to fetch essentials from the market. Also, I would do light exercises on the terrace,” said urban planner Piyush Rout.
Fitness enthusiasts tried getting their daily dose of exercise from chores. “I had never thought that my empty LPG gas cylinder would be useful in my exercise,” said Paritosh Mishra, a software professional. Another resident, Snehalata Parida, took to walking within her flat complex.