health and fitness‎ Archives - Page 4 of 6

June 15, 2019 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Beyond the Force: A GOQii Newsletter Edition 1

1. India Defies Stanford University Report 2017 and Becomes Active!

On 22nd February 2019, GOQii launched the India Steps Challenge in partnership with Network18. The challenge was conceptualized after we came across a 2017 study by Stanford University which deemed Indians as the laziest in the world, clocking in an average of only 4297 steps per day.

This step count was further challenged in 2018, when our GOQii IndiaFit Report stated that the average step count had increased to 6783 steps per day.

The India Steps Challenge ended on 1st June 2019 with most prizes being claimed fully. After witnessing stunning participation of over 2 million people across 35 states including Union Territories in the country, we are proud to announce that the national average has now increased to 9391 steps per day, beating Stanford’s research by 118%.

The challenge saw people from all walks of life participate and even received support from noted personalities. Read more here!

Winner Gives All!

Rajneesh Sharma from Pathankot in Punjab won the grand prize of Rs. 5 lakh. He managed to clock in an average of 39,657 steps daily! Rajneesh was able to achieve this by being active for 5-6 hours a day. Apart from him, there were 3 other players who clocked a daily average of 36,000 steps a day.

“I am very happy to have won this challenge as I have decided to give this money to an NGO – ‘Shiv Bhole Langar Samiti’ with whom I volunteer. This NGO feeds people in Himachal Pradesh’s Hadsar and Gauri Kund area. I participated and started walking to keep myself fit only to be able to climb up 13 km to feed people as part of the NGO work. Then my friends joined me and that kept me motivated.”

Rajneesh Sharma (left) with his friends

For some, what started as a challenge to earn rewards later become a start towards a healthy life. We had multiple reports of participants who continued walking 6000 steps or more once the challenge was over. There were some who lost weight, were happier and healthier than before as well!

2. Get Upto 90% Discounts on the GOQii Health Store

Have you been keeping a keen eye on the app? There are some amazing discounts on the GOQii Health Store that go up to 90% using GOQii Cash. The timings are:

11 AM to 1 PM
5 PM to 7 PM
7 PM to 9 PM

3. Soulfull Now Available in the GOQii Health Store

Are you game for something tasty and delicious? Soulfull, our newest addition on the GOQii Health Store offers a range of healthy breakfast cereals which include Original Ragi Flakes, Flavoured Flakes, Vanilla and Choco-filled Ragi Bites, Millet Muesli, and Oat Millet Meal. Treat yourself to awesomeness right now!

In the next few months, you will want to pay close attention to GOQii Play as something big is coming your way! Now, you get 50 GOQii Cash for attending a class on GOQii Play. To add to it, all the knowledge you can get through these classes will help you in the next challenge we have planned with even more exciting prizes. You worked your body during the India Steps Challenge, now get ready to work your mind!

Stay Tuned for More Details!

4. Latest Buzz From the World of Health & Fitness

WHO Recognizes Burn-Out as an “Occupational Phenomenon”: Burn-out is now included in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an occupational phenomenon. It is not classified as a medical condition.
International Day of Yoga: This year, International Day of Yoga will be held at Ranchi on the 21st of June. The day will witness over 30,000 people participation led by Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Nipah Virus Resurfaces in Kerala: The virus that claimed 17 lives last year has resurfaced in Kerala but the State Health Minister KK Shylaja says do not panic as they are well-equipped to deal with the issue. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that no new case of Nipah Virus infection has been reported in Kerala.

June 10, 2019 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Lunchtime Workouts to Stay Fit Anywhere!

It is easy to fall prey to a sedentary lifestyle especially with a hectic schedule that revolves around work, home and stress. Somewhere, a healthy life and fitness has taken a backseat for most people. But, most people forget that staying fit and active is a mantra to being more productive at work!

There may be many constraints that might prevent you from working out but there’s always a solution. We call it the Lunchtime Workouts! These workouts can be done anywhere, including your office. They are easy and can be wrapped up within 15-20mins flat!

Remember that it is recommended to aim for 2 and a half hours of moderate aerobic exercise weekly, and strength training exercises at least twice a week.

Try These Lunchtime Workouts

Warm up with rotations of the hand and legs. End it with a cool down like stretching
4 min Tabata Workout: To get the best out of this workout, perform the following in the same order:
- Jumping Jacks – 20 seconds
- Rest – 10 seconds
- Squats – 20 seconds
- Rest – 10 seconds
- Lunges – 20 seconds
- Rest – 10 seconds
- Push ups – 20 seconds
- Rest – 10 seconds
- Repeat once more in the same order
Resistance and Stretching: Stretching can help you increase your blood circulation and bring flexibility to your body. It is also a great stress-busting method and it can ease lower back pain.
Yoga and Meditation: Yoga relieves stress and tension, helps you take a break from daily routine and makes your day more energetic! Deep breathing directly recharges your entire body!

With so many options to choose from which are way below 20 minutes, you can move away from your desk for a little while and work towards a healthy lifestyle.

