To Gym Or Not To Gym Is The Question

    • pallavi.shankar@timesgroup.com
    • Publish Date: Jul 31 2017 1:25PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Jul 31 2017 1:29PM
To Gym Or Not To Gym Is The Question

A nationwide survey in the United States revealed that exercise equipment causes injuries to approximately 16,500 children between 5- and 14-year-olds annually. While there is no collated data on tweens and teens’ gym-related injuries in India, you do get to read of such incidents in newspapers,websites and so on. So, impressionable teens aspiring for six packs abs or toned tummies a la Bollywood actors surely need to ‘tread’ with caution in the gym. Ideally, choose good old sports over gymming. The big Q:  What’s the right age to gym? According to experts, 18 or above is the right age for doing high intensity weightlifting and other machine-related workouts in a gym. Gymming and lifting heavy weights before this age can play havoc on a growing body by stunting height and overall growth. Therefore, while fitness should be a top priority, conventional gymming such as machine-related exercises and weight training should be a big no, advise fitness experts. If you are a fitness freak, choose alternate physical activities, says fitness trainer and holistic living guide Kiran Sawhney. 

Fitness is not all about gymming

Staying fit at any age is good but unfortunately, it has been equated with gymming in modern days. Remember,  fitness is more than going to a gymnasium – playing hopscotch in the garden, cycling in your neighbourhood, the woods or hiking up the hill are good fitness activities. Similarly,  playing any sport such as cricket, basketball, swimming, lawn tennis, etc. are great for health as they keep your fitness levels in top form.

Even small activities can keep you fit

Choose walking or running in the park with your friends, join a yoga/ taekwondo/kickboxing/swimming class or even a dance class. This way you learn a life skill and do these activities in a group unlike gymming which is a solitary activity – what’s the fun if you are not running amok amid nature with friends! 

Take up aqua sports

Aquatic sports where instructors help children do some basic exercises (that are a lot of  fun) in a swimming pool is a great way to stay fit and also reduce stress. Play ball in the pool with friends even without the help of instructors. But children under 14 will be safer with a trainer around.  


What about protein shakes?

Now, this is only for adults. Growing-up children and teens don’t need protein shakes at all. Rather, they should eat a balanced diet: egg, wholewheat, fresh seasonal fruits, dry fruits (almonds, walnuts, pistachios), vegetables, milk, fish, lean meat, fish and drink plenty of water. It is also good to avoid processed food and junk food such as biscuits, bakery items and excessive sugar and sugar-laden munchies. 


If gym is what you want, get a certified trainer 

Do that with a certified trainer but check his credentials first. It’s okay to ask about institutes and where instructors got their training from. A credible sports instructor will guide you with a customised exercise plan because each person is different from the other and their strengths and weakness (and threshold of endurance) will not be same. For instance, a qualified fitness trainer will encourage children to do floor exercises rather than running on the treadmill and such other activities that may lead to injuries, like a strained hamstring or a pulled vein. Better safe than sorry! 


How much exercise?

According to a Swiss report, too much exercise can make teenagers unhappy. The study conducted on 1,200 adolescents also found that moderate fitness activity keeps teens in the happy zone, and teens exercising for two or more hours a day, report lower levels of emotional well-being. Stick to an hour or an hour and a half of physical activity. 

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Comments

Aikya Oruganti Epistemo Global - Vikas Leadership School

good content

Aikya Oruganti Epistemo Global - Vikas Leadership School

it is to gym but if you can manage exercising yourself not to gym

Aikya Oruganti Epistemo Global - Vikas Leadership School

your choice

Atharv Vedant SW VIVEKANAND INTL SCH-BORIVALI

We cannot say that gym is dangerous. But if you cross the limits it shall lead you to great risk of spraining your muscle, breaking of bones and other degradations in physical fitness. Before going to gym, people should have ''some'' strength whether that person is 18 or 50. But the choice is yours if you want to select equipment way or yoga way. Before the age of 18, small children should do yoga and 5-10 surya namaskar every morning.

Atharv Vedant SW VIVEKANAND INTL SCH-BORIVALI

The description in the newspaper is exceptionally well. It shows you the ways you can keep yourself healthy if we are feeling pressure because of gym.

Hemalatha.G Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation Higher Secondary Scho

Very cool informatively article! For fitness definitely children can opt healthy food and basic physical activities. Sudden growth is also not so good. This article is something to be read by everybody.

TANISHKA SINGH CMA, Ankleshwar

good content and very beneficial for us.

TANISHKA SINGH CMA, Ankleshwar

good content and very beneficial for us.

Ishika Sultania Shri Shikshayatan School

very informative topic for us because we all think gym is the source of fitness ofcourse it is but there is a certain age for it.

M.saiprakash Sree Narayana Vidya Bhavan

gym is not for growing the body but being fit''

ABHIGYAN SINGH Harmony International School , Kharghar

Very cool informatively article! For fitness definitely children can opt healthy food and basic physical activities. Sudden growth is also not so good. This article is something to be read by everybody.

M.Kanchana NARAYANA E-TECHNO SCHOOL

it is absolutely correct that everyone need to gym only after 18 years of age so that their body could balance the fitness programs like weight lifting and etc.,.,

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