But what about the….?
I am consciously sitting straighter at my desk, tucking in my tummy. By now, I know the collateral damage to the body by a few hours of consistent slouching at the desk and it’s no secret that slouchers don’t make a first or lasting impression especially in the fast paced corporate jungle.
Take a break, every few hours. STRETCH . It can add to your life span and prevent you from having an unplanned stroke at your workplace screams some well-meaning headline from the millionth book tailored for stressed out corporate professionals.
And I don’t need a stroke, so at the stroke of my alarm-set planned break, I walk to the water cooler armed with a 2.5 litre water bottle.
“Stay hydrated”, says a well-meaning colleague. “I drink at least 8 litres of water at office”, she says sagely.
I bow my head shamed because it’s an effort to even finish a litre. Probably one day, I will get there, I tell myself.
There is an audience by the water cooler as another colleague is speaking vociferously about the benefits of doing power yoga in between power point presentations. It is all about channelizing the power that comes from within to effectively join the revolution to fight the flab. I listen intently like a newly indoctrinated disciple.
Even though nobody is exactly the ideal body shape or fitness level, the fad has spread across like a fire in a slum – uncontrollable and unapologetic and ready to consume everything within its path.
Gone are the regular watches. It’s now fit bits and other such devices programmed to time and analyse every 10,000 or more steps taken for the day. You need to have daily goals & KPIs.
Meanwhile there is a fight between the marathoners - the full marathoners and the half. I was asked to mediate because I was not part of none.
“No she is not “fit” enough to mediate”, somebody says – a full marathoner no doubt.
I shrink further in my mind (not in size though).
So I ask, albeit a little like Arnab in News Hour, “guys you are so obsessed about the body but what about the mind?”
“Shouldn’t we be doing something about that?”
There is a nano second of silence and before I could fully gloat about making a point, somebody says.
“Chill ya, drink some green tea without sugar”
And the cacophony continues!
It sounds interesting and relevant information for me as i missed most of the things due to hectic work schedule. ,thanks Namita for conveying such useful message.
Nice one mam
wow.. Namitha san.. Loved the write up..
Lol. I like the bit where you say..."there is no muscle but just fat and flesh"...You said it so well in corporate jargon meaning...Here is a lot of bullshit without substance :-) Yes and I am going to follow your advice of throwing (my currently ample ) weight around!
Amazing how you can write so well about absolutely nothing and still keep it so interesting. There is no muscle to it but just some fat and flesh.But yet was as interesting as any i have read in the recent times. That proves, we don't always have to tuck in our tummies (for some of us it still won't matter anyways) or worry about a power yoga as fat and flab can still be just as pretty as fit and athletic. Well done and keep writing. One simple tip to reduce weight - Try throwing your weight around at office, with friends and at home :)