JOIN USFitness in the lap of nature
Once upon a time, going to the park meant children jumping around and adults going for walks. Parents and grandparents would accompany the younger ones and spend time till it was dark.
But now, it’s not just the kids who get to run around and sweat it out. The adults too are becoming more physically active while spending time at the park.
Residents in Dr Vishnuvardhan Park, Indiranagar, have made it a habit to come out every morning or evening and use the brand new equipment installed in the park. About two months ago, BBMP revamped the entire park and created a full utility centre where kids have a play area, and adults have an open gym and a yoga centre.
Munivenkatappa, Krishnappa, and Papanna are retired Sub-Inspectors who have been regular visitors to the park. They say, “We’ve been coming here for many years to walk and have a peaceful time. But with this new equipment in place, we have a reason to stretch more and work out.”
The government has installed 10 types of gym equipment that are easy to use. They have the twister, abs-enhancer table and paddle to name a few. “We are not experts at this but whenever we see people using the equipment wrongly, we correct them. Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t,” adds Papanna.
Earlier, the park had only the play area and the surrounding area to walk. The slides and swings were so old and rusted that the parents had to be very cautious when their kids would use them. With these concerns, the BBMP took it upon themselves to provide a safe, sturdy and well-balanced park that people of all age groups can enjoy.
Ponnamma Varghese, a resident, says, “It’s hard to find time to exercise when you have a family to take care of. But my friends and I have made it a habit to wake up early and practise yoga in the park for some time. Thanks to the park opening at 6 am, we can dedicate at least 30 minutes to this and head back home for our daily chores. But we also come back in the evening, once the kids are back, and use the open gym equipment till we are tired.”
The residents seem to find this convenient as they have the space to come together and lead a healthy fit life. In another part of the City, there is a similar area where people are enjoying their new and improved life with the help of Koochie Play Systems, who set up such equipment. They are the ones living in and around Sankey Tank Road and are thrilled to come here every morning and evening for their routine walks and exercise.
B Krishnappa has been coming to the Sadashivnagar Park for years. He mentions, “I’ve made it a habit to come here every morning and evening. With the new open gym, I walk around the park for an hour and exercise with the equipment during the next hour. I even come here on Saturdays and Sundays.”
The gym equipment is designed in such a way that each one focusses on one part of the body. The Hip Twister is designed to improve flexibility and range of movement of hips and waist and three people can use this at a time.
The classic bicycle helps increase blood flow in the legs, and the Double Ski Walker delivers cardiovascular benefits by simulating the cross-country skiing motion. Like these, there are five other equipment that people can utilise.
Varia and Krishnakumari are regulars who come to the park on weekdays. They say, “We live in Hebbal but come here on weekdays when our kids have been dropped off for swimming classes. We started this off as a pastime but now, we find this very helpful. The best thing about this is unlike other gyms, you have to use your own body weight and not external weights. They definitely help exercise all your core muscles.”
The BBMP is making an effort to convert other parks into nature imbibed gyms that everyone from near and far can use, free of cost. To this, Merlyn Joseph, a passer-by says, “I wish there was a park like this where I stay. It’s nice to see people make an attempt to come everyday and focus on improving their lifestyles. Even the frail-looking men and women give the gym equipment a chance and see how much strength they have and how they can try to improve on it. If I get out of work early, I try and go to one of the parks near my office and work out.”