Boost Up Your Life | Feature

Today, in the 21st century, life is moving at a faster pace. And most often than not, we might encounter stress and tensions, which in today's competitive and wound-up world, is a hazard. In fact, stress has become a popular topic of tea-time conversation, in offices. Stress can be broadly categorized into four main types: Physical (upset stomach, dry mouth, muscle aches and pains), Cognitive (Loss of ability to concentrate, being forgetful or humorless), Emotional (being short tempered, sarcastic or demoralized) and Behavioral (Oversleeping, drinking more coffee and neglecting oneself from eating balanced food).

Firstly, one needs to learn to identify his own particular reactions to stress and take note of their intensity as well as the time of day when the symptoms occur.

Learning to relax is perhaps the most important step in controlling stress reactions. Just sipping a cocktail, watching television, listening to music, is not enough relaxation because one has to be physically fit too. Otherwise your response and action towards relaxation is incomplete. The state of relaxation is good in two ways, profoundly relaxing the body is, in itself, good for you and the state of relaxation is an important tool for achieving good behavioral change.

Today people are becoming conscious of their health and fitness and maybe this is the reason why the colossal growth of health clubs and fitness centers being observed all over the country. Giving your body a break from tension, even once a day, for at least half an hour is therapeutic. Sometimes I used to wonder how people manage to take time out, of their tough schedule, and go to health clubs. But when you see the rate of people going for their workout, you can make out that it is not a bad idea to join a club, rather than tossing and turning all night long, and waking up in the morning feeling worse than the night before.

Speaking of health clubs in the valley, they not only provide good health they give you a full time relaxation through swimming, hotbath, sauna, bowling, gym, snooker, yoga etc.

Going to health clubs at least twice a week is a good way to keep oneself fit. Practicing 30 mins of exercise helps reduce a lot of weight. According to Sthipa Rai, a member of a well known club in town, exclaims, "Earlier I used to start my day on an empty stomach in order to reduce weight, but soon I realized that I was becoming weaker day by day. Therefore I started going to health clubs and now the exercise that I get at the club is helping lead a healthy life." Regimentation of food that we eat is by no means the best way to control weight problem because living a good life, maintaining a healthy body, exposing oneself to a good environment is more important than following a strict diet.

Speaking of health apartments in the town, many of them are running a pretty good business.

Hardic Fitness Center
Each day should begin with agility, excitement and full vibrancy. In order to begin a day that like that, the first and the foremost thing one needs is fitness. As your physical fitness increases you learn to cope with stress and fatigue. Moreover, you will become a completely new person and will re-energize your passion for life. But, the bottom line is, "Can you change?" The answer, of course, is "yes". And it's better late than never. You can drop by Hardic Fitness Centre in Pulchowk and see for yourself.

The member facilities include medical check-up, roller-blading, credit card facilities, tennis, along with the work out in the gymnasium with professional instructors, swimming pools, lectures on health, nutrition and exercise, aerobics with local and foreign instructors, yoga classes under the expert guidance of Kiran Shanker Yogacharya and other lady teachers.

They offer the use-and-pay facilities too, which includes sauna, Jacuzzi, steambath, beauty parlour, gent's barber, and a restaurant open for outsiders.

Cosmos Solarium
Cosmos solarium located in Tripureswor offers real workout, pure entertainment and complete relaxation. The fitness club is on the top of the six-storied building with an exclusive outdoor swimming pool, an enormous snooker room, aerobics, gym, sauna etc. You won't find another club that offers a breathtaking view with an airy bar that serves refreshments. If you are worried that your dad spends to much time on the computer then you could encourage him to take some time off, for himself, at the Cosmos Solarium, while you enjoy at the videogame parlor.

Eshani Club
In it's 3rd year - Eshani Club - situated at Kalankisthan happens to be the talk of the town. The superfluous crowd gathered here, on the weekends, is enough proof. Leave aside the weekends even the working days are not spared.

Mr. Shrikar Pratap Shat, the executive director of Eshani Club prompted, "Two full fledged swimming pools adjacent to each other, is quite an attraction for Kathmanduites. That could be the reason for an influx of people." He personally feels that men are more inclined towards joining clubs than women.

The facilities provided by Eshani Club are swimming, badminton, tennis, squash, gym, sauna, Jacuzzi etc. That's quite a mouthful. Lush gardens, commodious parking and a humming café awaits. The hospitality and the service they render accentuates the tranquil environment. It's a piece of heaven on earth.

Millions of people are trying to create a healthier environment for themselves but most times, they are confused. At present people are convinced that being pushed to work out hard is the one and only way to get back into shape but no!!! I strictly disagree. You don't have to indulge in a strenuous work out system just to get into shape. It might take time but you have to begin somewhere - be a part of any fitness club near you and you're surely going to feel the difference.