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CHENNAI: When he saw a one-off fitness-related query on Chennai Food Guide’s Facebook page, fitness enthusiast Bharani Shivakumar hit upon an idea. Apart from the Chennai Food Guide, there is the ever-so-popular Chennai Shopping page but no other exclusive page for fitness, nutrition and health. “There are separate pages for a gym, yoga studio or a fitness company. There are city-based pages for sports like cycling, running and tennis but no consolidated platform for a person to get his information from,” says the city-based food enthusiast, recounting how the Chennai Fitness Guide page came into existence. Just under two weeks old, the page already has over 250 members. A former cycling enthusiast, Bharani comes clean about his selfish motives. “I haven’t had a proper workout in the last year and a half. When people around you constantly discuss fitness, you automatically find a way to get fit,” he says, but makes sure to add that the page’s focus also lies in a greater good. “It is basically to give couch potatoes a good place to start. They have all the information they need here.” The guide will act as a way for people to keep at their fitness regimes, Bharani hopes. “There could be two or more people who are working towards the same goal. So both can not only post their fitness schedules and exchange ideas, but also monitor each other’s progress,” he points out. Discussions on the page range from best yoga studios, good source of protein for vegetarians and even people asking for workout buddies, apart from the persistent stream of technical enquiries. But with most of the queries being answered by members of the page who are all not experts, is Bharani worried about misguidance? “I think, over time, people will know whose comments on the page to trust and whose not to. It’s up to the members to make an informed choice after understanding their capacity and requirements,” he says in a point blank manner. This is also a concern that he hopes will regulate itself once the rest of his plan takes shape. “I’m hoping to transition this page into a blog where we can have guest writers and create an interactive platform. That way, everyone will eventually know who the experts are.” The focus of the group right now is to create a directory of every fitness outfit in the city. “We already have the members filling out details of the places they know, we’re hoping to release a preliminary directory within the next two weeks,” Bharani informs us. “We’re also working on a directory of nutritionists and doctors in case of injuries.”
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