Western suburbs introduce outdoor calisthenics park

Away from cloistered airconditioned gyms and woodpanelled yoga spaces the Elysium Calisthenics Park at Marve Road might be a good alternative to give your routine a different healthy spin From ancient Greece to Australia and Mumbai the art of bodyweight exercises has slowly evolved We decided to get two calisthenics practitioners to try it outThe park encourages calisthenics a bodyweightonly exercise form for all enthusiasts For 26yearold Mervyn DrsquoSouza calisthenics was an incidental discovery ldquoIt was Jaden who needed to find a way to maintain fitnessrdquo he shares Jaden his 15yearold brother was already learning horse riding ldquoThis was a good approach to build up my agility and mobilityrdquo he shares Having signed on in May 2023 the two brothers discovered that calisthenics allowed them to work on their bodies without an emphasis on weight training through fun engaging challengesJaden and right Mervyn DrsquoSouza at a session by centre Kirsten VarelaThe duo paid a visit to the park at 4 pm post the afternoon onslaught of the sun Founded by 31yearold Kirsten Varela in 2018 the 5000 sq ft space is equipped with battle ropes bars parallel bars boxing bags and a team of trainers to guide them through the processVarela explains that the inspiration for the park lay in the open street workout setups that he witnessed during his visit to Australia for his Masterrsquos degree in 2016 A selftaught athlete he turned to calisthenics after being disappointed by the competitive nature and closed doors of gyms Now the sports management graduate believes that the openair set up that allows people to work out freely Can the weather be a challenge especially in the monsoon ldquoNot reallyrdquo Varela answers ldquoAs a street practice it is always in the open Even in the rain It helps build your endurance Of course we take precautions in terms of grips and have safety measures in placerdquoA calisthenics trainer helps a participant with his balance on the ropeFor Mervyn calisthenics is an effort to regain his fitness Having gained weight the Malad resident has been on a journey to regain fitness and strength and tried aerobics and gym routines But he prefers the bodyweight exercises of calisthenics to either The brothers begin with sessions of dynamic and static stretching as instructed by the park trainers These simple exercises enable the body to slowly adapt to the more rigorous exercises without the risk of an injuryMervyn then turns to the use of battle ropes that combine high intensity cardio and strength training ldquoThe park has sufficient equipment that can be chosen according to your needs Battle ropes are better for me since I am focusing on strength trainingrdquo he explains For Jaden the objective is mobility and core balance So he uses the push up bars before turning to the back lever Having worked on the move for a year exercising in this space the younger sibling has better control as he holds the position on the barsMervyn insists that the equipment is of high quality but the vibe matters most ldquoSome workout places can be judgemental and make the joinees feel uncomfortable It helps that the trainers are encouraging There is no pushing or forcing you to try something I remember when I managed to do my first push up they encouraged me for that as well it felt goodrdquo he recallsWith separate changing rooms for men and women the space also offers training as per body requirements Mervyn remarks ldquoBodyweight exercises are preferable since they focus on mobility Working out in the open with people around you always helps me gain confidence It is nice to have someone encourage yourdquo As the duo wrap up their session after two hours others turn up for their sessionsElysium Calisthenics ParkAt Rosario Farm Marve Road Rathodi Malad WestTime 7 am to 9 am 5 pm to 7 pm Monday to SaturdayCall 9833352097Cost Rs 1500 per class Rs 5000 onwards monthly sessionsChecklist1 Take it slow Calisthenics is about selfimprovement2 Warmups and stretches are paramount Ensure that your body is completely warm with a 10minute routine before you begin your workout3 Do not assume or approach complex moves without guidance There is a clear path of progression to calisthenics moves4 Always have an expert at hand They can help spot and preempt any injuries5 Have a clear objective when you begin Calisthenics is a slowburn programme and not a quickfix solutionBinoy Boban fitness trainer and consultantWhere else to train Indian School of CalisthenicsAT Arjuna Camp SRPF Grounds Goregaon EastCALL 7715953218 COST R4000 onwards per month Pure CalisthenicsAT 25252 Veena Sitar CoOp Housing Society Kandivali WestCALL 9773968119 Shanky Fitness GymAT Near Marthoma Church Chembur EastCALL 9702097002 Barbreed BombayAT St Thomas Road IC Colony Borivali WestCALL 7012584339 Kettle Hell Fitness StudioAT 25 Bhoomi Heights opposite Little World Mall KhargharCALL 8850184612