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Hi All,

I'd like to thank Ms. Richa Sharma to consent for the interview with the Health and Fitness India network. Our Q&A are as follows:

1. Why did you decide to enter the fitness industry?

I was always a fitness enthusiast and I realized that in most of the gyms I went to, there were no properly qualified trainers. Most of their methods were outdated and non-scientific. Most of the trainers have been focusing on body-building rather than overall fitness. As a result the desired results were rare or limited. Sometimes I used to get nagging injuries as well. It was a continuous journey rather than a single incident and exploration of exercising concepts that made me aware of proper training methods. Once I achieved what I wanted, I decided to turn it into a career and help other people.

2. What are your specialties as a fitness professional?

• Handle the progression and transition of all the clients into new, more effective exercises.

• Make exercise programs based on specific, customized needs and goals.

• Create and implement complete and individualized time based programs which include weight goals, diet specifications and menus, physical training and exercise, and lifestyle changes.

• Focus on motivation and program adherence.

• Correct assessment of posture deviations and prescribing correct and safe rectification methods.

3. What's a great piece of advise that you've given to a client?

One of my clients is a middle aged woman. She had not worked out or had any kind of exercise in many years. The moment she joined a gym, she expected immediate results. Also just by looking at other regular gym goers, she started to expect the same fitness level as those members. I had to tell her to be patient and consistent with her workouts as one cannot undo the damage caused by several years of unhealthy lifestyle, instantly. Its important to work on strong foundation and to start with modest, short term goals.

4. Can you please share any major mistakes that fitness professionals make?

Trainers sometimes introduce too much too early, without even working on the basic movements in order to impress the client. This can sometime lead to injuries. If a client is de-conditioned, before introducing movement patterns, trainers should first work on stability and mobility training.

5. Where do you see yourself professionally in the next five and ten years from now?

I would like to educate myself more. Since obesity is like an epidemic now I would like to complete "Lifestyle and Weight Management" certification. I want to reach out to more people who are in need of expert guidance and want to promote Fitness as a Lifestyle habit. Also I have started my own Facebook page called "Quickfit by Richa Sharma" through which I am regularly posting Fitness updates and facts.

Her professional and contact details:

• ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer. Certificate No. - T160334

• PIA (Pilates Institute of America) Certification

• Attended and completed “Training the Core” webinar by exercise physiologist Pete McCall, one of the founders of ACE IFT model.

• Successfully completed ACE IFT (Integrated Fitness Training) model.

• International Red Cross CPR

• Kettle bell workshop with Steve Cotter 

• Completed a continuing education program with ACE on "Fitness and Menopause"

richasharma133@gmail.com

The Entire List of Health and Fitness Professional Interviews

http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blogs/interviews-of-health-and-fitness-professionals-in-india

An obese person incurs 25% higher health expenditures than a person of normal weight in any given year. http://www.oecd.org/health/49716427.pdf

Dr Anoop Mishra, director of diabetology, obesity and metabolism department, Fortis Group asserts that a lower BMI guideline is necessary for Indians living anywhere in the world. "Indians are more prone to Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. We are developing diseases at lower BMI too, so it was absolutely necessary to revise these in India. We have also revised exercise guidelines to 60 minutes, all 7 days of the week. But a lot more still needs to be done. The government needs to launch a major programme to counter the obesity issue. Otherwise there will soon be a diabetic factory in India." http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-08-02/news/28385935_1_anti-obesity-body-mass-index-bmi

From http://www.jmnn.org/temp/JMedNutrNutraceut1137-8786347_022626.pdf

Earlier, developing countries, including India, had focused scarce public health resources primarily on the high prevalence of undernutrition. However, these nations are currently facing the double burden of undernutrition as well as overnutrition. Data regarding the nutritional status of adults, as determined by body mass index (BMI), indicate that 50% of Indian adults suffer from different types of chronic energy deficiency, in that they have a BMI <18.5 kg/m^2. In the same survey, it was observed that the BMI values were similar in men and women; however, there were more overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m^2) women (6.6%) than men (3.5%). In certain regions, obesity and consequent diseases are posing an enormous public health problem.

