Push the pedal, get healthy

In today's hard paced deadline-centric times of the modern day, lives of many urban professionals are spent negotiating from meeting to meeting, and driving plush automobiles from one destination to another. So much so, the fact that many ‘corporate robots’, as they are termed in modern parlance, spend days without getting a whiff of fresh air or a few minutes of worthy workout!

While a large number of urban people in India have given themselves up to the completely sedentary lifestyles of the day, those who realise the importance of physical workout often take to the gym, but many a time fail to keep up with the workout routines, because they are ‘oh so monotonous and can be boredom.

Ironically, some people drive to their gymnasiums and waste further time getting stuck in traffic jams.

When was the last time you picked up a bicycle and just rode across the streets soaking in the atmosphere and flexing your muscles?

If you are one of those in search of a worthy workout mechanism, pick up a bicycle and see how it changes your life. Cycle can be the best medium of workout and stress busting for people who hardly have time to go to a gym, and it is  affordable and accessible  for everyone.

Sedentary lifestyles are killing us: Doctors and health experts say that sedentary lifestyles and absence of physical activity in our urban schemes are the biggest threats to our health today.

The worrying rise in incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity (even in kids) are directly attributable to physical inactivity. Some medical experts also suggest that the risk associated with some forms of cancers is also high in people who lead sedentary lifestyles.

With mechanisation completely taking over our lifestyles, our levels of daily physical activity have drastically reduced as compared to 20 years back. Stairs have made way for elevators everywhere; with home delivery becoming the norm, we hardly walk to the neighbourhood grocery stores.

According to World Health Organisation, insufficient physical activity is one of the 10 leading risk factors for death worldwide, and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Cycling 20 minutes a day can change your lives: Cycling is one of the best cardio exercises for people of all age groups and all body types. It not only helps burn calories and keeps weight under control, but also helps build stamina and increase muscle and bone strength.

Being a low impact exercise, it is also soft on the joints and unlike hard gym training sessions, it doesn’t put you at risk of overuse injuries or sprains.

Relieve stress
At the same time, cycling is also a major stress relieving exercise, especially when undertaken in a congenial environment such as a park or a non-congested road.

People who take up cycling as a daily activity will tell you it is also addictive. Nothing like getting addicted to a healthy practice!

Urban youth are making cycling hip: With the rising popularity of fitness bikes, cycling is once again gaining currency in urban centres especially among the youth.

Many fitness enthusiasts and outdoor sport aficionados have also taken up cycling as a leisure and adventure activity. This is evident from rising sales of premium fitness bicycles in India.

A new emerging category of upper middle class urban professionals are providing a fresh boost to the fitness cycle category, taking up to the environment-friendly two wheeler for multiple reasons – health, reducing carbon footprint, recreation and hassle free rides.

Interestingly, the culture of urban cycling has been given an impetus by young professionals who have travelled to European countries and returned with an eye-opening exposure to the rampant cycling.

Cycling to work is the new mantra: While it is yet to become a norm, a new culture of cycling to work can certainly be seen on the horizon in some Indian cities, especially those which have concentrated IT and corporate hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurgaon.

It is not uncommon today to see corporate executives riding to work in these cities, combing their daily commute with their fitness regime.  In fact, the Mysuru campus of Infosys is completely cycle friendly with most employees riding the two wheeler across the campus.

(The writer is Chairman & Managing Director, Hero Cycles)