The power of running

Bhaag Mikha Bhaag has released and everybody who has watched the movie can’t stop raving about it and why not? The film is an absolute revelation. From the director Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra, to the entire crew and most importantly, the man-of-the-moment Farhan Akhtar who has literally got into the skin of the character, everybody deserves a standing applause. However, what really kept me on tenterhooks of expectation is the exposure the movie has given to the wonderful sport of running because I’m a huge fan of it.

For me, running has always been like meditation in motion. I have had a fair share of upheavals in life and the only thing that has ever given me hope was running.

My initial stint with this amazing sport was when I was about seventeen. Since, I remember I have always been struggling with my weight and the wise cracks that came along with it. I had so much frustration building about it and the only way I could deal with it was with eating. Until, one day I decided that I had to change my life and do something about the piling kilos. Walking seemed the easiest option and literally I had to push myself with an immense amount of self motivation to at least reach the tracks. Trust me; it wasn't easy, well, when you’re 88 kilos and only 5.6 ft tall, nothing is. As I dragged my thunder thighs, I could see men and women running like gazelles around me, fit and fabulous. I absolutely admired them however with a hint of envy and hoping, one day I would be able to join them. In my mind, the thought had started manifesting till it became a raging ambition that I just had to fulfill.

I started with really small steps and eventually they got a bit bigger. The bigger steps turned into few meters and finally into miles. And every time, I crossed each obstacle, the adrenaline rush was exhilarating.  I realized that running is not at all about the body and how much you push it. It is all about the mind and how you motivate it to achieve your goals. The regular runners will vouch for what I have to say, running is never about losing weight or looking good. It is about feeling good and when you feel good you are the master of your own universe.  Nothing else matters because your mind is in the state of Niravana. You are on your own, only the wind, will power and determination as your companions to make it to your finishing point. You start envisioning beyond the trivialities of life, leaving behind your past and taking charge for a better tomorrow.

Plus, it's really cost-effective too! All you need is your two fabulous legs and a pair of good shoes which is not mandatory either. Go for it and don’t ever look back. That’s the only rule of the game and also the rule of life.

Return to sports gals!

I live on BMCC road, an area which has a huge ground overlooking the college. Whenever I pass by or go for a quick run in the early mornings or even in the evenings, I always see groups of boys playing football or cricket. That area exudes this macho energy, similar to a male den. The adrenaline rush pumping and the group dynamics are exhilarating to watch, especially when they are playing football in the rains. For these men, the outside world ceases to exist as they get down and dirty with the football, enjoying every minute of it. This is the only time, even if a hot chick passes by they won’t even give her a second look.

However, there is something that really irked me. When it comes to outdoor sports, I have never seen too many women on the ground. Even if you compare the ratio between men and women joining outdoor sports, the disparity is disturbing. Women in India and cities especially prefer enclosed areas like gymnasiums, aerobics or even dancing where the male ratio is smaller. They rarely prefer to play out in the open.

If you dig deeper, I think it has lots to do with the mentality of Indian parents where they encourage their sons to play sports outdoors while women are encouraged to take up something indoor or more feminine like dancing or singing. Even when I was younger and wanted to try my hand at basketball, my parents thought Bharatnatyam which I was already learning was a far more viable option to me as a girl. And my parents are nowhere close to being the quintessential traditional ones. Imagine?

It really depresses me to see that I always see fathers playing with their sons, teaching them football or cricket in the same ground. But I have never seen them teaching it to their daughters or even mothers teaching a sport to their sons. That’s why the new Bournvita advertisement about how a mother races her son in the woods, instilling the winning streak in him is like a breath of fresh air. Another great example that I can think of is the beautiful father and daughter relationship shared in the classic movie, ‘Father of the Bride’. The bond that Steve Martin shares with his onscreen daughter Annie while playing basketball with her is endearing and I wish I could see more of it in this country.

I understand academics are important and women are already proving their mettle topping most of the merit lists. However, I wish more parents ingrain the importance of outdoor sports in their daughters as well. It is important that their perspective towards sports is changed. Sports should not be looked at as only a hobby but as a medium to prepare girls for life’s challenges. Physically, socially and emotionally, it is a great way of empowering women, directing them towards a healthy, active and fit lifestyle. It has several advantages like it improves your motor co-ordination, team spirit and helps strength and character building. It is a great way to tackle obesity and even handle depression, two problems increasing in the modern womankind. The benefits are endless.

So go ahead and inculcate the habit of indulging in outdoor sports in your daughter. You are training her for a better life, for herself and future generations to come. And girls, take the initiative and return to sports today. Words of advice though, go for one that you feel close to and have a complete blast at it. After all, why should boys have all the fun, right?

Photo courtesy-www.hellogiggles.com