From http://www.childinfo.org/files/low_birthweight_from_EY.pdf

"India alone accounts for 40 per cent of low birthweight births in the developing world and more than half of those in Asia"

From http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932523994

"Health at a Glance 2011: OECD Indicators

2. NON-MEDICAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH - Overweight and obesity among children

2.4.1. Children aged 5-17 years who are overweight (including obese), latest available estimates 18.3% girls and 20.6% boys in India.

10 facts on obesity

Reviewed March 2013

http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/obesity/facts/en/index.html (details on site)

1. Overweight and obesity are defined as "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health"

Body mass index (BMI) – the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2) – is a commonly used index to classify overweight and obesity in adults. WHO defines overweight as a BMI equal to or more than 25, and obesity as a BMI equal to or more than 30.

2. More than 1.4 billion adults were overweight in 2008, and more than half a billion obese

3. Globally, over 40 million preschool children were overweight in 2008

4. Overweight and obesity are linked to more deaths worldwide than underweight

5. For an individual, obesity is usually the result of an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended

6. Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices and preventing obesity

7. Children's choices, diet and physical activity habits are influenced by their surrounding environment

8. Eating a healthy diet can help prevent obesity

People can:
1) maintain a healthy weight
2) limit total fat intake and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats
3) increase consumption of fruit, vegetables, pulses, whole grains and nuts
4) limit the intake of sugar and salt.

9. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy body

10. Curbing the global obesity epidemic requires a population-based multisectoral, multi-disciplinary, and culturally relevant approach

Hi All,

I'd like to thank Ms. Drashti Pandit to consent for the interview with the Health and Fitness India network. Our Q&A are as follows:

1. Why did you decide to enter the fitness industry?

Dance is My passion & Zumba made me more passionate which made me choose Fitness industry instead of job related to my Engineering Qualification. My day starts with Zumba & end with zumba that’s my inspiration to be fit & make people fit.

2. What are your specialties as a fitness professional?

Being a dancer since my 2nd std. Gradually, I got specialization in many things like western dancing, Classical dancing, Arangetram in Bharatanatyam but when I got in touch with Zumba I felt that yes… This is the thing which is meant for me.. It's fitness dance form which includes many dance styles with calorie burning.. My desire to get into Aquatic fitness takes me towards Professional Aqua Zumba Instructor.

3. What's a great piece of advise that you've given to a client?

My piece of Advice to my client is always like Anything beyond the limit is not good.. either its your eating habit or your sleeping habit or your workaholic habit. Do everything in the limit. You will be fit you will feel great. To be fit is not to be Zero figure. To be fit is how is your stamina, how is your energy, how is your agility.

4. Can you please share any major mistakes that fitness professionals make?

Every person’s workout capacity is different, Body structure is different so many make mistakes like they treat all as same which is not good.. as a group X activity instructor.

5. Where do you see yourself professionally in the next five and ten years from now?

I am looking my self after 5 years with my lavishing studio where people come & be fit with fun. Support the new & aspiring instructor to carry forward their Fitness career.

Contact details,
Drashti Pandit
Zumba Instructor 
Active Zumba Instructor Network Member,
08149005076
mail@zumbawithdrashtipandit.in
www.zumbawithdrashtipandit.in
http://drashtipandit.zumba.com/

The Entire List of Health and Fitness Professional Interviews

http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blogs/interviews-of-health-and-fitness-professionals-in-india

Beauty professionals including dermatologists, cosmeticians, make-up artists and bloggers can join our network and share with people in India and worldwide. Kindly note that our public content gets indexed well by search engines. 

Beauty professionals and businesses can get listed in the Spas and Salons India site www.spasandsalonsindia.com and get found more by beauty conscious people in India. 

Below I share what I find about how to maintain and improve quality of facial skin.

Some comments might not directly relate to skin care. You can skip those comments.

For health and fitness professionals and businesses

Get found easily on Health Fitness India WEBSITE

Also, Stay Updated on GOOGLE+ FACEBOOK

When waiting for the face pack to settle and dry out on your face, ensure that you don’t smile, talk or move your face muscles as these may actually form wrinkles on your face!

