After Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the #fitnesschallenge, city-based photographer Sanjay Borra decided to take it up. No one had challenged him, he took it himself as a motivation to begin what he had been postponing for months. Before setting out, he chose to focus his camera on his sweatpants. As he walked on the Necklace Road stretch before the sun came out in full force, he felt that he had no valid excuse of not working out. “It was very encouraging to see people of all ages engaged in some fitness activity or the other. There is no competition apart from themselves to stay fit. Like me, were they too inspired by the #fitnesschallenge?” he says.
It all started with the PM speaking of Fit India in one ofhis monthly Mann ki baat radio talks; that not only won support nationwide but spiralled into a social media campaign when Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore called out a fitness challenge to celebrities. Soon #HumFitTohIndiaFit videos went viral.
Rathore first uploaded a video of himself doing push-ups and immediately nominated badminton ace Saina Nehwal, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and actor Hrithik Roshan for the #FitnessChallenge. In response, Saina chose to do deadlifts, Hrithik took up cycling and Virat Kohli was seen in his ‘favourite core workout’: spider planks. In turn, they challenged others to do the same, and so on — twitteratis have since been re-tweeting, commenting and appreciating the videos, making the # go viral.
Virat Kohli turned the campaign on its head and challenged even PM Narendra Modi, which the Prime Minister happily accepted.
The common man is not left behind. Challenged or not, they are motivating themselves to take up some fitness activity. “All of us need motivation. The #fitnesschallenge #HumFitTohIndiaFit is a good step to take stock of our health. The onus of staying healthy is upon us. A doctor, trainer or nutritionist can suggest and chalk out plans, finally it is up to us to follow the plans,” says Roohi, a celebrity yoga trainer.
Don’t wait for someone to challenge you. Take inspiration from former Olympic track and field athlete PT Usha — she posted a video of her running, saying,“Nobody challenged me but I’m here being active #HumFitTohIndiaFit. Post pictures and videos of how you keep yourself fit and send a #FitnessChallenge to your friends on social media. I challenge @olympicdeva @PankajAdvani247 @BishanBedi @M_Raj03” (sic).
Actor Samantha Prabhu just went the ‘no excuse’ way; posting a video of her attempt to do pull ups, she confessed to making excuses that ranged from headache, stomach ache to a non-existent puppy being sick, all to skip doing pull ups. For her, workout means a lot more than looking good. In a note accompanying her Instagram video, she wrote: We are never too old to change. Fitness for me has never been about looking good; it is about discipline, respect, confidence and strength.”
If #HumFitTohIndiaFit challenge doesn’t push you take up a rigorous fitness activity, at least step out at a nearby park, you’d be surprised to see that those who are determined are just doing it, not waiting till they can afford the latest pair of running shoes or workout pants. You will also discover that one can run without gadgets that counts your steps.
Remember the challenge isn’t about doing a 10k run, lifting weights or doing a duathlon. It is a call to take up any physical activity, even dance, that keeps you fit.
