Why Elders love the morning walks

By Saloni Singh

It may surprise you but for 69-year-old Mr. Kushal Pal Singh the morning walk is “similar to going to office.”

“Just as others leave for their office every morning, I go out for my morning walk,” he says as he walks briskly in Ashok Vatika, the Alpha-1 Park in Greater Noida.

This is not all. It is also “a moment for him to revisit his childhood”.

Indeed. Morning walk means different things to different people.

For Captain Virendra Singh, it is “quality time spent with his partner”. For Mr. Verandra Singh it is “fun time spent with his friends”.

Mr. Kushal Pal Singh walks for about two hours every morning. This is accompanied by some light exercises such as toe raises and chair squats.

His sole motivation is to stay fully fit in his old age. “I was very active even when I was a little kid. I loved playing sports, such as volleyball, hockey and kabaddi.”

He slips into a reverie as he recalls, “This morning walk not only makes me feel fresh but also makes me relive those sweet memories of my childhood, where I used to play with my friends in grounds like this.”

He has rarely skipped a day ever since he started to follow this routine. It helps him stay focused throughout the day and feel more agile and active.

Captain Virendra Singh, who is 72 years now, and who served in the Indian Army, has been following this routine for 25 years.

He says, “I come here with my wife Mrs Vimla Devi every day. This walk is quality time for us. It has helped us bond better.”

Mr. Verandra Singh, who is 68 years old now, wakes up at 7 a.m. and comes to the park for a walk. He says, “This has made my body weight stable and controlled my sugar levels.”

It also gives him an opportunity to meet friends and discuss news. “Here we discuss weather, political happenings, government announcements etc.”

(The writer is a first-year student of media at KCC Institutes in Greater Noida.)

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