Odisha Youths Set Up ‘Desi Gym’ In Forest With Bricks, Weights & Logs

Bhubaneswar: Fitness is the key to happy life and the craze to get a perfect shape and shed that extra pound is why most people nowadays prefer to spend hours in gyms.

However, many cannot afford to join such modern gyms which charge a hefty money as membership and other monthly fees for the latest equipment.

A group of youngsters in Jeypore of Koraput district have come up with a unique jugaad to keep pace with the rapid changes in lifestyle by setting up a ‘desi style gym’ in a forest near their village.

Interestingly, the youths have come up with fitness equipment using bricks, logs, waste products and discarded materials including tyres and other items.

Shivram, a resident of Buduliguda village says that the main idea behind this desi gym is to give opportunity to other youngsters who want to stay fit.

Shivram who credits his father for inspiring him to open such an open-air fitness site for people, says "It took me two years to come to this place where I am today. As the place is close to nature, it is free from any kind of pollution and also provides that natural ambience to charge up the body, mind and spirit even better," said Shivram.

Shivram says that the desi gym operates in two shifts and does not charge any money from those who come to workout.

“Everybody support us and the youths also help in ensuring that mafia do not cut trees in the forest,” Shivram added.

Purna, a local resident said that, “We had to spend a lot of money to visit gym which was located outside the village. Initially, three to four persons used to visit the desi gym. Now a lot of other locals from the village come here to exercise.”

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)