Never too late to master new skill, shows 65-yr-old

Krishnakumar Raman is the star attraction for visitors at Madhavan Park in Jayanagar. The 65-year-old can be seen juggling while jogging around the park every morning. He is also one of the first few "jogglers" (juggling while you jog) in the country to have mastered the sport and has inspired many to take up the skill.

Raman also conducts juggling and bridge sessions at corporate houses and schools to help improve concentration skills. When Raman is not juggling, he serves as the director of a city-based consultancy firm.

Raman is also passionate about basketball and practises it every morning.

Speaking to DH, Raman says he learnt juggling about 20 years ago from a friend who would use it as a stress-busting technique. He picked up the sport again about five years ago when he wanted to switch from playing basketball.

"I was afraid of falling and harming myself while playing basketball and thus, was looking for a sport to keep me active mentally and physically. I took to juggling after researching about its incredible mental benefits five years ago."

Raman then took to joggling after being inspired by a video of a 67-year-old who joggled his way through a full marathon in New York and dropped the ball only once during the 42-km-long run. Raman says: "Looking at the video, I felt that if a man can do this at that age, I can surely joggle for a kilometre."

Raman has taught three-ball juggling to over 1,000 people, including children, adults and senior citizens, over the past five years.

He even inspired a 81-year-old woman to take up juggling, who in turn is inspiring many others. He also proudly mentions a young boy who juggles while riding a wave board, which is a big feat in itself.

According to Raman, juggling has incredible effects on the brain. He says that some studies have shown that practising juggling regularly can increase your memory by 5% as it engages both sides of the brain.

Raman says his aim now is to prove the benefits of juggling on delaying dementia or Alzheimer's by seven to 10 years. He adds: "Juggling has been recognised as one of the few skills that can enhance brain power. The brain is like a muscle that needs to be exercised to grow."