12 foods to put on your face

http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/gallery/12-foods-to-put-on-your-face-3

Using smartphones can give you wrinkles as looking down at handheld devices and computers for countless hours develops a line around the neck and chin, experts have warned. 

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/your-smartphone-may-be-giving-you-wrinkles-114030900197_1.html

17 facts and myths about great skin

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-22/beauty/30275843_1_skin-type-facts-and-myths-hair

By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. "Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin," says dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD, author of Simple Skin Beauty: Every Woman's Guide to a Lifetime of Healthy, Gorgeous Skin and associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. Contrary to some claims, exercise doesn't detoxify the skin. The job of neutralizing toxins belongs mostly to the  liver. "But by increasing blood flow, a bout of exercise helps flush cellular debris out of the system," Marmur tells WebMD. "You can think of it as cleansing your skin from the inside."

Exercise has also been shown to ease stress. "And by decreasing stress, some conditions that can be exacerbated by stress can show some improvement," says Brian B. Adams, MD, associate professor and director of the Sports Dermatology Clinic at the University of Cincinnati. Conditions that can improve when stress is reduced include acne and  eczema. Although researchers are still investigating the link between stress and skin, studies show that the sebaceous glands, which produce oil in the skin, are influenced by stress hormones.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-care-11/exercise 

I thought of starting this blog post after the following experience. Like how a suggestion from a friend helped me, I wish that this blog post including the comments would be of value to people. Most of the following isn't related to improving facial skin quality (do see the comments below for skin related updates):

Study: The Universe Has Almost Stopped Making New Stars http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/11/universe-making-stars/ has the same / similar photo (by JPL-Caltech, NASA) that I use for www.healthfitnessindia.com since when I created it.

During college, my co-op (study / work program) adviser (who I respect a lot) had tried to get me a job at JPL http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/, however, I was told that I should try later I think due to not being an US citizen. I had started with the thought that the Health and Fitness India network would help the people in India and worldwide to maximize their potential by helping them in their health and fitness. The article says that "Unfortunately, then, it looks like our universe is running out of steam — in only a few more billion years, the study predicts, we may well be seeing the very last star that will ever be born. That’s if humans manage to survive that long, of course."

I wish that we humans can be great enough to survive forever and that either we can say that there're greater forces to decide that or we can say that we'll do our best to learn about those forces and then work with them for our best as well. I wish all of us all the best in maximizing our potential including for the best of our existence.

A day ago, Mr. Toni Sharma wrote about me as fuel for the F.Ox. https://www.facebook.com/groups/fox.nift group about which I shared on my wall and also as a comment on my "Fashion and Entertainment" http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blog/show?id=6458971%3ABlogPost%3A2419&commentId=6458971%3AComment%3A6851&xg_source=activity blog post. I'm highly thankful to him and that I wish that I can keep doing my best for our world. I'm thankful to the great people worldwide contributing for the best of our world. I wish that I can increasingly contribute along with them.

Best!

Shakti

Hi All,

I'd like to thank Ms. Shweta Pratap Singh to consent for the interview with the Health and Fitness India network. Our Q&A are as follows:

1. Why did you decide to enter the fitness industry?

I've been inclined towards fitness & good health from a very young age. Whilst in school I was actively involved in various sports. I've always been a firm believer of the age old belief that your Body is a temple so you ought to respect it like one. It was this passion of mine for fitness & well being that eventually led me towards taking on fitness as a full fledged career...

2. What are your specialties as a fitness professional?

My specialties as a fitness instructor are : I'm a certified Personal trainer and Aerobics Instructor with the following specialties :

(a) Step and Floor Aerobics
(b) Pilates
(c) Power Yoga
(d) Kick Boxing
(e) Circuit Training

I am also a licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor having done several specialty training's such as Zumba Toning, Zumbatomic and currently enrolled for Aqua Zumba as well.

