PM Modi bats for fitness, encourages ‘ Fitness Ki Doz, Aadha Ghanta Roz’ mantra

New Delhi, Sept 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the Mantra of Fitness - Fitness Ki Doz, Aadha Ghanta Roz, and said that the health and happiness of all are hidden in this 'Mantra' on Thursday during an online Fit India Dialogue. In the same event, he launched the 'Fit India Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols' to celebrate the first anniversary of the Fit India Movement.

 

 

PM Modi was interacting with fitness experts and influencers including interactions with cricketer Virat Kohli, actor Milind Soman, footballer Afshan Ashiq. The online interaction saw participants sharing anecdotes and tips of their own fitness journey while drawing out guidance from the Prime Minister on his thoughts about fitness and good health.

 

 

On the occasion, the Prime Minister wished all the countrymen good health and said that in one year, the Fit India Movement has become the movement of people. "There is an increasing awareness in the country about fitness and activities related to it, has also increased. Today many countries of the world have set many goals regarding fitness and are working on them on many fronts. Many countries like Australia, Germany, UK, USA are running fitness campaigns on a large scale."

 

Further, he added, "Usually, parents teach us all good habits but for fitness, the trend has reversed a little and youngsters are taking the lead in helping their parents get a fit lifestyle. Yoga, posture, exercise, walking, running, healthy diet and swimming activities are now becoming part of our nature conscious." He said the Fit India Movement has demonstrated its influence and relevance during COVID- 19 period.

 

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, Paralympics gold medalist javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia, woman footballer from Jammu and Kashmir, Afshan Ashiq, actor and fitness promoter Milind Soman, nutrition and exercise science expert, Rujuta Diwekar, Yoga guru Swami Shivadhayanam Saraswati, and National Organising Secretary, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Mukul Kanitkar also participated in the event being held through video conferencing.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Rijiju said, while launching the Fit India Movement last year, the Prime Minister had emphasized that it should become the movement of people. Now Fit India Movement is truly becoming people's movement and in the past year, many programmes were organized which have taken the fitness to new heights.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, who said that he was a big fan of the Soman's mother's fitness at an advanced age. "We have forgotten what is normal in exercise. We are capable of taking regular and strenuous exercise," Soman said.

 

Prime Minister inquired about their fitness routines, nutrition, challenges, and also the need for keeping fit in today's day and age. The attendees shared their experience with fitness, the need to stay fit, and how different approaches and slight changes in the routine can change anyone's life for the better.

 

On the other hand, "Healthy body is necessary for a healthy mind. Fitness has to be our priority. There has to be gap between two meals so that it allows the body to process what we eat," Kohli told the Prime Minister. The Indian cricket team captain also said that deciding the priority was of utmost importance to get best results in anyone's fitness endeavors.

 

PM Modi also unveiled 'Fit India Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols'. The fitness protocols have been prepared with the help of fitness enthusiasts for three age categories, from 5-18 years, 18-65 years, and 65 plus age category

 

The Fit India Dialogue is yet another effort to involve citizens of the country to draw out a plan to make India a Fit Nation. Earlier, on August 29, 2019, the Fit India Movement was launched by PM Modi. It has seen the collective participation of more than 3.5 crore Indians in various events, with more than 2.5 crore participants in the Fit India Freedom Run that was launched on August 15, 2019, with a digital footprint of 30 crore people.