‘Gym buddies’ make workouts more fun

On those sluggish days when you don’t have even the slightest inkling to hit the gym, have you ever wondered if it would be nice to have a ‘workout buddy’ drag you out of bed? Someone who can be your morning alarm or accompany you on runs... Many fitness enthusiasts in Chennai seem to have found the perfect exercise partner and they tell us why it works for them, or doesn’t, in some cases.

After cricket, the next trend to catch the fancy of South Indian celebrities was badminton. Various leagues and tournaments were held, for which many of them were spotted training at a shuttle court in Valasaravakkam. One such socialite-entrepreneur was Yashmith, among others like Arun Vijay, Jeyaram, singer Rahul Nambiar, etc. “Before a tournament, around 40 of us take turns playing matches among ourselves but on any other day too, a bunch of us gathers to play. Badminton is a lot of fun and a great exercise routine,” he says. 

However, when it comes to hitting the gym, Yashmith prefers going alone. He explains, “I’ve noticed on many occasions that though I find a partner to work out with, if he’s busy or isn’t as keen as I am, it makes me uncomfortable or disinterested. As far as the gym is concerned, I prefer flying solo.”

Agreeing with him is V Manikandan, a member of a first generation B-boy crew in India called Break Guruz. “If you’re a self-motivated individual, it’s better to exercise alone or hire a personal trainer. Only if you’re sure that your friend(s) will be as disciplined as you are, would I advise a group work out.” 

In his case, since dancing itself is a way to stay fit, he prefers to train alone but likes dancing with others. “B-boying (breakdancing) requires a lot of fitness in terms of strengthening your muscle groups because we do a lot of hand stands and similar movements. So, I think dancing is a great way to burn calories and stay in good shape and health,” says the youngster, who proudly sports a six pack he developed over a period of five months.

For those who aren’t too much into fitness, like city-based model Sameea Bangera, she doesn’t mind working out alone or with someone. “I’ve noticed that if I’m at home or in my own space, I tend to push myself a bit more. However, if am with a friend, the workout session lasts longer and I tend to be more consistent. So I guess I’ve found pros and cons in both,” she says. Ultimately, it’s about finding out what works for your body the best — “That’s why I prefer mixing up my exercise routines; I find something new to do every few days and I’m comfortable with that,” she sums up.