CHENNAI: If you visit the park in Golden Colony, Mogapair, during the wee hours on weekdays, you’ll find over 15 children and adults crawling, rolling and jumping. A body-strengthening and conditioning initiative, Vallamai Tharayo started by Premanand, a physiotherapist, and his wife Priyadarshini, has become the cynosure of all eyes at this park. “What started as an immediate need to teach children the importance of physical activity through basic body building training has now expanded to a more holistic training,” shares Premanand. Initially with just two students, Premanand says that it has grown to more than 20 in the last eight months.
Shedding light on how children these days have a below-average physical fitness, he explains, “Teaching them the basics of fitness with proper technique is very important. Even if it’s a simple push up, their body might not have the right posture first. Their back will drag or arch. That’s why we have included games as a part of the fitness regime.”
Adds, Priyadarshini, “Traditional games like Pandi or Nondi, Kannamoochi and Patchai Kuthirai have a lot of physical and mental benefits.” Prem concurs and adds, “We ask children to hop, which is our traditional game — nondi, and move from point A to B. This strengthens their core,” he goes on, “Kannamoochi is not just a game where you are blind-folded. If you observe closely, your reflex, tactile and sensory power increases. This might be useful someday when you are stuck in a place that’s pitch dark,” says the trainer-cum-physiotherapist, as the children climb up the monkey bar blindfolded.
Why traditional physical training? “It has always bothered me that we have ignored our traditional games and moved on to what people from other countries do. How many of us know about Mallakhamb? If it comes to sports we either ask children to learn cricket or tennis,” he exclaims.
Inspired by the movie 7aum Arivu (2011), Prem says, “It is so true when an actor says that we are from a land which thrived on bravery and strength. That movie was an inspiration.” As he talks to us, Bhuvaneswari, a 12-year-old climbs up a see saw rail and balances herself for over a minute! “I’ve been coming here for two months and my stamina and fitness has increased a lot. Balancing and side jumps are my favourite,” she smiles.
Injuries are inevitable but the couple claims they are not severe. “Even when we run, we fall. Such things cannot be avoided and we try our best to keep an eye on the children.”
The group also consists of adults who joined the group along with their children. “It has been three months now and I have been doing all the activities with my children. I used to gym, but sometimes the same routine becomes dull. Here, we have different activities and training. It’s fun and effective,” says 42-year-old Sivakumar.
Apart from physical training, the couple along with an associate Nandakumar, teach children about morals and also conduct personality development sessions during the weekends. “We want children to train, gain knowledge and physical power, the traditional way,” adds Premanand.
(To join, call 9840988595)