3. What's a great piece of advise that you've given to a client?

Most of the clients I have come across in my career span are usually people who are looking for a quick fix solution for weight loss due to a big event such as a wedding etc. However my advice to them is always that there is no shortcut nor substitute for fitness as a whole and it has to be a part of one's daily life so that one can lead a genuinely healthy and hence rewarding life.

I also advise my female clients that weight training is really important for them as well because most of them think that weight training is the sole domain of men and if they were to do it, they would really bulge up and look manly. Nothing could be further from truth as correct weight training can help women also in a big way as it increases bone density thereby preventing osteoporosis in old age and corrects the metabolic rate as well and thus helps in reduction of weight much faster.

4. Can you please share any major mistakes that fitness professionals make?

Basically every human is designed differently and therefore as a a responsible fitness trainer, one cannot treat all clients in the same manner. Also, its very critical to check a clients past/ present medical history - a fact that is generally overlooked by instructors. The fitness trainer has to design a fitness programme that is commensurate with the clients individual health and fitness levels, their body type and lifestyle.

5. Where do you see yourself professionally in the next five and ten years from now?

Five years down the line I visualise myself as having traveled round the world learning different forms of fitness and exercise including specialised martial arts such as Krav Maga etc. and add onto my certifications in various specialties. By the tenth year i want to be firmly established in the field of fitness having increased my reach to maximum number of people by having established my own signature fitness centres.

Her contact details:

Shweta Pratap Singh

Kochi (Kerala)

shwetapratapsingh@gmail.com

07403020700

The Entire List of Health and Fitness Professional Interviews

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Hi All,

I might go to Fitness First in morning or evening or even during afternoon. I'll also try to mix between morning and evening classes during different weeks. If you're reading this blog post without being a member of our network then you're welcome to connect with me on our Health and Fitness India network!

My tentative schedule at Fitness First for December 2011 which depends on discussion with personal trainer and that I'll update this after getting inputs from the personal trainer:

Mon -
Morning: 10:45-11:45 Bollywood Dance 12:00-1:00 Body Pump
Evening: 7:10-8:10 Zumba 8:15-9:15 ABT

Tue -
Personal Training
Other classes depends on PT

Wed -
Morning: 9:40-10:40 Hip Hop 10:45-11:45 Swiss Ball
Evening: 6:05-7:05 Hip Hop 7:10-8:10 Body Pump

Thurs -
Morning: 9:40-10:40 ABT 10:45-11:45 Body Combat
Evening: 5:00-6:00 Zumba 6:05-7:05 Body Balance

Fri -
Personal Training
Other classes based on PT

Sat -
Morning: 10:30-11:30 Step 11:45-12 Body Pump Technique 12:00-1:00 Body Pump
Evening: 4:15-5:15 Step 5:30-6:30 Power Yoga

Sun -
Evening: 3:50-4:05 Body Combat Technique 4:15-5:15 LesMills RPM 5:30-6:30 Hip Hop

Fitness First group classes are on
http://www.fitnessfirst.net.in/admin/TimeTableView.aspx?club=87&date=12%2F1%2F2011

Best,
Shakti Saran

I've been coughing off and on for some years which upon checkups from two quality doctors seems to be due to I being allergic to something in air (I think high pollution because I never coughed like this during college years in USA and before that in Delhi). I reside in Delhi region which has a very high amount of pollution. I wonder if it's Ravan making us burn the harmful firecrackers? In my FB wall post yesterday, I've shared the link of another of my Health and Fitness India network's blog posts which lists the possibly very harmful chemicals in a firecracker:

The world is amazing! I felt blessed on Dusshera http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayadashami In the morning, I received email from HDFC with my bank balance and within a minute an email from my student loan co-signer in USA! My co-signer has been great to me for which I'm blessed!

During evening when I was going to the gym, there was no auto rickshaw at the stand outside my apartment complex. After a minute or so, I saw one coming and the driver was pushing it because it was broken. The driver was also talking to someone that there's a traffic jam towards the main road. It was perhaps because Ramlila http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramlila was going on in the large ground across the main road. I then thought that I shouldn't go out in open on ground today because of the possibility of very high pollution due to burning of Ravan. I then thought again which I've also thought before that perhaps Ravan is hurting us even today because of the very harmful smoke that we would breathe in due to it and that it's due to Ravan that we burn harmful firecrackers every year.

