My tryst with gym

It all started in the year 2000 and the date if I recall was 19 February. Three of us, studying in the same college joined a gym in sector 34. The reasons, were the reasons of any youth with time and energy to expend; to make DOLE SHOLE. It was a basement gym, and like all the blokes of that age you always sought company to go to the gym, because you are so self conscious about your body and the way it looks, you seek a comforting partner; the one who looks almost like you. So we carried on, and within a week one was out for examination reasons, and shortly thereafter the other left too for some self-styled reason. I for one, carried on; no reasons.

Probably a month down the line, a new instructor joined the gym. Not that tall a guy, but very well built and with laugh of a RAAVANA. It was the first time I saw an arm bulging out of the T-shirt. It was real time, I was in the presence of my very local Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was a dream come true with images of Arnold's bulging biceps in the movie COMMANDO, flashing in front of me. I wanted to be like that. It was decided. 

The initial days are the crucial days for any new gymmer. You are looking at mirror after every set with the hope to find the bicep bigger than the previous set and all the notions of adolescent mind. It is here, during that very small period of time, that most of the newbies lose heart, get intimidated and quit. Somehow, I just stumbled on it. I was there for weight loss, I got fascinated by Hari's arms and I asked him to train me, which he did. I had no expectations, and neither did I have any apprehensions when new suggestions came along; I just did them. The only thing I did different was; I was regular. Sameer never did it more than a week or so, and Tony had seasons for gyming in a year which lasted no more than a month or two. Further, I did all the exercises, while they had preferences. As a result, one and a half years down the line, I became someone whom even Hari took seriously (competition wise) and I just kept on gymming religiously. It was something that I looked upto in the entire day. He co-erced me into competing for Mr. Chandigarh, and I went for it, and I won it.

Looking in retrospect, it was a wonderful journey. Taught me a lot many things, made me go through some real tough times, taught me about physical and mental endurance. I can never forget my sister Akinder funding my supplements, my father giving me all the work to do at precisely the time I had to go to gym, myself not being able to sleep on stomach for protruding leg muscles, the deadly cut-up schedule and the life of a beggar I lived for the last 14 days before competition. For all it was, it was worth it; and all the cribbing, all the injuries, all the abuses, just made it that much more worthy. Days after winning the Chandigarh title, I went on to win my college title as well. But, these things die hard. I gradually entered professional life and found less and less time for gym; so I opened my own at my place. Years down the line, things took toll and I could'nt make rhythm, even in my home gym. Probably a phase of time. 

But somewhere deep within, the thing stays. I was in Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and the first time I came across a GOLD's GYM (a big name for bodybuilders). Knowing that I did'nt need, I bought their merchandise of shirts and jackets. The reason was simple; I just had to, it was the long pending desire to relate to the name and I just about knew what GOLD's GYM stood for. Couple of months back, I was jogging and doing some exercises at Sukhna Lake that I noticed an old man observing my moves. He came across and asked me what I was upto. I told him the purpose of that particular exercise, and he was prompt to signify its pros and cons to me. It later came to be known that the old fella, was the first body builder of Punjab and that too in the year 1955. He posed for his biceps as I felt them; they were big and damn solid for his age. I was all respect for him. So thats how its like, we can pose anywhere and feel each others arms, irrespective of the people around.

Now I am at it again and its been two months now since I have joined a gym in the neighborhood. I am very relaxed doing my routine, probably I have grown to be in it. But now its more of a fitness thing and it feels good to physically exhaust the body, again. Somehow the confidence is in the air, you cant define it but it just comes with experience I guess. I would'nt be surprised seeing myself reach my original endurance levels shortly.

Time tells.