While the pandemic has had a dire impact on certain sections of the society, like farmers and migrant workers, another section has inconspicuously been receiving the short end of the stick. For the sports fraternity, be it athletes, student-athletes, coaches, fitness instructors, life as they know it, will never be the same. The nature of the crisis at hand, has led to the indefinite postponement of major sporting events like the 2020 Olympics and major Premier Leagues across the world, much to the exasperation of sportspersons and fans alike. For those who have spent years of their lives working towards a career in sport, this period can mean a major loss of momentum and significant financial instability. Known for their ‘never say die’ attitude towards life, how will the sporting community as a whole band together to tide over the quarantine? We asked this question of Mr. Shrihari Shivraj, on our previous episode of Out of the Box with Beyond 8. Hari, as he is better known to Chennai locals, champions fitness and health, through his gymnasiums, FitKits. For our readers who missed it, we have rounded up the top 3 takeaways:
Don’t compartmentalise your life
We must develop a sense of continuity in everything that we do. This dynamic way of life could be the secret to staying on track with training goals. In his talk, Hari highlights the need for us to allow everything in our lives to flow naturally into each other, as a consequence of passion and habit. When we do not compartmentalize our lives, we are able to keep it simple.
Staying in the present
As tempting as it may be for young sportspersons to dwell in the glory days of the past or the uncertain future, they must try to stay grounded in the present - even though the present is far from rosy for them. It is the only way to stay focused and motivated and put in the work needed to resume their practice in the post-pandemic world. Hari is all for the smart use of technology to change the way we look at traditional training. A career in sport and fitness takes insurmountable commitment and even though it has come to a grinding halt, it does not mean that young aspirants must give up on their dreams altogether. It is still important to stay focused and make the best use of resources available to train, even if they are confined to their homes.
Physical fitness, mental wellness and nutrition work as a tripod
Physical, mental, and dietary conditioning go hand in hand. One without the other is ineffective in the best case, critically harmful in the worst. Hari reminds us that these three aspects have to be perfectly balanced to remain in top form. This is good advice for not just professional sportspersons but also for common folks who want to stay fit. People have finally understood the value of immunity and have begun to follow healthy practices such as eating at home and working out as a family. Finally, Hari also urges fitness and sport enthusiasts to explore the bio-mechanics of the human body for a better understanding of how to train more efficiently in a shorter time.
Especially in times like these, staying motivated to keep our dreams alive is half the battle won. Hari believes that experienced sportspersons and celebrities can go beyond just sharing workout videos and present youngsters with an accurate picture of the hard work and perseverance it takes to reach the pinnacle of sporting success. It is his fervent belief that the human race is wired to emerge stronger from trying situations. Hopefully, the sports community will also be able to bounce back just as quickly after this temporary setback in their careers.
Please view the complete video below:
For questions and guidance, Hari can be reached on Instagram, and also on Facebook. Stay tuned for our next edition of Out of The Box with Beyond 8 on Friday, May 15th, 2020 at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook where we will delve into making the most of online learning with Mr. Easwaran K.V., a learning facilitator at Headstart Learning Centre.
About Out of the Box with Beyond 8
Be it the way we learn or teach, there are always better ways to do it and often they lie out of the box, on the paths less taken. Out of the Box with Beyond 8 is an initiative that encourages the education fraternity to push the boundaries and challenge the status quo.