If you aren't aware then my latest comment (bottom most) on http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blogs/anti-pollution-mask-delhi-metro-police?id=6458971%3ABlogPost%3A1560&page=4#comments is about the very harmful chemicals possibly present in firecrackers. I also wonder about our elders leading us to such high amount of pollution here.

I then decided to workout at my apartment. I generally watch an episode of NCIS along with dinner. However, I did indoor cycle while watching it and so watched three of them. In the second one, "NCIS - Season 7 Episode 19 - Guilty Pleasure", student loans were mentioned! I wish that my work would increasingly justify the student loans I took for my college which was great!

Today I interacted with a girl who plays rummy well and has also won money online but doesn't like her college teachers for her CS degree. I shared with her these C Programming Lectures PPTs http://www.shaktisaran.com/CLectures.html and that I would also try to clear her doubts as best as I can including because she's working with me in my recruitment work and I also wish that when she'll be doing well professionally then she would also help others given there're colleges and institutes which don't seem to be doing even well enough for their students according to their students and that which is negatively affecting our society.

I wish that we can learn the great human values from Lord Ram.

Best!
Shakti

Hi All,

I'd like to thank Dr. Chirag Sethi, Managing Director of Classic Fitness Group www.classicfitnessgroup.com, to consent for the interview with the Health and Fitness India network. Our Q&A are as follows:

1. Why did you decide to enter the fitness industry?

Fitness was always my passion so I thought of opting my passion as my profession. Having a master's degree in sports physiotherapy helped me alot to understand the basics clearly. Seeing the ongoing trend of obesity in India I hope I could make a difference.

2. What are your specialities as a fitness professional?

I hold a master degree in sports physiotherapy, I have done various international certifications from ACE / ACSM / NCSF.

My specialities are sports conditioning, kettlebell, TRX and BOSU ball workouts for whole body conditioning.

3. What's a great piece of advise that you've given to a client?

I always believe in chosing the right amount of exercise with correct technique. If the technique is wrong and we lift heavy we will only have injuries.

Good nutrition and right exercises are a key for a healthy body.

4. Can you please share any major mistakes that fitness professionals make?

The major mistake fitness professionals do is they make all the clients do the same workout. We have to understand every client is different and their goals are different.
One form of exercise will always not benefit all clients.

5. Where do you see yourself professionally in the next five and ten years from now?

5 years from now I would like to see me educating more and more people in India and spreading my network of training academies all over India which will provide training to all the aspiring professionals.

His contact details:

director@classicfitnessgroup.com

07838009959

The Entire List of Health and Fitness Professional Interviews

http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blogs/interviews-of-health-and-fitness-professionals-in-india

One of the most popular events in the track and field contest is Hammer Throwing. This type of sport was developed numerous centuries ago in England, Ireland and Scotland. The hammer throwing occasion can be traced back to an instance when the Tailteann games were taking place in Tara.

This competition was done by an athlete taking and alternation of the object on top of the head and throwing it as far as could be with the athlete standing in one spot. The distance thrown was then measured from the line where the athlete stood that was marked down on the field. The longest distance hammer throw recorded then was 130 to 140 feet.

Your preparation should be divided into three separate stages,

1. Focus on preparation,

2. Focus on precompetition work,

3. Actual contest itself.

This sporting happening in 1900 was included into the Olympic Games, which nowadays is a very big part of track and field. One other thing that altered was the sector as it is at present 34.92 degrees.

