Adding a ‘Zing’ to workouts

With a month into the lockdown phase, as corporate executives juggle their workload around social distancing, isolation and quarantine, some have found recourse in personal hobbies and interests to motivate and upskill. Yet, others have tweaked their fitness ‘operandi’ to gain inner satisfaction and boost their immunity. Corporate Citizen explores a cross-section of professionals on how they have kept themselves motivated for mental and physical fitness in these trying times. Meet Maxson Lewis, Managing Director, Magenta Power, specialists in affordable renewable (green) energy solutions such as Solar PV based systems, solar water heaters, Wind Turbine systems and Bioenergy

"The Covid-19 outbreak has pushed me to indulge in household chores, which has improved my cooking skills and has allowed me to learn a lot of things from my partner. And, one of the most favourite things I like to do is gardening – my wife and I both have been nature lovers and we have a large terrace garden in the house”, said Maxson Lewis, Managing Director, Magenta Power.

He reiterates that “The lockdown has allowed me to get involved with family more, and all these activities have allowed us to divert our mind from the mobile phones and be together and participate in fun activities. It has also helped us to communicate more, listen to each other more and has taught us to be more patient.”

Despite the lockdown, Maxson’s work schedule has remained more or less the same as before and maybe with an extension to his work hours on certain days. With working hours stretching to some 8-9 hours a day, it could vary from attending phones to discussing future strategies and attending/conducting video calls which sum up the Magenta MD’s daily work patterns.

However, getting ‘holed in’ with a tight work schedule has in fact encouraged Maxson and his better half to tend to their terrace garden for inner solace. Besides, the lockdown phase has triggered a new activity in their lives in the form of painting by using waste and creating the best of such things. “These activities allow us to chat, enjoy and see the different perspectives each one of us has. Later in the day, while watching the news we discuss the current situations”, he said.

Smart Tips

• During workouts, make sure to take multiple water breaks.
• Walk around the house while making or taking phone calls.
• Practice floor exercises using own body weight and practise breathing exercises.
• Avoiding processed foods which are high on sugar content.
• Eat healthy food to boost immunity in avoiding contracting the virus or even the simple flu.
• Fix daily schedules for meals, working schedules, exercise regime and regular sleep routine.

“Besides, pacing (while talking over the phone), releases endorphins, that helps me arrange my thoughts, which in turn easies out the coordination with my employees for work-related activities”

Gardening aids Fitness

Maxson has vermiculture and vermicomposting system at home and believes that cultivating the system itself encompasses a fair amount of physical work, and “This has become one of the ways for me to be engaged physically.” As, he said, “Unforeseen times require unforeseen solutions – at work or even at home.” Besides, throughout the week he also balances this activity with his regular workouts.

These would include a balanced workout that incorporates floor exercises along with his passion for vermiculture and vermicomposting. “My gardening hobby has taken precedence in my current home-bound status which makes me feel better and allows me to make the necessary changes in the garden, grow more vegetables in the little space and derive immense satisfaction out of this activity,” said Maxson. “This helps me to maintain a balance between mental and physical health,” he said.

Building Core Strength

Maxson is a fitness enthusiast who prefers cycling and walking as part of his daily fitness regime but has had to change his course to adapt to the new ‘lockdown’ norm for working out at home. He has continued to incorporate the ‘walk the talk’ fundamentals.

With a partner who is also a professional physiotherapist and a Pilates trainer, she has doubled up as Maxson’s personal trainer during this phase. “I have been following the easy floor-based exercises that cover core strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. These floor routines are a replacement for my daily walking and cycling. By enduring cardio exercises every alternate day is helping me to up my stamina building and help maintain my overall body shape. My work out routine generally includes sit-ups, push-ups, lunges, crunches and planks,” he said.

‘Adventure’ vs Motivation

An avid adventure sports enthusiast, Maxson has been regular with outdoor activities like super-biking, cycling, off-roading, and rollerblading, which was also his Sunday routine with his wife. “Amid the current coronavirus pandemic, we have all been locked inside our homes and have had to adapt our fitness routines to the new normal. I too have adapted to a few ideas to keep fit while indoors, but I certainly do miss my weekend on the road rides as a stress buster in these rigorous times.”

The biggest challenge has been in allocating fixed time structures for office work and daily ‘workouts’. “And sometimes, we all have days where we are over-worked, tired or simply lack the motivation to exercise,” he added.

Busting Stress, Cleaner Diet, Family Time

“I have always followed the idea of walking around the house while taking phone calls on headphones which is helping me to cut down on the current ‘sedentary’ way of our lives. This serves the dual purpose of ‘working-at’ and ‘working-out’ at the same time – my pedometer count is still continuing as normal. Besides, pacing releases endorphins, that helps me arrange my thoughts, which in turn easies out the coordination with my employees for work-related activities.”

He is quick to acknowledge the fact that, “Things feel much out of my control. My routines have been thrown into disarray. But I am trying my utter best to maintain a healthy diet and avoid giving in to temptations.” He said that home working for continuous, long hours does build up appetite. “Keeping healthy and nutritious snacks nearby ensures I don’t indulge in junk to beat my hunger pangs. Yoghurt, berries, fruits, nuts and dried fruit or even hummus are any day a better alternative,” said Maxson.

Maxson continues to pursue his love for reading and solving puzzles, crosswords, etc. “This allows me to get my brain do the thinking early in the morning, and when we are sitting together in the evening, we all enjoy playing Scrabble the most, which has helped us improved our memory.”

Balancing Social Media Feeds

The onslaught of social media can become overwhelming due to the continuous overload of 24/7 information overdose, especially post the pandemic outbreak. While Maxson also keeps up with the news, almost like everyone, he has also been tracking the updates on various social media channels, which can also become overpowering on our mental health.

Maxson said that while social networking sites can be inundating in its repetitive telecast of the pandemic news coverage, “It also brings out a human factor within all of us, that we are all in this together. Although this is for the best of reasons, somewhere down the line it is consuming my everyday routine as well. The routine that I used to follow is disrupted and the line of difference between work and home seems to be merging,” said Maxson.

“However, I try to get at least a good eight hours of sleep, this combined with a healthy diet and simple workout routine keeps my mind fresh and active throughout the day,” he said.