A Fitting Start

  • Abhishek Behl / FG
  • India
  • Sep 12, 2014

In a country that is increasingly adopting a western lifestyle, work culture and food habit, it is not surprising that some negative consequences, like obesity, are also spreading. Particularly hit is the National Capital Region, where a large number of professionals are more susceptible to this issue, due to work pressure, time constraints and excessive travel. What adds a serious dimension to this issue is the lack of fitness in general. To start with, there is a scarcity of good information on fitness (relevant to us) and the various aspects related to it. There are not many portals and websites related to fitness and health that have an India or local focus. Sensing and realising this vacuum, two Gurgaon-based fitness enthusiasts have launched FitIndya.in, a portal that is customised to the needs of the local population and offers a one-stop-shop for all fitness and health needs. Tarun Gill, one of the founders of FitIndya, tells Friday Gurgaon that the website is one of the first fitness portals that will give free information on the availability of gyms, health clubs, personal trainers, fitness gear and health supplements across the NCR - and later this platform will be taken across the country. The portal is soon going to launch a smart phone application that will help users search for gyms or personal trainers in their vicinity. Gill says that the users can also get free trial passes for a day in the gyms that have an association with FitIndya. "To ensure that the website users get access to authentic information on various gyms, we personally visit the gyms anonymously, use their services, and then list them on our website. The facilities are rated on the basis of various parameters, which differentiate the good from the average," says Gill. A fitness enthusiast today, Gill weighed 125 kgs a few years ago, and it took lot of effort and hard work for him to get into shape. What made him struggle the most in his fitness journey was his inability to access good quality information and knowledge on fitness relevant to Indians. Having stayed abroad, he knew that such information was available, but was focused on a western audience, and was expensive. So, after coming back and spending few years as a professional, he joined up with his partner, Amit, and they embarked on creating one of the first and largest fitness portals, which gives quality information free of cost. "We want a one-stop-solution for fitness, but the information to users would be absolutely free, and it won’t be biased in favour of service providers or those who sell fitness and health products," he asserts. 

 

Gill says that FitIndya is here to promote fitness culture in India and to help people feel and stay healthy. "The right fitness guidance is hard to come by. Most of the fitness centres and their trainers, in their quest to aggressively sell their club memberships, are ignoring the critical aspect of what each one of us want - results. An important reason for Indians to actively pursue fitness is that genetically we are pre-disposed to store more body fat per kilogram than Europeans - which puts us at a greater risk of diabetes and other ‘lifestyle’ diseases. In addition, a large population of Indian professionals is overweight. The problem is even more acute in women,” adds Gill. FitIndya is also going to prepare a database of trainers across Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida. The website also has a large number of fitness-related articles – like ‘fitness methodologies’. Gill laments that there are not many certified fitness trainers in the country, and there is no professional organisation that can certify them. FitIndya also has an e-store, where ‘tested’ fitness supplements and products are sold. "It is most important to use only good quality supplements," Gill says. On the selection of a gym, Gill believes that choosing one that is far from where you live/work or is located in a shopping complex (where you might have to battle the evening/holiday rush of shoppers) will test your motivation in getting to the gym – especially on days when you just want to curl up in front of the television. “Any place more than 15 minutes away will test your fitness resolve. Maybe you can select a location between your work and home. It is important to consider the cleanliness and hygiene of a fitness centre, ” he says. Gill warns that germs thrive in a damp, wet and dirty environment, and there is enough sweating that takes place in gyms. He asks users to inspect the workout areas, equipment, environment and change rooms, to ensure that they have the required level of cleanliness and hygiene. “Also look at the type, quality and numbers of equipment on offer in the gym. If you need to do a lot of cardio training as part of your workout, there should be multiple such machines. Check out how many dumbbells they have of each weight. Changing Rooms have become a necessity now a days, especially if you visit your fitness centre before or after work,” he adds. The FitIndya Gym application will help users to compare a number of these parameters, and ensure that they can find the best deal for themselves. Gill concludes that choosing the right gym and fitness trainer should be a priority for those wishing to get into shape. Coupled with the right information, and perspective, he believes that you would then be on your way to good fitness and health.


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