“Forty seconds to go... 30 seconds more...c’mon, the last 10 ... you are almost there!” Raj Ganpath says. Or is he screaming? It is hard to figure out. We arrive at the premises of Sankara Nethralaya, Mandaiveli, at 7.20 a.m. on a Monday morning and find ourselves in the middle of an intense round of Kettlebells.
Around 30 people are performing a synchronised act; putting into action the stern instructions of Arvind Ashok and Raj Ganpath. The duo, both in the mid-20s, are steering a session of the ‘Boot Camp’.
Shared passion
“We met in California and realised that we had two things in common,” says Raj, “One, we were both planning to move back to India. Two, both of us wanted to explore options in fitness because of our personal backgrounds. So we conceived of a fitness regimen that would suit the Indian lifestyle. We put that into action and that’s how ‘The Quad’ came into being.”
Are you worried about your flab? Or your back injury? Or just feeling lethargic throughout your day? Head to The Quad. At least they believe that it’s a solution. “People below 30 come here with different goals,” says Arvind, “Fat loss is the universal goal because everyone wants to look good. However, that is not our ultimate aim. Our focus is on hand-holding them to a better lifestyle and making them stronger people. For instance, most youngsters who come here with lower back injuries get them fixed, eventually. Those are the kind of results that we want to see.”
What is the key to these results? “We believe that, in any fitness regimen, sustainability is key. Whether you play a sport, dance or sign up for aerobics or join the gym next door, maintain it,” says Arvind, “That’s really why we’ve split The Quad into three month-long Boot Camps. We demand those three months of absolute commitment. We have the luxury of choosing our clients. When we go through their goals with them, we know who is willing to work hard and that’s probably our greatest requirement.”
Making time
In the hustle-and-bustle of every day, an average youngster is hard pressed for time; to explore, do something fun and keep fit. The list of things one can do either motivates or confuses. In most cases, it’s the latter. One month of Zumba. Three months at the new gym. Two months of morning walks at the beach. Six weeks of aerobics. Sounds familiar? “First, let me tell you that if you are so pressed for time when you are so young, you are definitely doing something wrong. Change ... now!” says Arvind. Raj adds, “We are not saying that The Quad is the only place to train in the city. In fact, there is no one solution. You can try anything that you like. Explore and figure out what interests you and what triggers that enthusiasm and then sustain that.”
Papaya and curd diet? Dry fruits diet? Liquids diet? Vegetarian diet? What diet do they recommend? “We are certified nutrition counsellors,” says Arvind, “We give you guidelines, not diets: what is good for you, what might work for …. I eat one meal a day and that works for me. So, what works for you?” Take your pick, now!
For details, call 9884011213/9600096575 or log onto www.thequad.in
Top five
Say ‘No’ to:
Soda
Biscuits
Treats like chocolates or ice creams
Fried stuff
Anything coated with grains and sugar
Say ‘Yes’ to:
Play a sport
Take the stairs
Stay active
Carry your own groceries
Walk as much as you can
