How to work out without a work out

Editor’s note: The following excerpt is from the book Work it Out Without a Workout by Vesna P Jacob. A veteran health expert, Jacob breaks work out myths and writes about how one can stay fit, healthy and happy without spending much time on rigorous workout sessions or gyms. Her exercises are easy and can be done at home, work and even while driving.

I have noticed that people who lead an active life and consider physical fitness important, somehow always manage to find time to exercise, no matter how busy they might be. As a matter of fact, some of the busiest people I have met are also the most dedicated people. They manage to workout regularly, regardless of which part of the world their work takes them to, irrespective of time difference and jet lag, or the numerous parties they go to or all the socializing that follows. They are dashingly fit with high energy levels, looking and feeling great in the bodies they have earned. This book is not for them. This book is for all those for whom fitness is something they have to endure — a painful process of sweat and breathlessness, with a mean trainer on their case, shouting to try harder.

Tone and slender bodies become an unachievable dream, because even if people consider putting themselves through the ordeal, there is never any time available for such a task. Life settles in, job takes over most of the time, family claims the rest, and somehow, no matter how many times they try to fit workout into their schedule, one thing or the other keeps on happening. They never manage to get to the gym or every attempt of theirs fails after a few sessions.

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Before creating a system to utilize time in the best possible way, let us first set the ground rules. A lot of my clients have accused me of not being forceful enough and not twisting their arms to get things done. In fact most of the other fitness instructors or so called gurus follow the principle — ‘one fits all’. To encourage their clients, they use phrases like ‘you have to’, ‘you must do this’, ‘my way is the only way it can work’ and ‘there are no alternatives’. They give you an easy choice and you need to choose their system to get everything you want without thinking twice. Sounds appealing doesn’t it? Without asking any questions they tell you what to do, how many times and how often. This strips you of taking responsibility for your own body and well being, giving an outsider the right to control you. This consequently results in blaming the trainer, the system, or the fitness centre, for what basically is a failure on your part.

Let me break it down for you. We are all different, and even if this difference is negligible, one size cannot fit all. Even a slight modification can make a world of difference to a person’s life. Every individual’s body demands a teacher’s flexibility and deeper self-understanding of the student. We can together continue this journey if you know your destination, and I have knowledge of its stages. This will help you get where you want to be.