When Chitra, a resident of K.K. Nagar, joined a gym a few years ago, she was determined to sweat it out to lose weight.
However, she lost interest after a week. “The thought of having to go to the gym was dreadful. I kept putting it off every day and eventually didn’t go at all. It was a waste of money.”
However, when a women’s exclusive exercise zone was established inside Sivan Park, she was back on the road to fitness. This time around, she went to the open gym every day for a month. “The air-conditioned gym was claustrophobic. At Sivan Park, I got a chance to exercise for 20 minutes while my children enjoyed playing with their friends. I am planning to continue here,” she adds.
To promote good health among men and women, the Ward 131 of Chennai Corporation, has created a separate space for exercising inside the park.
While the men’s section was opened a few months ago, the exercise zone for women’s was started just over two months ago. “The exercise zones for men and women have been created in different sections of the park. Also, they are at the fag end. So women don’t feel uncomfortable while exercising,” says Amudhavalli, who makes the most of the facility while her son takes skating practice.
Even as we speak to the regular visitors, two young women come and check out the equipment.
“We heard about this exercise zone and wanted to see what they have. Everything looks easy to do and needs no trainers. We would definitely prefer coming here to spending on a gym,” says Pavithra, a college student.
Such has been the patronage at Sivan Park that M. Gunasekaran, ward councillor, is planning to install similar equipment in the other parks in his ward.
“I got the idea when I visited an IAS Academy. There, an exercise zone had been created for the students. I replicated the concept at a few places in my Zone. But, Sivan Park has been a mega hit. Next, we are planning to create an open gym inside the parks in First, Second and Sixth Sector in K.K. Nagar,” he says.
The equipment are such that they can be used by senior citizens as well and similar to those used for physiotherapy, he says.
