Responsibly Fit

We all have heard the saying no pain no gain; but this pain might also lead to a serious muscle syndrome. We ask an expert on how to avoid it.

- Chitman Kanwar Ahuja

Fitness is a way of life. It definitely is the right way to lead your life but not at the cost of damaging one’s muscles. Thanks to the trending hashtag #BeastModeOn, we have begun to overtrain ourselves like beasts, but the key lies in finding the right balance. Overtraining one’s body may lead to the breakdown of striated muscle cells resulting in leakage of cell matter into the extracellular space. It can present itself with myalgia, muscle weakness, and swelling. This clinical syndrome is called rhabdomyolysis. If not treated on time, it can lead to serious complications such as kidney failure.

We speak to one of the leading fitness and wellness professionals in the country, Sumaya Dalmia, who has been a pioneer in the wellness and fitness industry since 1997. She spills the beans on how to avoid muscle damage, a holistic approach to fitness, and the importance of a personalised workout chart for one’s physical wellbeing. Edited excerpts…

Since how long have you been in this fitness industry? From where did you receive your education and training?

I have been in the industry for 22 years. I was always into competitive sports during my school time. I pursued Economics Honours and then went on to do my masters in New York University. I met a fitness professional over there and ended up doing my masters in sports science. My degree equips me to handle athletes. I have also completed many other certification courses such as APSN, personal training, kickboxing, and pilates from the pilates foundation.

Fitness is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in the healthcare sector. Do you think there is enough scope for fitness experts in India?