Keep going and #BeTheForce

May 4, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Nothing Is Difficult If You Try Wholeheartedly! Lijo Paul User Journey

Do you remember your early childhood? All the fun times playing with your friends, running around during recess or participating in sports activities? Childhood, for most of us, is a memorable experience where we recall fun, carefreeness and other fond experiences. On the contrary, for a few of us, childhood might not be the fondest of places in our memory. It was the same for Lijo Paul.

If you’re active on GOQii Play, there is absolutely no way you’ve not come across our player Lijo Paul. A few of you might have interacted with him at some point as well. Recently, we had a chance to speak to him and we’re about to share his story with you!

Early Childhood and Facing the Odds

At the age of 2, Lijo Paul was affected by Seizures. Although he was cured through medication, it wasn’t an easy road ahead. At 6, he was diagnosed with Asthma due to dust and cold. Due to this issue, he was unable to have a normal childhood.

He was unable to walk or run a mile. Climbing stairs was difficult and participating in sports was out of the question. He couldn’t play any games that required physical activity and had to follow a strict diet. In his words, “No kid would love to lead a life where he is unable to play sports or eat the food he likes.” Lijo was affected by sleeplessness as well due to Asthma.

Every doctor and specialist that Lijo visited suggested that he exercise but for him, it meant experiencing breathlessness the next day. He had to spend his childhood with medicines and inhalers. He was also affected by Typhoid twice and vomited blood for which he was on medication again.

After college, he took up a job that consumed 16 hours of his day. Due to this sedentary lifestyle, he developed belly fat and back pain. To combat this, he finally joined a gym but quit within 6 months after not being able to see any results.

Enter GOQii

After much turmoil, Lijo Paul came across GOQii through Axis Bank. Although he was apprehensive at first, he decided to give it a go and subscribed to GOQii in September 2018.

Lijo believed in a myth that healthy food is bland and you need to raw fruits and veggies to stay healthy. This myth was broken by his GOQii Coach who made him realize that losing fat and body weight isn’t about eating boring food but it is about eating the right things at the right time.

In his own words, Lijo said that, “I always troubled my coach with lots of doubts and questions but she ensured that I received proper and adequate knowledge on the topics. She also made sure that I don’t waste money on useless products and kept a frequent track of my food intake.”

His GOQii Coach kept a track of his water intake and began including a lot of fruits and vegetables to his diet. He consumes Apple Cider Vinegar in the morning and gyms for an hour. Green gram sprouts are his post-workout meal.

Since he initially found healthy food boring, his GOQii Coach suggested recipes to make his food more interesting. His initial notion of healthy food has changed drastically. He performs a mix of cardio and weight training, hitting 1 muscle group twice a week and has increased his protein intake as well.

While on GOQii, he tuned in to GOQii Play and followed it diligently. He began following Coach Aliya Imran and her 25-day challenge to lose belly fat.

Witnessing the Change

Within a period of 7 months, he has reduced his weight from 65kg to 60kg. Lijo has seen a drop of body fats from 25% to 12-15%. He can now perform any workout he likes. There has been much improvement in his breathing problem as well.

His confidence levels have sky-rocketed! Due to his awareness about fitness, he guides his friends, colleagues and family as well. In fact, he helped a colleague with PCOS, regularizing her periods and reducing her weight from 85kg to 76kg.

Along with his GOQii Coach, Lijo Paul credits his transformation to our GOQii Play coaches like Aliya Imran, Vishakha Sodha, Tufail Qureshi, Heena Bhimani, Suparna Mukherjee and others. The changes he has experienced from being unfit to fit have made him curious. In the future, he plans on doing a certification course and build a career in fitness.

Lijo Paul believes that it is all about the mindset; nothing is difficult if you do it wholeheartedly. Has Lijo’s story inspired you? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

March 11, 2019 By Ashwinkumar Rahate 6 Comments

Understanding Health and Fitness

We often speak and hear about health and fitness. In recent times, both these words have become a part of people’s daily lingo. How many of us actually know the meaning of these words? Is it just a fad to talk about health and fitness?

Truth be told, health and fitness have totally different meanings and concepts. Let us try to understand the terms ‘Health and Fitness’.

What is Health?

Health refers to the absence of disease. It indicates that all the systems in the body, be it the Central Nerves System, Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System or any other systems are working perfectly and together. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

What is Fitness?

Fitness refers to the degree of body functioning and ability of the body to handle physical demands. If the body is functioning more effectively and efficiently, it indicates greater or higher level of fitness. Any physical activity strenuous or non-strenuous requires one to have some basic fitness. Climbing stairs also requires a certain level of fitness.

Involving yourself in physical activities can bring about some basic level of fitness. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by the skeletal muscles that required energy expenditures. Physical exercise is as important as food and sleep.

When we don’t use the organs of our body, our body responds by saying, “Use it or lose it”. Leading a sedentary lifestyle leads to hypokinetic complications. Proper and regular exercise result in amazing physical, mental and emotional benefits.

To take up any physical activity, you need to set a goal as per your requirement and the way your body responds. Ensure that you are not just focusing on fitness but on the health aspect as well before setting a goal.

Tomorrow, let’s discuss the Benefits of Physical Activities. Stay tuned!