Rules:

1. Execute must be specialized for weight, length, diameter, handle and center of gravity.

2. Thrower must stay in the circle until put into action lands.

3. The competitor must wait until executes has landed before exiting the back half of circle under manage.

4. Any throw that lands in the division and is not a foot foul is a correct throw.

From our Athletic Store you can find various hammer throw equipment like gloves, handles, wires, throwing puds, brass, iron hammers etc.,

Hi All, The well-being of a society crucially depends on the health and fitness of its people including its young people whose health and fitness crucially depends on the education and awareness of their elders besides other things. Kindly share this with others: 

Shiksha Ka Suraj - a music video on Indian Adult Literacy: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO8aTlqRjiw 

From http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=81595 

From a PDF document on http://fssai.gov.in/ site, 

I've been adding information on how to detect adulterants in food:  http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blogs/food-adulteration-in-india-issues-and-basic-to-advanced-solutions 

Below, you can view images with details on Reagents, Apparatus and Precautions for Detecting Adulterants in Food. We should make these available as a kit in each apartment complex and colony which would help the residents easily do the tests. If one person finds an issue with some food then that person can also notify others as best as possible.

We can also print http://fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/Final_test_manual_part_I(16-08-2012).pdf and make it available to each apartment complex and colony. 

We can share with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to take leadership in this regard which would help all the people including our future generations. 

Kindly read Food Adulteration Hindi English Health Fitness India one-page PDF document http://www.shaktisaran.com/Food%20Adulteration%20Hindi%20English%20Health%20Fitness%20India.pdf and share (online or print) it with others if you like.

Thank You! Best! Shakti

11th April 2014: Someone liked my this post in a group after some years on which I then commented: Thank You for liking PERSON after some years of I posting this! Yesterday I wasn't carrying enough money to go to vote because I thought that I would walk but then I saw autos at the stand and so thought of taking one. Moreover, I requested the driver to wait and if it wouldn't be a problem. The driver responded that I can pay later and that there's no issue in waiting and that all the auto drivers at the stand think nice of me. I then had again thought of doing more for the drivers which I would! (y)

I feel sorry for the auto drivers because I've told some of them that they should wear anti-pollution masks on which they've said that they think that the police wouldn't let them due to security issues. In this regard, I also suggest to Google "anti pollution india" and on 1st page is http://www.healthfitnessindia.com/profiles/blogs/anti-pollution-mask-delhi-metro-police

How do you feel as an Indian when you read it and think that how come people have led India to like this? Is this also why the aware and wealthy people seem to be moving their children abroad and also having their grandchildren abroad? How would India be like in the next decades when the people have become very weak considering human potential since this would weaken the people? What are you doing to make things better?

Jab maa aisi conditions mein bachcha paida kare to woh kaisi maa: "Researchers are beginning to suspect that India's unusual mix of polluted air, poor sanitation and contaminated water may make the country among the most dangerous in the world for lungs."

"Delhi has turned into a pollution zone so deadly that children in the Capital have the lungs of chain-smokers, and all the associated respiratory ailments."

The person had liked my post on https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=109501519202151&id=286595084704992&ref=notif&notif_t=like

5th September 2012: I felt like an Indian street dog considering the world when going through a market which sells including expensive things for common man, however, the area has much filth. I also met a person who goes to the same gym and that she was also there shortly before. I shared with her about my anti pollution mask which I was wearing and that I was trying to work to get the auto rickshaws fixed with water coolers to help drivers not get sick from potentially harmful water that they might get from outside and that to also help them save money and that I was learning from drivers that many support my idea if I can get something affordable and that it can be fixed well in the auto. 

Then she asked why I also don't do something for manual rickshaw drivers on which I told her that I'm first targeting one segment and that after that I'll work on manual rickshaw drivers to get them affordable footwear and to see if anything can be done to the rickshaws to make them better like how indoor bikes come in several qualities and that some things in them are critical for us to avoid short-term to long-term injury. Moreover, she and I had also done the spinning class today during which she had said to our trainer that I'm concerned for everyone when I had asked our trainer on her child! Also, a manual rickshaw driver nearby was attentively listening to me as she pointed to me which was nice and that I wish that I can also do much for them.

