Updated: September 24, 2020 8:38:38 pm
We must do our best to keep our bodies active at all times, says Milind Soman. (Source: milindrunning / Instagram)
The first anniversary of the Fit India movement saw Prime Minster Narendra Modi interact with fitness influencers from across the country, including the supermodel and actor Milind Soman, who has been recognized as an idol over the years. of fitness. Addressing him as ‘Made in India Milind’ referring to the famous song from the 90s that brought the 54-year-old Soman to fame, the prime minister thanked him for his contribution to the fitness movement in the country.
“You have been a vocal supporter of Make in India. You also have a popular book with Made in India title, ”he said.
Soman responded with a smile and said that moves like Fit India are essential and are working very well. “Our country does not have a culture in which everyone has to stay fit to work. Now people are realizing that to stay fit and healthy, they have to put in the effort. This is a very good thing the Fit India movement is doing. People have finally begun to realize their potential, ”he said.
On a lighter note, Prime Minister Modi insisted on Soman about his age and said, “Whatever you say your age is, is it really that old or is it something else?”
To this, Soman said, “A lot of people ask me the same question about my age. They also ask me how I am able to run such long distances (ultramarathons, ironman, runs from Delhi to Mumbai, 2012) at this time. I tell you, my mother at 81 years old, is capable of doing all this. I want to be able to do that when I’m your age. She is a great source of inspiration for me and many others ”.
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Soman also questioned terms like “normal fitness”. “We all know that our ancestors were so fit. They used to walk between 40 and 50 kilometers. Even today, women in rural areas walk 40 kilometers to fetch water and even work in the agricultural sector. But in urban areas where there are services like electricity, technology, internet, we continue to sit. And sitting reduces our power, our physical state. So what is normal for a person is that he can easily run and walk 100 kilometers.
Introducing a new slogan to encourage everyone to exercise for at least half an hour a day with ‘Ki Fitness Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz‘, PM Modi said that fitness has no age bar. “They had sent me a video of her 81-year-old mother doing push-ups and I had watched it at least five times in awe,” she said.
Soman shared that his mother started hiking at the age of 60 with Kilimanjaro. “We continue to inspire each other. I keep learning from her. I taught him push-ups, squats and other exercises that he does every day, ”he said.
Prime Minister Modi asked Soman if he is still swimming to keep fit. Soman candidly shared that he doesn’t follow any particular routine. “I like to exercise. Whatever time I get, be it three minutes or 30 minutes or three hours. I use all the time I have to do one activity or another. Sometimes I’m pressed for time. I keep telling everyone that I don’t go to any gym, I don’t use any machine that is useful for any athlete. However, if you just want to keep fit in everyday life and you want to be healthy, you can stay that way even at home. I can stay home and stay fit even in an 8 x 10 room. I can prepare for marathons, I can run marathons, ”said Soman, who even runs barefoot, while squashing popular perceptions that one needs to do and have“ so much ” to stay fit.
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