People keep blaming others including the government and the administration. I don't want to sound like an Indian street dog barking like when I keep clearing my throat due to pollution. I'm doing what I can and that not blaming others or asking for change in government or administration but trying my best to bring change in our society and environment by directly contributing to them. I think that we can contribute much even by making small changes at large scale. If you like then you're welcome to contribute with me to our world and that I'm trying to make www.healthfitnessindia.com a platform to connect, share and collaborate for the same. Best! Shakti

Health Issues faced by BPO Employees - Health Fitness India

From http://www.trikal.org/ictbm11/pdf/OB/D1241-done.pdf

-----

Some of the health issues faced by BPO employees are:

Tension

Sleeplessness

Headaches

Eye-strain

Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Voice loss, hearing problems and burn-out.

· Sleeping Disorders

One major severe ailment afflicting people working in Indian call centers is the sleeping disorder. Not only the freshers, even the experienced managers are unable to escape it. Some call centers are looking at devising innovative mechanisms like flexible shifts with sleeping arrangements in the office premises.

· Digestive System Related Problems

Working long hours and odd hours without any sleep, and eating food supplied by external caterers every day, has led to employees suffering from digestive disorders. Especially for the large number of girls working in the industry, the problem is even more severe. Many call centers are now taking additional care to ensure their caterers supply hygienic food; besides stipulating strict conditions to maintain the quality of the food they serve.

· Depression

The gradual realization that there are limited scopes in developing a career owing to fewer growth opportunities is increasing the frustration levels in the BPO industry. Coupled with growing mental fatigue and increasingly punishing physical environments, depression is the obvious end result. Some call centers have now devised different stress management programs mainly to counter depression.

· Eyesight Problems

Globally call center employees are considered a high risk group for eye related problems. While the quality of monitors might impact these disorders, sitting continually without adequate breaks seems to be the truerer reason. While this is already a problem in the IT industry, which some companies have overcome by use of anti-glare monitors.

· Hearing Ailments

A call center job invokes taking calls throughout the shift, sitting with headphones. While quality of headphones does make a difference, it would not be appropriate to say that good quality of headphones can solve this problem; it is more to do with giving rest between calls.

Cultural Shifts

Though on one side we learn to become as professional as western world executives some other disturbing issues are arising. One such serious issue is the personal habits that have undergone a considerable change.

The personal habits, discipline and behavioral issues and detachment with family have been discussed below.

· Personal Habits

The young executives tend to develop certain bad habits such as alcohol, smoking etc. It is not uncommon to find women smoking and drinking alcohol in the BPO setup which is definitely a social stigma in the Indian societies. There are increased concerns about the habits of the employees among the parents, who are not finding it easy to talk to them about their habits, which in no way are welcomed by the Indian families.

Solving such issues lies majorly in the hands of the employees and their employers. Employees can be made to attend counseling sessions of professional counselors. Conducting group counseling, workshops, educative film shows, in order to create awareness on effects of bad habits. Such actions will enable individuals to realize the importance of good habits and they could seek one-to-one counseling sessions.

· Discipline and Behavioral Issues

Call centers provide excellent working environment, free food and transportation. There is always a situation where individual or group of youngsters tend to commit mistakes and abuse the freedom. The most common behavior cited is misuse of food, behave erratically in vans, and smoke in public places, misuse of telephones and other resources of the company. The supervisors themselves reel under the pressure of performance and achieving targets. Hence do not give their time for finding solutions. The professional counselor can play a major role in educating the youngsters on discipline; provide advice to erring executives.

Unacceptable behaviors cause disturbance to others and affects the overall productivity. Continuous education and counseling will help to mitigate such problems and it is possible to change the behavior by adopting a positive approach.

· Detachment from the Family

Since the daytime is spent in sleep and recreational activities with friends. The employees are hardly able to give time for their families. Problems become more pronounced when they get married. Additional responsibilities of running a family demands more time and hence eventually people quit the industry. Most of the employees work on Indian holidays too, which causes frustration. Some employees even feel the need for inclusion in the family and the society. Hence it is important for family members to render support for their young sons and daughters and to help them with the stress that they are undergoing.

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Kindly note that minor health problems unchecked and not cared for can lead to major health problems. In this regard, all BPO employees should regularly visit doctors for general checkup and more as required.

I think that Genetics, Lifestyle and Environment determine a lot about how healthy and fit a life we would live. Research shows that the majority of people do not do the recommended levels of activity which has been putting people at a risk of a range of diseases. Activity has also been shown to reduce the chance of illnesses such as heart diseases, diabetes and some cancers. It can also help improve mental health. In this regard, I wish that the BPO employees do the best that they can to have the best health and fitness as possible while working in the BPO sector. I also wish that the Health and Fitness India network would be of value to them in this regard including towards uplifting the health and fitness of the masses.

I also think that the employers would do better with healthier and fitter employees and so the BPO employers should try to provide whatever that they can to their employees for their health and fitness.

Best,
Shakti

Read the Ergonomics and Exercise Article for Wellness of professionals at workplace (offices etc.)

Hi All,

During mid October, I decided to leave my gym then which has nice facility, equipment, and trainers and that I recommend it to people and so my reason to leave wasn't because of gym itself. So I went to a gym nearby that is an international chain of high repute to learn about it. I was told by the salesperson there that he was giving me a great discount and that it was only valid until the end of October. However, I couldn't join it for November because my gym then told me that I've to give one month notice for cancellation based on my contract and so I had to pay for the month of November and hence I also used the gym for the month which was nice. After some days, I searched online and found that the international gym had a special discount during November which was even cheaper than what the salesperson was giving me for joining the gym before November. I told the salesperson the same on which he said that he wasn't aware of it and that then he told me that he would check this with his seniors and that then told me that he would give me a discount, however, it was only available for a day or two and so I would've to join the gym soon to get the discount. I told him that I would let him know and that then I wrote on the Facebook wall of this gym on which I was told that the discount was for several days during the month. Perhaps the salesperson wasn't aware of the exact details. I also asked the salesperson and on the Facebook wall of this gym whether I could access two of its outlets whenever I want for the price of one on which I was told that for which I would've to pay extra which was much more than a small fees for me and so I decided to not join this gym even though it's nice.

During the same period, I was thinking of starting our Health and Fitness India network www.healthfitnessindia.com. I had also heard of Fitness First in Connaught Place in Delhi and that I visited there thinking that it's in the middle of the two outlets of the other gym that I wanted to use and so this gym alone should be somewhat fine for me. Moreover, I was going to visit Delhi at least some days a week to visit health and fitness related businesses to share about our network and that since I would be using Metro, I thought that Fitness First in C.P. should work out well. Moreover, I thought that I would learn how a top gym in India is and that perhaps would also meet more nice people.

Yesterday, the salesperson from that gym called and said that I hadn't spoken with him in a while (which was about a month ago) on which I mentioned that I had joined Fitness First. When he started to compare his gym with Fitness First, I told him that I realize that his gym's chain is a top one too even if all the outlets might not be of the same level and that when I asked him whether he has visited Fitness First and that he said that he hasn't then I suggested him that he should visit Fitness First to put his outlet (which is also nice) in perspective and that since I don't own any of these gyms, if any of his gym's outlets are overall more suitable later then I might even join it and that since he also doesn't own any of these gyms, he might even be working for another gym later or might even own a business. I think that a platform that can bring together the many different entities in health and fitness in India to connect, share, and collaborate with each other as well as possible would benefit all. In this regard, our Health and Fitness India network aims to bring together business owners, professionals, and enthusiasts in health and fitness in India to connect, share, and collaborate! Also, kindly note that business owners, professionals, and enthusiasts from worldwide are welcome to our network. It would be great if you would share about our network www.healthfitnessindia.com with people to whom it would be of value.

Best,

Shakti Saran

Hello Everyone,

Kindly let me share this with you:

"At least one billion people are undernourished while a staggering 1.5 billion people are overweight, including an increasing number in low and middle income countries," World Disasters Report-2011 by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated. http://www.dnaindia.com/health /report_excessive-nutrition-ki lling-more-people-than-hunger_1590241

This report should be of value to professionals and business owners in health and fitness in India to motivate people in India to focus on their health and fitness. I'll keep sharing reports and articles of value.

Best,

Shakti Saran